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The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 4:32-5:16 Sharing and Distributing to the Needy 32 - 37. 4.32. The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. As they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they allowed him to work in their lives they were in complete agreement with one another in doctrine and matters of faith. The Holy Spirit had so filled them with a love and concern for one another that they did not consider what they owned as their own but as belonging to all believers so that they were ready to share with one another. 4.33. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. It was also because of this that the apostles were able to give powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that was followed by many miracles. All this was done because of the greatness of God's grace towards them. It was not of themselves that these mighty things were accomplished but by the power of grace alone. Zechariah 4: 7 gives us an example of this in operation when Zerubbabel is told to shout "grace" at the mountain of obstacles in his way (Zech. 4:7). 4.34 - 35. For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales and placing them at the apostles' feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need. Because of this love and oneness in spirit those who had lands and houses sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles that they may give to those who were in need so that none lacked for anything (Math. 19: 21; Rom. 12: 13). Note: This giving was done out of the sufficiency that God had blessed the givers with for those who did not have could not give (2 Cor. 8: 12 - 15).
4.36 - 37. So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated "son of encouragement"), sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostles' feet. Why was it that out of all that gave only Barnabas (the same Barnabus who befriended Paul (Acts 9: 27) is singled out? The answer is partly given in the surname that the Christians gave him "Son of Consolation" or "Encouragement" that means, coming alongside to help and to comfort. One whose very presence strengthens and upholds those appealing for assistance Barnabus was outstanding in all these things. Another reason may possibly be to give a comparison with Ananias and Sapphira.
2. An Attempt to Deceive the Holy Spirit 5: 1 - 11. 5.1 - 2. Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife's knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles' feet. We are told right at the beginning of this incident that both parties were involved and that they intended to pretend that they were giving the full amount of the proceeds from the sale of their possession, so it was a conspiracy, a plot, to deceive. It looked as if they were doing exactly the same as the others. 5.3. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? Through the Spiritual Gift of a Word of Knowledge it is made known to Peter that Satan had tempted Ananias and Sapphira and they had given in to him “Go on no one will ever know if you only give a part and make out it is all that you got�. The Devil ever goes around as a roaring lion seeking who he may destroy therefore we should always be on our guard (1 Pet. 5: 8). 5.4. Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!" The thing was that there was no need of it as Peter tells him what belonged to him was his own to do as he liked with. He was under no obligation to give any of it away but it was the fact that he tried to deceive not men but the Holy Spirit who is co-equal with God. 5.5 - 6. When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. It was not Peter that struck Ananias dead for we are told that it was when he heard the words that the judgement of God fell upon him for his unconfessed, unrepentant sin of lying and trying to deceive the Holy Spirit (1 John 1: 9). Because of this a great dread and terror came upon all of them. 5.7 - 10. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. Peter said to her, "Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?" Sapphira said, "Yes, that much." Peter then told her, "Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you
out!" At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. When Sapphira comes in three hours later and Peter questions her, the full extent of the plot is uncovered. They had conspired together to tempt/test the Holy Spirit, that is they challenged God to expose their deception. When Satan tempted Jesus to throw himself off the Temple He replied “It is written. You shall not tempt/test the Lord your God" (Math. 4: 5 - 7) this is what is meant here in Acts. So judgment fell on Sapphira as it did on her husband. 5.11. Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things. It is said by commentators that the severity of the punishment on these two were in order to establish the authority of the apostles and to keep the church pure. However, I would say it was rather to establish the power and authority to the church of the Holy Spirit and that He is equal with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Continuing in Power 5. 12 - 16. 5.12. Now many miraculous signs and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon's Portico. Up to this time it was still through the apostles (the twelve disciples) that the power of God was manifest by many signs and wonders as they worked together. They came together for worship in Solomon’s Porch. 5.13 - 14. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women. Because of what had happened to Ananias and Sapphira many disassociated themselves from the believers but they were held in great respect and regard by people. Souls were continually being saved and added to the Lord. 5.15 - 16. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed. Because of what was happening many brought their sick ones out into the streets in the hope that as Peter went by even his shadow falling on them would bring healing (Acts 19: 12). It was not the shadow or the objects brought to Paul that held any magic formula but they were points of contact for faith. As the word spread of what was happening in Jerusalem people came from all the surrounding places bringing their sick and those who were tormented with unclean spirits and they were all healed. © Derek Williams 2014 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org