Acts 4:32-5:11
The text before us opens with a picture of unity among all believers. The exact time which these recorded events took place is not revealed in scripture but it would appear to be less than one year following the manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
It was a time in which the apostles gave powerful witness of the resurrection. Their powerful witness would have included the account recorded in John 20 of Thomas’s refusal to believe until Thomas saw and spoke to Jesus, eight days after the other apostles saw and knew. The time was characterized by great grace being upon all (the entire multitude of believers [v. 33].
Verse 34 states that those who possessed lands or houses sold them and presented the money received to the apostles for distribution. What prompted this action? This same question could be asked of a charitable contribution. Charitable gifts are the result becoming aware of a need and acting to address that need. One gives because there is a need and one possesses the ability or resources to address that need. Social scientists of today have identified charitable giving as part of the human character. Is the giving cited in verse 34 different from charitable giving?
Charitable giving is one’s response to an external need. Charitable giving is not what the scripture before us reveals. The great grace of God moved those who had property to sell it and present the proceeds to the apostles for distribution.
The individuals who sold their property and presented it to the apostles were part of the multitude which is described as being of one heart and of one soul. They were individuals who considered their possessions to belong to all (v. 32). While a believer may be moved, as all men are moved to act by an external need, believers are motivated by the internal force of grace (see v. 33).
It is by grace that one is the recipient of God’s love. The certainty that one’s sin debt is satisfied, once and forever, by Christ upon the cross moves believers to love one another even as He has loved us. The certainty of salvation in believers produces works of love — works that testify of God.
The apostles distributed to each according to their need (v. 35). The need in this instance was the external, physical need that is common to all men. When we look upon the actions of the apostles, we note that they addressed both spiritual (internal) and physical (external) needs of others. They witnessed of the resurrection with great power (v. 33) and they provided for the daily needs of fellow believers.
Two instances of individuals’ selling their possessions and presenting the proceeds to the apostles are cited in the text before us [Barnabas (4:36) and Ananias and Sapphira (5:1)]. Barnabas’ act of selling his land and Ananias and Sapphira’s selling of their land produced far different outcomes. Barnabas is forever recognized in scripture for his role in reaching out to others with the gospel as he accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13 and 14). The account of Ananias and Sapphira ends with their untimely deaths (5:5 and 5:10).
In selling his possession, Barnabas held nothing back. Barnabas’ giving was reflective of God’s gift. God held nothing back. He gave His only begotten Son such that all who would believe upon Him might have life everlasting. Barnabas could give only that which was his to give, and he fully gave it. He demonstrated through his gift that he truly loved others as he loved himself. His gift testified of the sufficiency of God’s gift of salvation.
Not the case with Ananias and Sapphira. They held back a portion of that which they sold. They withheld giving all because they believed that God might not provide their future needs. Their action testified of unbelief that men are saved by grace and grace alone (Eph. 2:8). Their testimony of unbelief resulted in premature demise. Their action demonstrated that love of self is not of God.
Barnabas was motivated to present a gift and he did. The love of Christ which was in him (Barnabas) was manifested in his giving all that he could give. If, by chance, had Barnabas possessed twice as much land, would he have sold it all? Certainly. Christ’s love could not be constrained in him.
Like Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira were motivated to present a gift. They willingly presented a portion of that which they received. The motivation of Ananias and Sapphira was far different than that found in Barnabas. Where was the love of Christ in their gift? It was muted at best and totally absent at worst. In verse 4, Peter makes it known that Ananias was under no obligation to sell his land and once that he did sell it, that he was under no obligation to present the money to the apostles.
If not motivated by love, why did Ananias and Sapphira give? It is likely that the act of giving was publicly acknowledged and that Ananias and Sapphira sought recognition. The scripture does not explicitly state that this was the case. In the text before us, Peter reveals that the two listened to Satan and were moved to lie to God. They chose to believe Satan’s claim that their lie was hidden and it hurt no one.
Peter asked Ananias the question: Why has Satan filled thine heart to lie? Ananias did not have to do what he chose to do. He did what he did knowingly. He knew he was lying to God when he presented only a portion of the money to the apostles. Peter confronted Ananias with the evil that was in his heart. Ananias replied in the only manner which a guilty man can reply to God. He fell dead. Sapphira was equally guilty of the lie and likewise fell dead.
The testimony of the heart is not hidden from God. May we, like Barnabas, fully share the love which God has made known to us.
