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Were Levites Allowed to Own Land? A Look at Acts 4:36-37
Levites weren’t supposed to own land—or so the common understanding goes. Yet in Acts 4:36-37, we read about Barnabas, a Levite, who sells a field and generously donates the proceeds to the Apostles. Was Barnabas acting in disobedience to his heritage? Or is this a possible contradiction in the details of Scripture? The answer is that the Levites’ relationship with land ownership is a bit more complex than we might initially expect. The Levites and Land Ownership It is a well-known fact that, as a tribe, the Levites were not given their own land allotment among their fellow tribes. While Joshua delegated specific tribal allotments to the eleven tribes of Israel (cf. Josh 12–22), the tribe of Levi did not receive any specific land allotment. The Levites were not left completely homeless, however, for they were given cities to dwell in among their brothers (cf. Josh 14:4). They would at…
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A Sunday Service in the 2nd Century: A Description from Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr is a name unfamiliar to many. However, Justin Martyr would have been very familiar in early Christianity. He was a first-class Christian apologist, and in his writings, he defended the peacefulness of Christians by describing the practices of the church around 150 A.D. (within 60 years of the Apostle John’s death). Although he is not an inspired writer, his observations are interesting in many regards. Does worship in the 2nd-century church look similar to our churches today? I find the testimony of Justin Martyr particularly insightful in answering questions like that (First Apology, 67, ca. 150 A.D.). Justin Martyr on the Order of Service In his observations, Justin Martyr captures a typical Sunday service as it would have unfolded in the early church—a time marked by learning and extended times of worship. The description offers a structured portrayal of early Christian gatherings. The congregation would come together, often…