John Calvin Commentary Acts 4:32

"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one [of them] said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." — Acts 4:32 (ASV)

And the multitude. In this passage, three things are commended: first, that the faithful were all of one mind; second, that there was a mutual sharing of goods among them; and third, that the apostles behaved boldly in announcing the resurrection of Christ. He says that the multitude had one heart, because this is far more excellent than if a few people should have a mutual consent. And previously he has declared that the Church grew to be about five thousand. Now he says that there was wonderful concord in so great a multitude, which is a very difficult matter.

And surely, where faith bears the chief sway, it so knits the hearts of people together that all of them both will and refuse the same thing. For discord springs from this: that we are not all governed by the same Spirit of Christ. It is well known that by these two words, heart and soul, he means the will. And because the wicked often conspire together to do evil, this concord was laudable and holy because it was among the faithful.

And no man did say. This is the second point: that they coupled this love with external benefits. But we shall see soon how they had their goods in common. It is now worth noting in the text of Luke that the inward unity of minds goes before as the root, and then the fruit follows after. And surely, we also ought to observe the same order: we must love one another, and then this love of ours must show itself by external effects. And in vain do we boast of a right affection unless some testimony of it appears in external actions. Moreover, Luke also declares that they were not of one mind for any consideration of their own advantage, because the rich men, when they liberally bestowed their goods, were by no means seeking their own gain.