Acts 4:35-5:11
The Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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So far, everything we have read about the early church has been positive. They were faithful. They were bonding together in a spirit of unity. They were generously providing for other brothers and sisters in need. They responded to the threat of persecution with prayer. In this passage, we see a the first time something negative happened in the early church. The heart of mankind is deceitful and wicked. Why we do what we do matters.
The text we are going to look at contains a positive example and a negative example. We can learn much from this passage of Scripture as we evaluate our own heart condition. We need to be people of integrity.
1. The Example of Barnabas. (Acts 4:36-37)
1. The Example of Barnabas. (Acts 4:36-37)
Barnabas will play a role later in the book of Acts. In Acts 4:36-37, we are introduced to him and his character.
A. Joseph was given a nickname, Barnabas. (Acts 4:36)
A. Joseph was given a nickname, Barnabas. (Acts 4:36)
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement),
It is strange that this is how they translate the word. It seems to mean son of prophecy, yet it is translated encouragement. It maybe better translated Son of Exhortation. In other word, perhaps Barnabas was known for his effective teaching, preaching, and disciple-making. This fits well with what he does later in the book of Acts.
B. Barnabas was from likely from a wealthy family who migrated back to Jerusalem.
B. Barnabas was from likely from a wealthy family who migrated back to Jerusalem.
He is identified as a Levite from Cyprus, yet he is residing in Jerusalem. He was part of a group of Greek-speaking Jews who migrated back to Jerusalem. We think he was from a wealthy family because in Acts 12:12, the mother of his cousin Mark had a large home. The home was large enough to host a prayer meeting for many people.
It is also interesting that he was a Levite because according to the Old Testament, Levites were not supposed to own land. We don’t know what he owned or where it was. It might have been as simple as a burial plot, but we can only speculate.
C. Barnabas sold the land and gave the proceeds to be used to meet the needs of other believers. (Acts 4:37)
C. Barnabas sold the land and gave the proceeds to be used to meet the needs of other believers. (Acts 4:37)
37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
He did this voluntarily. God laid it on his heart to do it and he obeyed willingly. He had no strings on the money. He expected nothing in return. He sold it and gave it because he felt as if that would be honoring to God.
This was a display of amazing generosity and love for the fellow followers of Jesus. Is this a model for us to follow? Maybe. It depends on what God leads you to do. If he is leading you to do something radical to serve and minister to other believers, then you need to do it. One thing we should not do is expect people to be led to do things. God moves in the hearts and lives. We need to be submissive to the will of God and obedient to his calling on our lives.
2. The Example of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
2. The Example of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
In contrast to the example of Barnabas, the example of Ananias and Sapphira is given to us.
A. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and kept back part of the proceed from the sale. (Acts 5:1-2)
A. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and kept back part of the proceed from the sale. (Acts 5:1-2)
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
The word “kept back” literally means to pilfer or embezzle. It is interesting that Luke uses this word because it was their money. There was no expectation that they give anything. They didn’t have to give and even if they gave they could have been honest about it. However, they chose to deceive the apostles into thinking they too were being radically generous. Their motives were different than those of Barnabas. They wanted the public recognition that would come with generous actions.
B. Peter discerns what was happening and confronts Ananias. (Acts 5:3-6)
B. Peter discerns what was happening and confronts Ananias. (Acts 5:3-6)
3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?
4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”
5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.
6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
From Peter’s interaction with Ananias, we see five different truths.
i. Satan filled and controlled Ananias’ heart.
i. Satan filled and controlled Ananias’ heart.
This is concerning. Was Ananias a true follower of Jesus Christ? Can Satan fill the heart of a true believer? I find nothing in the passage which would indicate that Ananias and Sapphira were not true believers. Filling is not possession. Satan can influence the actions of believers if we allow him to do so. Possession implies ownership. Ananias and Sapphira were not possessed, they were filled and tempted to sin. It would be impossible to be owned and controlled by Satan and have a saving relationship with Jesus at the same time. You can’t have two masters. However, you can be enticed, tempted, and lead astray by the evil one. You can become so obsessed with sinful actions that you become blinded to the consequences.
ii. Satan’s activity did not remove Ananias’ responsibility for his actions.
ii. Satan’s activity did not remove Ananias’ responsibility for his actions.
4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”
The responsibility was squarely placed on the shoulders of Ananias. He was responsible for what he did. He was responsible for allowing sin to take root in his heart. We must always be careful to take responsibility for our actions. Personal responsibility is something that is lacking in our culture. We like blame shifting. There is no such thing as “the devil made me do it.” You are responsible for what you do.
iii. The sin was centered on lying to the Holy Spirit.
iii. The sin was centered on lying to the Holy Spirit.
Yes, they kept back part of the money, but what wasn’t really the problem. The problem was that they lied about it. Peter said they could have done whatever they wanted with their money. It was their money. However, they decided to lie about it and that was the problem.
iv. Lying to the church is lying to the Holy Spirit.
iv. Lying to the church is lying to the Holy Spirit.
When we lie to the church, other believers, we are lying to the Holy Spirit. The church is the Body of Christ and if we lie to other believers it is as if we are lying directly to Jesus.
v. They lied to gain personal recognition.
v. They lied to gain personal recognition.
They wanted the notoriety and esteem that came with doing something generous. Giving was not mandatory. They didn’t have to do what they did. They wanted recognition. This is about heart motivation. This is about why you do what you do. Why do you serve? Why do you give? Why do come to worship? These are heart questions.
C. Ananias dropped dead after hearing Peter’s condemnation. (Acts 5:5-6)
C. Ananias dropped dead after hearing Peter’s condemnation. (Acts 5:5-6)
5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.
6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
Can you imagine being a bystander and watching this happen? Peter is rebuking someone who is giving to the church. Then the person just drops dead! We don’t know how he died. This would have been shocking to say the least!
D. After some time passed, Sapphira, looking for her husband, is questioned by Peter and, having lied as well, dropped dead. (Acts 5:7-10)
D. After some time passed, Sapphira, looking for her husband, is questioned by Peter and, having lied as well, dropped dead. (Acts 5:7-10)
7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree 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.”
10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.
E. The church saw this as God’s judgment on the couple for their lies. (Acts 5:11)
E. The church saw this as God’s judgment on the couple for their lies. (Acts 5:11)
11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
Fear is the result of the judgment. This is the key aspect of the story. God is holy and cannot tolerate sin. There are consequences for sin and violation of God’s laws. Sin is a serious thing and not to be taken lightly. Our God is consuming fire.
This story reminds us that the early, developing church, was not a perfect church. They had to deal with people who were doing wrong. Sin had to be confronted and dealt with if the church was going to move forward with the blessing of God.
The NIV Application Commentary: Acts Contemporary Significance
A man is said to have come to Charles Spurgeon, seeking his help in finding a perfect group of God’s people. Spurgeon told him that if he found such a group, he should not join it, for if he did, it would no longer be perfect.15
It is also noteworthy about how many times possessions and money have been addressed so far in the book of Acts. God cares greatly with how we use the resources he has entrusted to us. Money and wealth can have a corrupting influence.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
In many churches today, we hear more about the promise of wealth than the dangers of wealth. How many scandals in the church revolve around the misuse of funds? Be aware of the snares of materialism and the deception of security that comes with the love of money.