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² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. ³ As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

The vile and violent victory of the liars and haters that killed Stephen was the start of an uprising against Greek-speaking Jesus followers in Jerusalem. But in the midst of all the growing animosity toward the first Christians, some people took time to feel. Although it was inconvenient and more than a little dangerous, devout men took time to say “I love you, Stephen” and saw to the burial of his broken body. And they wept greatly for their fallen brother.

The decision to mourn our martyrs matters. In the time intentionally set aside to be sorrowful we recognize the loss, reflect on their light, and thereby also become reinforced in our resolve to live more like them (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4).

Taking time to mourn our fallen heroes, good friends, and light-bearing leaders is part of (1) respecting them, (2) thanking God for their contribution to our lives, and (3) beginning the process of good changes in the heart, and (4) picking up where they left off. As we embrace the loss and think on their legacy, we can be led into deeper commitments, repentance, and revival. For those of us who want to move in the direction of being better persons, good grieving is key. Consider the words of Solomon on the matter:

² Better to go to the house of mourning

   Than to go to the house of feasting,

   For that is the end of all men;

   And the living will take it to heart.

³ Sorrow is better than laughter,

   For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

   But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

The house of mourning, in the passage above, is the place and time dedicated to grieving the loss of someone. We go to that house when we choose to mourn our dead. This is better than trying to cope with their loss through escapes into pleasure or the decision to go to places dedicated to feeding the flesh (house of feasting). Why? Solomon goes on to explain that the dead we mourn have gone where we too are going: “For that is the end of all men,” he says. While we are still alive, we can be fundamentally changed for the better if we will intentionally go look upon the fact that our time is short and that we cannot escape death. When the living look intentionally at the loss of life it affects them profoundly… they taken to heart (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

The decision to mourn the loss of Stephen was a decision to become better men through grief. Their faces and voices visibly expressed the excruciating pain of parting ways with a beloved brother. The text says they made great lamentation over him (Acts 8:2). But notices what Solomon says about this:

³ Sorrow is better than laughter,

   For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

In this moment the mourners are being made better. They are facing facts and their hearts, the place from which spring our words, work (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45), and the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23), are being refined.

Questions for Consideration

1. Are you taking time to mourn the losses of loved one and important relationships? Why would you intentionally enter the sadness of thinking over someone’s life and the loss? (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
2. Can you think of someone that you have loss that had a trait that you admired or work that you appreciated? What would it look like for you to embrace the pain of their departure, think soberly about your eventually end on earth, and then prayerfully consider how you might continue their work?

It was an act of real courage to take time to mourn the loss of Stephen. Jewish law forbade funeral observances for condemned criminals; Stephen had been the victim of mob violence and those who stoned him surely viewed him as a blasphemer and law breaker. They will look for his friends, associates, and family. The courage of these devout men is a reminder of the similar valor shown by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus in the burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38).

The Leading Persecutor of the Church (Acts 8:3; 26:9-11; Galatians 1:13)

Saul, is at work fanning this flame into a blaze. He leads the charge against the Jesus followers by going methodically from home to home, and from synagogue to synagogue to persecute them. The description of his activities is called havoc in Acts 8:3. It carries the meaning of the damage caused by a wild animal. He reflects on his violence toward the church later in life:

And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. (Acts 26:11, NKJV)

Leading the work of hurting the church was the young man who had stood with the clothes of those who stoned Stephen. He was not content to support Stephen’s death; he obtained permission to pursue people that tried to run away while continuing to promote faith in Jesus:

The prime agent in the repressive campaign was Saul of Tarsus, who now carried into more effective action the attitude to the new movement which he had displayed at the stoning of Stephen. Armed with the necessary authority from the chief-priestly leaders of the Sanhedrin, he harried the church, arresting its members in their own homes and sending them off to prison. A zealot for the ancestral traditions of his nation, he saw that the new faith menaced those traditions. Drastic action was called for: these people, he thought, were not merely misguided enthusiasts whose sincere embracing of error called for patient enlightenment; they were deliberate impostors, proclaiming that God had raised from the tomb to be Lord and Messiah a man whose manner of death was sufficient to show that the divine curse rested on him. (Bruce, 1988, p. 163)

From his perspective the Jesus followers had to be stopped. And he was going to do it.

Moving On with the Message (Acts 8:4)

⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

The consequence of the persecution is a scattering of the believers (Acts 8:2, 4). With their scattering the word of God is also scattered. The gospel of Jesus Christ is now being preached everywhere. In particular it is now being proclaimed in those places (Judea and Samaria) that Jesus wanted to reach (Acts 1:8).

They were scattered like one scatters seed. But scattered seeds grow, Christian. See the irony! The persecution and scattering of the Christians only led to the growing of the movement. With the dispersal of the Hellenist Christians, the fulfillment of the second phase of Jesus’ commission began—the witness to all Judea and Samaria (8:1b; cf. 1:8).

Learn to look at life through the lens of the Lord’s program. In that view nothing is wasted and the things that seem like setbacks are actually used to spring forward in doing His will (Romans 5:1-5; 8:28).

The Principle of Persisting (Acts 8:4)

The nation of Israel had been dispersed among the Gentiles (James 1:1). Through that scattering of God’s people other nations came to know about God’s plan to bring them salvation through the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-2; John 4:19, 25). Now the new people of God are being dispersed among the nations. But what will they do among the nations? Be witnesses, of course!

The church had grown extensively; it was to grow more than ever, but now by being spread abroad. Luke’s figures and further notes about the growth make the estimate of 25,000 believers in and near Jerusalem at the time of Stephen’s martyrdom seem conservative. The persecution aimed to destroy the infant church; in the providence of God it did the very opposite. It started a great number of new congregations especially in all of Palestine, each becoming a living center from which the gospel radiated into new territory even as Jesus had traced its course by adding after Jerusalem “all Judea and Samaria” (1:8). (Lenski, 1961, p. 311)

Over the nearly two years since Pentecost (33 AD) thousands of Jesus followers have been trained by the apostles to pursue holiness, present the gospel, and mentor others in following Jesus. They have been empowered, equipped, and educated in evangelism and discipleship. It is time for the highly trained church to be deployed. Luke says that the response of the church was logical; Therefore (οὖν) those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4). What else could they do? Witnessing, for the Christian, is not activity; it is an essential identity (Acts 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:12; 44:8). When they could not be accepted for who they are, they go elsewhere in their new identity.

Figure 2 – Dr. Alejandro Mandes talks with our youth about Joshua 1:8-9. He comes to us in
his identity as a person who explains the word of God and promotes faithfulness to Christ.

How would you respond? Before you answer, consider what Jesus means by giving the Holy Spirit. It was not to simply facilitate activity; he baptized the new believers of Jerusalem into Himself to give them a new essential identity:

• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)
• For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. (Galatians 6:15, NKJV)

That identity is not a function of location. They are new creations wherever they go. And so the new creation of God has just been scattered abroad. This is what Jesus wanted (Matthew 10:23). The setback of persecution was a setup to spring forward in the mission of taking the gospel to the world.

Questions for Consideration

• Am I regularly taking time to think about what Christ did for me?
• Can I see God’s hand in moving me from one place to another?
• How can I bring the message to the places He has moved me?

References

Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.

¹ Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1, NKJV)

Saul (Σαῦλος) was consenting to the death of Stephen (Acts 7:60). The word translated consenting comes from the verb συνευδοκέω; it can mean either approval and support (Luke 11:48; Romans 1:32) or merely a willingness to accept (1 Corinthians 7:12, 13). When Saul, years later, recounts this event to his Jewish brethren he sheds additional light on what his consenting meant:

¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. ²⁰ And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ (Acts 22:19-20, NKJV)

In his own words Saul says that consenting was more than a passive acceptance of what was being done to Stephen. His approving attitude toward the martyrdom of Stephen was accompanied by the action of assisting Stephen’s executioners. In order to be unhindered in stoning Stephen they disrobed. Some of those expensive items would have been stolen if not for the role that Saul played. In this way, working as a guard over the clothes, the young Saul aided in the brutal murder of the Lord’s servant Stephen (7:58). While the Sanhedrin murdered a godly man, Saul made sure that they were able to do so without fear of someone stealing the clothing that they had taken off; elaborate robes and costly religious garb would interfere with stone casting.

The martyrdom of Stephen was the beginning of an outbreak: At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem. Literally the text reads, “There, also, arose in that day a great persecution came upon the church” (Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ διωγμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν). The conjunction after the verb (δὲ) shows either contrast or continuation. In this case it is continuation; what began with Stephen expands into an all out assault on the church which was at Jerusalem. Hell broke loose!

Am I being crass by saying “Hell broke loose?” No. The church, empowered by Jesus and led by an ignorant and untrained fisherman (Acts 4:13), has been assaulting the gates of hell… and winning.

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18, NKJV)

Indeed, it is more appropriate to say that the Savior has been using surrendered souls as soldiers in a siege on dead religion, hypocrisy, and in His mission to set captives free. Crucifixion did not stop Jesus; but He was just One. Threatening Peter and John did not stop Jesus; they were two. Arresting and beating the apostles did not stop Jesus; they were twelve. This persecution could have been predicted as the anxious response to growing number of Jesus followers; now there are thousands of Jesus followers.

On account of this great persecution on the church the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Yes! Once again the enemy is exploited to execute the plan. Let me say that again. The enemy of God is being exploited in the plan of God. Look back to the beginning of Acts.

⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NKJV)

Where were the people scattered? They were scattered to the places that the Lord wanted to go! The persecution was being used to push the people of God into the places that Jesus had already said they would go with the message of reconciliation.

Persecution is used by God to further His own plan. The attempts of the enemy to hurt saints and hinder the church will actually help with what God is doing to sanctify His people and advance His own agenda. The setbacks intended by the enemy of setups for springing forward.

Are there people persecuting you because your light interferes with their evil plan? God is going to use the persecution to further his plan and your faith (Genesis 50:20) and reveal that you are in His will. Abide in Him and do not believe for a moment that this is not going to be used for His glory and your good (Romans 8:28).

Questions for Consideration

1. Is persecution pushing you in a certain direction or to a different place? Is it possible that the persecution is being used by God to promote a plan that He has already revealed and to move a saint into another place needing your light?
2. When was the last time you sat with the Lord to review what He has revealed as His plan for you? Are you afraid that persecution will stop His plan from coming true? Talk with Him about your fear and make sure that you are not trying to make His plan happen. He will.
3. Who do you hang with? Are those people going to help you stand strong in your day of trial?

This small group helps me make it through tough times. (Darlene and Rich and Susan Whiteheads are normally present.)

Introduction

What are you going to do when the consequences of keeping company with Christ come home? We cannot be so naive as to think that periods of peace will last always. Indeed, it is not wise to ignore the advisories and admonitions of Scripture regarding persecution:

• Positive Perspectives on Persecution (Matthew 5:11-12 – part of the profile of a prize winner) ¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Persecution is an indicator of imminent great reward

• Promises of Persecution (2 Timothy 3:12 – more than a high probability) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Persecution is an indispensable part of godly living

• Purposes of Persecution (1 Peter 4:14-16 – promotion of God’s glory; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:1-2 – purifying of character) ¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

Persecution is an instigation of glory for God. The persecutor pushes the persecuted into worship.

All of these words from Scripture are helpful insofar as they keep me from falling into despair. But what are we to do when it is our day to pay for following Jesus? If you think this question is little more than the rhetoric required for opening this message consider the following:

• Sang-chul: North Korea – The Story of Pastor Han, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGqEgxkF7I8)
• BBC News, Christian Persecution at Near Genocide Levels (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48146305)
• Persecution, Pastor Left Hospitalized After Attack by Religious Fanatics in Northern India (https://www.persecution.org/2020/10/08/pastor-left-hospitalized-attack-religious-fanatics-northern-india/)
• The Gospel Coalition, Is There Really Anti-Christian Discrimination in America? (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/anti-christian-discrimination-america/)

Do not be deceived into thinking that modern persecution of Jesus followers is fiction, or that it is random, or that it is seldom, or that it is remote. The opposition to following Christ is real, it is frequent, it is progressing, and it is local. (In fact, it can become very personal. If your devotion to Christ is getting in the way of someone’s ungodliness, they will intentionally injure you with the goal of getting you to stop standing your ground, to stop stating the truth, and to stop promoting their repentance.) What should we do? Thank God for the Bible! His word is telling us the perspective to have and the plan to execute when adversity arrives; the precedents and guidance are found in the history of our faith as recorded in Acts. Specifically, we need to study the writings of Luke in Acts; there are principles for us in this book. Concerning the situation in Jerusalem, J. B. Polhill writes

The opposition to the Christians had been gaining momentum throughout chaps. 4–6. It came first from the Jewish officials in the arrest of the apostles and the two hearings before the Sanhedrin. The first resulted in a warning (4:21); the second, in a flogging (5:40). With the Hellenist Stephen came a third Sanhedrin trial, and this one resulted in death for the Christian witness (7:58–60). The new factor was that this time the officials had the backing of the people (6:12)

Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 211). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

In Acts 8 we are reading about the intolerance that was heaped on the early Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) because of their grand view of God and their promotion of Jesus. They insist that God is global in His concerns and that the true temple of God is not a location on earth (Isaiah 66:1-2) but the moving body of Christ. They have the audacity to say that the purpose of the law in preparing for the coming of the Christ has been fulfilled (Galatians 3:24) in Jesus of Nazareth and that now the relationship between Jew (or Gentile) and God will not be based on the law of Moses. The former things had become items of pride for many Jews; the idea that the law and temple were no longer needed was threatening to the egos, empires, and economies of people who had learned to use the law and the temple for self-promotion.

The Hellenist vision of an “unbounded God” was intolerable, particularly for the “Zionists” of the Diaspora-Jewish synagogues; and they unleashed their fury on these Greek-speaking Christian “radicals” in their midst.

Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 211). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

These new perspectives coming out of the Jesus community were threatening to people who used the religion to ruthlessly control others, stay in power, feed their appetites for vain glory, and line their pockets. They saw no choice but to rid their communities of the new sect of Jesus followers.

Questions for Consideration

1. How have you experienced persecution for your devotion to Christ, being godly, and being truthful? Are you willing to accept that it is part of the promises of God (2 Timothy 3:12) and consequence of keeping company with Christ (1 Peter?
2. The command and approved response to being mistreated for serving Jesus is worship (Matthew 5:11-12; 1 Peter 4:16) and giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18). What are you doing with this command from Christ?
3. You have been counted worthy! Of what? Read all of these verses and then answer the question (Matthew 5:11-12; Acts 5:40-41).

Your persecution for following Jesus is your participation in the suffering that was once directed at the head. Now the body of Christ is suffering; you have been made part of that body through faith in Christ. To be included in that suffering is confirmation that you are His and that He is yours. Rejoice that you have been counted worthy to suffer shameful treatment for His name.

In His grip by His grace,
Roderick L. Barnes, Sr.

References

Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 211). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

The decision to move on is sometime more important than the direction. And the decision not to depart, when it clear that Christ is calling us away from a status quo or ungodly station, is defiance and a deadening disobedience. The abundant life He offers is in leaning on Him as we leave it all behind (Matthew 4:18-20; Luke 5:27-28):

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8, NKJV

In His grip by His grace,
Roderick Barnes

Life is a journey. For a leader, it is a double journey as we travel with others. For leaders of leaders, frequent flier miles can quickly add up. For those leaders who are “worried and troubled about many things,” frequent flier miles may never be cashed in. A regular pre-flight announcement states, “If oxygen masks are necessary, they will drop from a compartment above. If you are traveling with a child or someone needing assistance, put your mask on first.” Why? Because you can’t help someone when you are struggling yourself. Right? Not so fast; we Christian leaders do it all the time.

As leaders, we often forget to grab some oxygen first before we take care of our charges. Someone is always in need, and good leaders always care. The better a leader you are, the more people will seek you out. You didn’t become a good leader by only looking out for yourself. Being a leader is a call, and it is confirmed by people looking for you. Compass needs leaders who go beyond a title or seeking recognition. And Compass is committed to making sure our leaders continue to look more and more like Jesus.

Once, when Jesus was leading a life group in Martha and Mary’s house, the principle of “put your oxygen on first” was on full display. Martha wanted Mary to get up and help her take care of the people hearing Jesus. Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

To care for others is our call, but that must be balanced with an insatiable thirst for being with Jesus. We can’t give what we don’t have. I’m not saying ignore people; I’m saying make sure you are serving others out of a deep breath of the Spirit of Jesus. It makes shepherding an adventure and keeps the burn-out far away. Think adventure!

I’m not big on guilt as a motivation, so don’t take this as an admonition to get your priorities right. What I am saying is that the journey you invite your disciples on will be more life-giving when we maintain our spiritual discipline of personal devotional time. It is the kind of journey that will keep us from burning out.

Tools for enhancing our devotional time:

 Refresh and Recalibrate: https://bit.ly/4cP7WNc

 The Spiritual Disciple of Resetting: https://spirituallyhungry.com/the-spiritual-discipline-of-resetting/

For you leaders, it is a reminder, not an invitation. “Continue to choose the good part.”

Dr. Alex Mandes

Moving On

Acts 5:12-16

¹² And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Introduction

What does a congregation do after events like the discipline displayed with Ananias and Sapphira? You could stop everything and get a consultant / counselor to come in and help everyone deal with the grief and fear that comes with lying to the Spirit and the Spirit’s removal of the wrongdoers. You could lose momentum and eventually have to shut things down. That would involve contacting the district because the assets of the church actually belong to the denomination. If you were in the Ananias camp you could convene a clandestine committee to replace Peter. (But, in light of most recent events, Peter is going to know. And may the Lord have mercy on you when you come to church.)

Acknowledge the anointing and authority of the apostles. Their position and power in God’s work makes lying to them tantamount to lying to the Holy Spirit.

But what does a fellowship do after events like those recorded in Acts 5:1-11. In the writing of Luke we see that some things continue without change and one thing does not remain the same.

Continuity of Miraculous Power (Acts 5:12a)

With the conjunction and of and through the apostles hands (δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων) of Acts 5:12 the material following the tragedy of Ananias and Sapphira is tied to the account that follows. In effect, using the coordinating conjunction, Luke tells the reader to look at Acts 5:12-16 in light of what has just happened.

The power of the apostle’s anointing continued to be at work with many signs and wonders being done among the people. Do not miss the significance of their continued ability to do miracles. Their credentials as approved men of God and authorities to whom the people must listen were in the many signs and wonders (John 14:11). If you were struggling with what had happened your confidence in the apostles would be restored daily by their godly character and their great ongoing power to help others. Through the continuity of miracles through the apostles, Christ was telling the church that He continued to be at work both in and through the apostles and that He approved of the outcome with Ananias and Sapphira.

Continuity of Unified Fellowship (Acts 5:12b)

The people continued to be unified as a fellowship. It says that they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. In light of verse 13 the all is certainly a reference to the known congregation prior to the event of Ananias and Sapphira. That same group of people, minus two, is still meeting in Solomon’s Porch. Unity remained and the custom of coming together in the temple to hear the word continued.

Ending of the Local Church Membership Drive and Continued Church Growth (Acts 5:13)

The growth of the formal fellowship that met in Solomon’s Porch (Acts 2:47) stopped. Seeing that the church involved both a dazzling display of kingdom power to reverse the curse and a deadly display of kingdom discipline, some people chose to not join the church fellowship. A godly fear has come out of the events recorded earlier (Acts 5:5, 11).

Some do not want to join the local church yet. And that is okay. They are not yet ready to bring their living under the authority of apostolic leadership. They believe in Jesus but know that if they join their fellowship they would have to continuously ask themselves and if their contemplations, their conversations, and their conduct were honest. Some commentaries seem to say that this is an issue:

One may wonder how the statement that “none of the others dared to join” the disciples can be squared with the report of “more and more” being added to their fellowship; the point seems to be that the death of Ananias and Sapphira scared off all but the totally committed (Bruce, 1988, p. 109).

However, there is no real difficulty here. It seems to me that some were able to bring themselves to put their faith in Jesus. However, in light of the recent events showing the seriousness of not acknowledging the anointing on the apostles, they were not ready to put themselves immediately under the leadership of the apostles. Knowing very little about the new cult of believers they must have wondered how easily one could bring capital punishment upon oneself. This is not altogether unlike the life-changing faith of “god-fearing” Gentiles who found a stumbling block in circumcision (Acts 10:1-4). I believe they are similar to a highly respected rabbi that visited Jesus at night (John 3:1-2); he believed in Jesus’ name (John 2:23-25) and verbally acknowledged Jesus as a teacher come from God. However he was not yet ready to be submitted to Jesus’ teaching and commands (John 2:10-11). Later this same man will show a measure of sincere concern for the Lord by anointing and burying his body (John 19:39). What must not be ignored is the fact that the believers were added to the Lord.

Some do not want to join the local church yet. And that is okay. They are not yet ready to bring their living under the authority of apostolic leadership. They believe in Jesus but know that if they joined they might bring judgement themselves.

The power of the miracles attracts. The awesome power of the Spirit that judges also demands commitment and responsibility. Before that power the crowd kept its distance with healthy respect, unless they were willing to fully submit to that power and make a commitment. Many did, Luke said, making it clear this time that men and women became disciples and were added to the growing community of believers (v. 14). (Polhill, 1992)

Church membership is not mandatory. It is automatic. Becoming a member of the Church is a consequence of committing oneself to Christ. This is why the apostles, following in the footsteps of their Rabbi, do not bother people with overly formal processes for becoming Jesus followers. Absent from the appeals of Peter are calls to sign a pledge, take a class, or be registered with a local fellowship. The sufficient outward signs of surrender to the Lord were seen in the believer’s baptism and changed life.

The Church is joined when the believer places their faith in Christ. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. What often remains is the finding of a local fellowship (church with a little “c”) in which to carry out the call to live for the Lord. This is sometimes said to be optional. However, Scripture makes it clear that only in disobedience and a disposition of defiance can a Jesus follower avoid regular fellowship (Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 18:1).

What does all of this mean? When you are told that you are only a real Christian when you have joined a particular fellowship… run! This is not what Scripture teaches and is the precursor to being manipulated. Still, if you have made a decision to follow Christ do not let the following become a self-absorbed lonely walk. To follow Jesus is to follow Him into community and serve others. This will mean finding a fellowship where you can attend services (worship in community) AND help with the work of caring for its membership (work in the church) while bringing the good news to those who have not heard (witness to the world).

Questions for Consideration

1. Do I have a healthy respect for the anointing (abiding presence of the Holy Spirit) in church leadership? This should be expressed in a care about how I interact with them.
2. Am I committed to my local church fellowship? Beyond attendance, do I support my local church in the care of its members, worship, and witness to the surrounding community?

References

Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

¹ But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. ² And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? ⁴ While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” ⁵ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. ⁶ And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. ⁷ Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have 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.” ¹⁰ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. ¹¹ So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

The But of Acts 5:1 antagonizes the message of Acts 4:32-35. Where Barnabas sold his land and brought the entire proceed to the church for its use, Ananias merely claimed to do this. His sin, with Sapphira his wife, was not in keeping back part of the price of the land. Peter makes it clear that he could have done that (Acts 5:4). There would have been no fault in giving only a portion of the sale to the church. In fact, Ananias could have kept the land in his own possession without there being a problem. His contribution was not compulsory (Acts 5:3-4).

Why did he do it? He and his wife wanted to be counted with the highly committed while still keeping a foot in the world. They wanted a positive nickname too. But, with a discernment that was given to him by the Holy Spirit, Peter explains why the plan would not work:

The Seriousness of Not Seeing the Anointing — Ananias failed to acknowledge the Anointing as he acted out his trespass. Even in the presence of continuous expressions of Heaven’s power (Acts 4:33) he made the mistake of regarding men after the flesh and the fellowship as being no more than what he could see. But the men leading the fellowship were anointed by God and able to do and see things above and beyond what is possible for mere mortals. The fellowship before Ananias and Sapphira is not only with the seen but also with the unseen Spirit of the Lord. The fellowship, treated as common and something to be manipulated, was in fact consecrated. That couple was tragically unholy in dealing with a people made holy by the Spirit of Holiness.

In light of all that Ananias had seen in the way of wonders it is amazing and confounding to Peter that he could have been so dull in thinking that his sin would not be seen. How did Ananias arrive at this point? The answer is that Satan had filled his heart to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Satan had been at work trying to ruin the new creation. Just as in the garden, that serpent of old (Genesis 3:1,4; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9; 20:2) had been working to (1) deceive people in paradise and (2) ruin relationships. After a while the arch nemesis of God was able to convince Ananias to lie to the Spirit. What could have been worse than bringing Satan’s corrupting influence entry into the new fellowship? Ananias had allowed Satan to furnish the rooms of his heart with worldly intentions.

Doors for Demonic Activity — When we fail to take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Philippians 4:8) and and refuse to rigorously exclude ungodly desires that would take up residence in our hearts we (1) open doors for demonic activity and (2) create conditions conducive to crimes against God and His community (Ephesians 4:25-27; Romans 12:19; James 4:7).

Action Steps — Let us stop lying and speak truth (Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:15, 25; Colossians 3:9).

1. 1. Stop Active Lying – Deceptive statements
   2. Stop Passive Lying – Omissions that mislead

Peter does not punish the man but explains the great foolishness of trying to deceive God; the sin, in this case, is judged by God Himself. Upon hearing these words Ananias dies (Acts 5:5). Sapphira colludes with her husband to mislead the church. But the plan will fail with tragic results. Asked if what she brought was the entire sale price of the land Sapphira, says that it was (Acts 5:8). As in so many Old Testament cases the opportunity to confess was given. Here are ten passages from the Old Testament where God asks a question aimed at prompting confession or self-reflection:

• Genesis 3:9 – After Adam and Eve sinned, God asks Adam, “Where are you?”
• Genesis 4:9 – God asks Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
• Genesis 18:13 – “And the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?'”
• Genesis 21:17 – God asks Hagar, “What ails you, Hagar?”
• Genesis 32:27 – God asks Jacob, “What is your name?”
• Job 38:4 – God asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”
• 1 Samuel 15:14 – “But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?'”
• Jonah 4:4 – “Then the Lord said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?'”
• Jeremiah 2:5 – God asks Israel, “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me?”

These passages are instances where God’s questions are used to initiate introspection, catalyze confession, or to elicit a response that reveals deeper truths about the individuals involved. Sapphira did not make the most of her opportunity. If she had, mercy would have been shown:

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

Instead she took the opportunity to confirm her decision to test the Spirit of the Lord. What was the test?

The Test of Ananias and Saphira — Can we get away with lying about our giving in order to get a better status in our church community? Will God know?

She also dies and was carried away to be buried with her husband. Although this is bad, consider with me the consequences. Luke says that the result of this rebuke was that great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things (Acts 5:11). The loss of earthly life has produced in the church a profound reverence for the presence of Christ and the position of the apostles. Christ in our midst at communion is serious; by treating it lightly we bring upon ourselves judgement. Christ at work through the leadership of the apostles is serious; by treating them as mere men the meaning of the miracles is missed and the Presence at work in them is disrespected.

Figure 1 – Signs and their Significance in the Opening of Acts

The immediate deaths of this deceptive couple were a sign indicating a spiritual reality – God does not want or tolerate lying in his church. Just as the signs of Pentecost and the fellowship prayer were not going to be repeated, the immediate deaths of liars in the church is not happening today. But the spiritual reality indicated in the narrative is that with God there is a deep displeasure associated with people in the church lying to one another and to Him. Former is unloving. The latter is dumb; He knows all. Today is the day to stop lying and start telling the truth. We should do this out of reverence for the Holy Spirit in our midst, out of caring for concern for the people that are our brother and sisters in the faith, and with the goal of protecting the quality of our witness. The whole idea of lying is from Satan the father of lies; it is what he had done from the beginning (Genesis 3:1-4). The notion should be arrested and rejected. When we fail to do that the suggestion eventually looks reasonable and becomes sin (Genesis 3:6).

Questions for Community Discussion

1. In the verses of Acts 4:32-37 we are given a general description of the character of the new community. How does Luke give us an example of that character?
2. Would you be willing to part ways with your stuff to ensure that the needs of other believers in our fellowship are met? What encouragement did they have (Acts 4:33)?
3. What explains their ability to show this level of generosity (Ephesians 4:17-21; Romans 5:5; 1 John 5:1)?
4. What was the difference between the gift of Barnabas and the gift of Ananias (Acts 4:36-37; 5:1-4)?
5. Is your giving about gratitude toward God and worship or is it about garnering praise, creating a perception of piety, and generating an image of generosity.
6. Does it matter if your presentation of an offering does not line up with the truth (John 4:24)?

7. Do you think that Ananias was saved? Consider the words of 1 Corinthians 5:5 as you formulate an answer.

Barnabas Brings a Blessing (Acts 4:36-37)

³⁶ And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

The And of Acts 4:36 amplifies what has been said in Acts 4:32-35. A Levite named Joses (or Joseph) made a decision to receive Jesus as his own personal Lord and Savior. Luke will bring back Joses later. He is introduced now for the purpose of providing a positive and personal example of the sharing seen in the early church.

It is noteworthy that Joses is given another name by the apostles — Barnabas. The nickname has been given as a sign of respect and to encourage a person. [This was done by Jesus Himself for Simon when He was given the name Peter or Cephas (Matthew 16:18; John 1:42). In that case it was a foreshadowing of the fisherman’s destiny; he would be a rock in the church.] Barnabas means Son of Encouragement. And Barnabas excelled in the encouragement of others (Acts 9:26f; 15:36-39; 11:20-23; 11:24).

• Intercedes to Encourage Acceptance of a Former Pharisee – Paul (Acts 9:26f)
• Encourages a Deserter with a Second Chance – Mark (Acts 15:26-39)
• Encourages the Church in Reaching Rejected Jews – Antiochene Christians (Acts 11:20-23)

The encouraging ministry of Barnabas is explained as a ministry of the Spirit through him (Acts 11:24). Having introduced the positive general idea of sharing and then an encouraging character, Luke briefly shows us an example. The account put on display Barnabas in the Spirit-inspired activity of great giving (Acts 4:37). Of his own accord Barnabas sold his land and then laid the total amount at the apostles’ feet. In doing this Barnabas speaks volumes to us about what his church means to him. And God speaks to us about a sign of our anointing — love.

The Sign of Our Anointing (Romans 5:5) – His fellowship goes farther than mere membership. It works to meet needs and encourage the family of God. In Barnabas’ example is the complete surrender of self to Jesus and a high regard for those He has put in leadership. It sees him giving without trying to control the gift.

Barnabas brings a blessing to the church. He was not commanded to sell his land and give the proceeds. He was compelled by his faith and his love of his church family. This type of giving is held up for us as a good example.

• Cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:7) – His giving was in line with his nature: encouraging; the money from the sale of the land was given with an attitude that would have been an encouragement to the fellowship?
• Sacrificial – His giving was of the sort that cannot be repeated. Once the land was sold, as a matter of course, it was no longer his. Barnabas willingly chose to have less so that the fellowship could have what it needed. In this way he looks like Jesus; the Son of Man made Himself poor so that we could be given what we need: forgiveness, favor, and a future with our heavenly Father.

Questions for Considerations

1. If my church leadership were to give me a nickname based on my behavior in the body, what would it be? Is it a nickname for which I am glad or would I like it to change?
2. What blessing do I bring to my fellowship? Do I give it gladly or with a grudge?
3. Is the blessing that I bring surrendered to the church or do I try to control it after giving it?

Action Items for Today

• Pray for an understanding of what attitude is associated with your own giving. That is, ask God to reveal if your giving is cheerful or done merely as a duty.
• Look for a way to give to your fellowship that is(1) secret, (2) sacrificial, and (3) surrendered without an ongoing goal of controlling the gift.

Introduction

This is the second time that the reader is told summarily that the people had all things in common (Acts 2:44, 4:32). But where the first summary is used to close a description of the immediate outworking and character of the early church in its new anointing (Acts 2:43-47), this report opens a lesson on the purpose of the power of the Spirit in leaders (Acts 4:32-37), the character of the Spirit as seen in the people being led (Acts 4:34-37), and the serious sin of lying among those set apart by God (Acts 5:1-11). This passage is a powerful study in the consequences of surrendered and unsurrendered living in saints. F. F. Bruce, in his classic commentary on Acts, says

The summary contained in these verses is similar to that in 2:43–47, but serves a different purpose in the narrative. The earlier summary concluded the account of the day of Pentecost; this summary introduces the contrasted episodes of Barnabas and Ananias. (Bruce, 1988, p. 100)

If you will tarry with me in this post for just a moment in the study of Acts 4:32-5:11, we will come away understanding three things: (1) the why of our anointing, (2) the sign of our anointing, (3) and the seriousness of seeing and respecting the mission of church community.

When The Kingdom Came (Acts 4:32-35; Romans 14:17)

³² Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, ³⁵ and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The Kingdom Came in Attitude (Acts 4:32a) – The great company of people that has placed its faith in Christ is characterized by unity. They were of one heart. That is to say that they were unified in their desire to make Him known; the heart may be regarded as the seat of my desire and central to my consciousness and ability to aspire (Acts 4:29-30; Genesis 6:5-6; Genesis 43:30; Deuteronomy 6:6). They are also said to be of one soul. Where the heart is regarded as the seat of my desires the soul encompasses all that I am; it is, in many ways, my identity.

• Psalm 103:1-2 – ¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
• Matthew 16:26 – ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
• Luke 12:20 – ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

In fact the word soul means self more than the word self means self. To speak of the saving of oneself is really to refer to the soul. While it may be an acronym, the distress letters SOS are said to mean save our souls not save our selves. Even today it is common to refer the count of passengers on a plane or ship as the number of souls on board.

The church, at this point in the account from Luke, has no division in it. There are no denominations, no designations for people who believe in tongues and those who don’t, no associations for congregations that only use particular translations of the Bible. The church is unified under Jesus and in that sense has one identity or soul.

Arguing is absent and the progress of the church is not hindered by warring agendas; the people are unified in their ambition to make Jesus known (Psalm 133:1-2) – to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8; John 15:27). A disposition of meekness, generosity, and sharing with one another is ruling the day (James 3:13-18). The unanimity in their thinking and great graciousness toward one another is the outworking of their changed natures. In this way they signify to Jesus their surrender to Him and certify to the world that they are His followers:

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

The community is a spectacle, a marvel among men, and grand departure from the world’s way of working. The kingdom of God has come (Romans 14:17).

¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

The Kingdom Came in Action (Acts 4:32b) – The new community is nothing like the world around them. They are peculiar, when compared to ancient or modern congregations, in their consideration of the needs of one another and their conduct with earthly things. Readers are peering into a strange world when told that neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own (Acts 4:32). Think on that: people who own things consider those things as belonging to the community – as common. If you force this idea on someone it is communism and an attempt to better society through an ungodly and dehumanizing overreach into personal affairs. But what do you say when people do it on their own? Imagine the conversation today:

Frank – Walking up to Bob as he is sitting counting out change for bus fare Frank speaks, “Bob, we noticed that you do not have a car and that you need one to get to work. Here are the keys to a good working vehicle.”

Bob – With a look of gladness and confusion he says, “Who’s car is this?”

Frank – With a smile he says on behalf of the group Frank says, “Ours, Bob. It is our car.”

In the midst of all this harmony and helping one another the Spirit of God is using this period of peculiar peace to make surrounding people see the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:33). To what end? Again, the unity, the uncommon sharing, and the supernatural powers are all present for one reason – to make Him known.

⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

In the latter part of Acts 4:33 it says that great grace or favor was upon them all. They were experiencing the kingdom (Deuteronomy 15:4). Why?

The Why of Our Anointing

With only a modest reading of the New Testament it is obvious that much of present-day talk surrounding the gathering of believers and the anointing of the Holy Spirit is not supported by Heaven. The Spirit’s presence among surrendered believers promotes unity under Jesus’ name, self-initiated humble sharing of possessions for the needs of Jesus’ people, and a display of Jesus-promoting power that cannot be ignored. To what end? That is, why do we receive the Spirit of Holiness? Our Anointing, while of great benefit to our fellowship, is aimed at promoting the recognition of Jesus’ Lordship. The Holy Spirit is poured out on us for many reasons. Chief among them is the enabling of a life that is effective in making Jesus known.

Luke, having described the general character of the new community, brings the report on early Christian sharing into focus with two specific examples – one to be admired (Barnabas) and one to be avoided (Ananias and Sapphira).

Questions for Consideration

1. Is my community characterized by generosity and unity?
2. What happens when the needs of people in my community become known?
3. In the light of the Bible says about the kingdom (Romans 14:17), can it be seen in my church community?

References

Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.