⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and ^(A)had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and ^[a]sold their possessions and goods, and ^(B)divided^[b] them among all, as anyone had need.

Sharing in All Things

³² Now the multitude of those who believed ^(A)were of one heart and one soul; ^(B)neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. ³³ And with ^(C)great power the apostles gave ^(D)witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And ^(E)great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; ^(F)for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, ^35 (G)and laid them at the apostles’ feet; ^(H)and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Excel in Giving

8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: ² that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and ^(A)their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. ³ For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, ⁴ imploring us with much urgency ^[a]that we would receive the gift and ^(B)the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵ And not only as we had hoped, but they first ^(C)gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the ^(D)will of God. ⁶ So ^(E)we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. ⁷ But as ^(F)you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see ^(G)that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern

^8 (H)I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(I)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^(J)rich.

¹⁰ And in this ^(K)I give advice: ^(L)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^(M)were desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹ but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹² For ^(N)if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

¹³ For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; ¹⁴ but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. ¹⁵ As it is written, ^(O)“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

^10 (A)Therefore, as we have opportunity, ^(B)let us do good to all, ^(C)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

¹⁷ But ^(A)whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

¹⁸ My little children, ^(B)let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.