The word translated group is used in the book of Acts in two senses: (1) a crowd or a large group of persons, (2) a religious community, whether Jewish or Christian. Here it is used in the specific sense of the entire Christian community. The phrase the group of believers is equivalent in many languages to “all the believers.” This does not specifically introduce the idea of “the community,” but by the use of “all” and their joint activity, the component of community is implied.

One in mind and heart is literally “one in heart and soul.” In Jewish thought “heart” was the center of intellectual activity, and “soul” the seat of the will. Taken together they are inclusive of the total inner being of the person. The expression one in mind and heart may be expressed verbally as “they thought the same things and they wanted the same things.” When, however, the idiomatic formula can be preserved it is preferable, for example, “they were just like one person in their mind and heart” or “they had only one mind and heart.”

They all shared with one another everything they had seems to be the meaning of the literal statement “they had all things in common.” The context suggests that the believers continued to possess their own personal belongings (see v. 32b), and that even when someone sold a piece of property the money remained his own (see 5.4). See also the earlier discussion at 2.44.

The first clause of verse 32b must frequently be expressed as direct discourse, for example, “No one said, What I own belongs just to me” or “No one said, All I have is just for me.”

The adversative element between the two clauses of verse 32b is strong and therefore the introduction of a conjunction such as but is important.

In some languages it is not possible to use the plural they. Rather, one must use a singular to identify the fact that each individual on his own initiative shared, for example, “each person shared with each other person anything which he had.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .