Ananias and Sapphira - The Church Attacked From the Inside

Acts 4:32-5:11

Summary: The Prayer for Boldness

The church just prayed that the Holy Spirit would embolden them and the Spirit moved in a obvious and radical way.

They had just experienced some persecution and were experiencing pressure of the world.

A Point about Joshua

Next week we will read Joshua 6 which tells of the fall of Jericho

This is beginning of the conquest of Canaan (which was ordered by God)

We are about to see a lot of people die

Many people end up getting confused because they are used to reading the New Testament which does not have lots of death or what feels like divine judgement in it, however, today our story has an example where God displays divine judgement on what many feel is an extreme way.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever

Some Preliminary Points

An attack from within (inside) the church this week

An attack from without (outside) the church next week

Everything in Common - Acts 4:32-37

A thriving church (v.32-33)

Acts 4:32–33 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Verse 32: The church together

This early church was a excellent model of what we should seek to be:

They consisted of believers

They were of “one heart and one soul”

They were completely selfless

Everything in common - πάντα κοινά (Panta Koina)

Aristotle used this same greek term is describe “a perfect and ideal gathering of friends” - “One soul dwelling in two bodies”

Evidence of being born again is that we want to be with other believers:

Ezekiel 36:26–28 ESV

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Verse 33: One Gospel

This church was built on the testimony of the apostles proclaiming the true gospel.

Generous Hearts (v.34-37)

Acts 4:34–37 ESV

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

These people were unmistakably generous.

Their generosity was radical!

The movement of God moved the people to generosity

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

Decision to sell the land

This couple decides to sell some of their own property but withholds some of the money back for themselves - so God kills them.

Why would God kill them?

1. They Lied

They were lying saying they were giving the entire amount to the church while secretly holding back profit for themselves.

A Study Commentary on The Acts of the Apostles The Church Assaulted from the inside (Acts 4:32–5:11)

They gave the appearance of donating the full sale price when, in fact, they were knowingly donating only a portion of the sale price. They had tried to purchase the reputation of godliness at a discount price.

They would have been fine had they just been honest about the amount they were giving.

2. It was the changing of a new covenant

God did lots of unique things when a new covenant was being introduced.

For Example Exodus 32 - God commands Moses to have the Levites kill the people that worshipped the golden calf.

3. To purify his people - to make them holy as He is holy

Anytime God does something like this he is guarding his Holiness

God demands his people to be holy because he is Holy

How Does this passage apply to us?

The church must be of one heart and one soul

The heart behind the gift is better than the gift

God will protect this church