In Deuteronomy 18:6-8,6And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the Lord shall choose; 7Then he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the Lord. 8They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony. (Deuteronomy 18:6‑8) the Lord anticipatively makes provision for a Levitt who would come from the gates of Israel, with all the desire of his mind, unto the place which the Lord would choose. Then, when there, he would minister in the name of the Lord his God. as all his brethren do which stand before the Lord. But further, when he sold his patrimony and had given the money for distribution to the common need, he would cat like portions of the communal meal with his brethren.
There is not an idle word in all Scripture. The Lord brought all this to pass in Acts 4:32: "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.... Neither was there any among them that lacked... and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”
Then we meet a Levite of Deut. 18! In verses 36 and 37 of Acts 4 we read, "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet." He came to the place where the Lord had placed His name and where He was working in grace. He ministered in the name of the Lord his God. Having land, he sold it, and distributed all to the common need. As a result he ate of the common meal with his brethren.
Acts 5:11But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, (Acts 5:1) begins with "but" and the Holy Spirit makes a comparison of the action of Ananias and Sapphira with that of Barnabas.
Barnabas is seen again in Acts 11:22-26,22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:22‑26) where he is glad at the grace of God, even though the work was through others, "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord." One can hardly miss seeing that the Lord Himself was the perfect Levite in all His devoted service. Were not all of these things true of Him in their perfection?
W. Bothwell