The Pulpit Commentary on Acts 4:35

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Laid them for laid them downs A.V.; unto each … as any one for unto every man … as he, A.V., a change without an improvement. Laid them at the apostles' feet. A significant token of the place occupied by the apostles (as later by the bishops of the Church) as the trustees and dispensers of the Church's funds as well as of the Church's doctrines.

Compare "Ante pedes praetoris in fore expensum est auri pondo centum" (Cie. pp. Flacco, quoted by Alford). We have, too, here an instance of the way in which Church institutions rose gradually as occasion gave birth to them.

So the institution of deacons (Acts 6:2, Acts 6:3), of presbyters or priests (Acts 14:23), of bishops (1 Timothy 1-3.), of Confirmation (Acts 8:14-17), appear to have come about in each case pro re nata.

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