Acts 4:34-3734Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:34‑37)
34-35. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
All earthly possessions were placed at the disposal of the apostles for those in need. If following the apostles’ pattern of giving to those in need guides us, the happy result will surely be blessing to others.
36-37. 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.
Under the law a Levite expected to receive from others (Deut. 26:12-1312When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; 13Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them: (Deuteronomy 26:12‑13)), for he had no possessions in this world (Num. 18:2323But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. (Numbers 18:23)). Under grace Barnabas, a Levite, takes what he had and puts it at the Lord’s disposal to give to others. Let us be cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:77Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)), walking as those who have nothing and yet possess all things (2 Cor. 6:1010As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:10)).
Acts 5:1-141But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) (Acts 5:1‑14)
12. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Previous to this solemn account, Satan’s attempts to corrupt the assembly had come from without (Acts 2:13; 4:23,17-1813Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. (Acts 2:13)
23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. (Acts 4:23)
17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:17‑18)). Now he seeks to corrupt from within, by using covetousness (keeping back part of the money) which then led to deceit and lies. God does not need our puny wealth, but He must have reality—truth in the inward parts (Psa. 51:66Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:6)).
35. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
The early believers were filled with the Spirit of God (ch. 2:4; 4:31; 13:52), but Ananias’s heart is filled by Satan with covetousness and lies. The Word of God is silent as to the reality of this couple’s faith, for their actions were not consistent with their profession. Let us walk in reality and in fear before God.
6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
The “young men” (representing strength and service), guided by the Spirit, realizing the assembly had a need, fulfilled that ministry, apparently without receiving special directions. Love for Christ and communion with Him produce intelligent service.
7-9. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Peter gave opportunity for Sapphira to repent and confess her sin, but she persisted in covering it (Prov. 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)) and fell under solemn judgment.
10. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Sapphira falls dead at the feet of Peter—a place where others had laid their wealth and possessions. The young men must again undertake a sad but necessary service. The way in which they perform it, however, is beautiful in its moral seemliness. Her body is not “wound up” by them (as was Ananias’s), but with as little contact as possible, they simply carry the body out, burying it by her husband.
11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
One can hardly think of an event more calculated to prove the truth of Psalm 89:77God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. (Psalm 89:7): “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.”
We find in Romans 3:1818There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:18) that fallen man as a race has no fear of God. Sadly, today the fear of God seems lacking even among those who profess Christianity. While believers ought never to be afraid of our God and Father, we should be very careful to act in a way which is pleasing and honoring to Him.
12. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Solomon’s porch pictures the entrance into coming millennial blessing for Israel. But a greater than Solomon is here, and the proper hope for the assembly is heavenly, not earthly glory.
13. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
The judgment that had come on Ananias and Sapphira served as a solemn safeguard, for a time, to any who might seek to connect themselves with the assembly without a reality in their hearts.
14. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
The assembly in Jerusalem grew, both in the esteem of those who observed it and in the numbers of those who were saved. Some may argue that Christians must be careful not to drive people away from the Lord by being too legal. Yet here, when all Jerusalem was aware that unfaithfulness to the name of Christ cost two souls their lives, the numbers in the assembly increased, rather than decreased. Though today we may not always see increased numbers, faithfulness to Christ will always result in increased blessing.
Ed.