The Church Works Together (Acts 4:32-5:11)

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Background

After Peter’s preaching and the group’s prayer for boldness and for God to act in miraculous ways, the group felt a sense of further oneness, and one of their first actions was to give generously to meet the needs of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The first picture of generosity was given in Acts 2, where the believers were sharing what they had and selling their possessions to give to all “as had any need” Here in acts 4, this pattern continued though not all would be generous.

“The believers had their hearts knit together in holy love, and enlarged their charity to the poor, and the church flourished more than ever, to the glory of Christ” -Matthew Henry

God’s People Practice Generosity (Acts 4:32-37)

Acts 4:32–37 (NASB95)

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:32 NASB95

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

Note: Matthew Henry Cites John Lightfoot stating that this was probably the year of jubilee, meaning that what was sold, would not be returned for 50 year, so it would sell at a very high price, as the buyer would get 50 year of use out of it.

Supporting Passages:

Philippians 1:27 (NASB95)

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 2:2 (NASB95)

make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Jeremiah 32:39 (NASB95)

and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

John 17:21 (NASB95)

that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

1 Peter 2:9–10 NASB95

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Deuteronomy 32:9 NASB95

“For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.

Here it is demonstrated by Paul that the church is supposed to be unified and they did so in the early church.

We are united through the grace of Christ in that we have received mercy

There is no other tie that binds more deeply than being saved by Jesus Christ

Additionally, we see that this is a direct result of their prayer for the Holy spirit in verse 31. (Have someone read verse 31)

How can we, as a body of believers, feel and act more unified?

We can pray for the work of the Holy Spirit to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and make us more unified.

Romans 12:2 NASB95

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Have someone read Key Doctrine 88 on page 112

Note: Cyprus was a significant distance from Jerusalem.

Acts 11:22–24 (NASB95)

The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

What does it take to sacrifice worldly goods for the sake of the needs in the church body?

It takes faith that whatever is given to God will result in heavenly treasure.

Matthew 25:40 NASB95

“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

It takes a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit

When we walk by the spirit, a direct result is the bearing of one another’s burdens (See Galatians 5-6).

This is an answer to Jesus’s prayer in John 17

John 17:10–11 NASB95

and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.

Note: Additionally, notice that this is the second greatest command , which results directly from a love of God. It’s no coincidence or accident that this is happening.

Matthew 22:36–39 NASB95

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

“Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality” - A.W. Tozer

Acts 4:36–37 (NASB95)

Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

God’s People Confront Sin (Acts 5:1 - 9)

Acts 5:1–9 (NASB95)

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”

Note: Ananias and Sapphira seem to be some of those who hold a form of godliness but deny its power”.

2 Timothy 3:5 NASB95

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Even among the most mature churches, there are some who are hypocrites and may not hold a true saving faith.

1 Corinthians 10:12 NASB95

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

Matthew Henry writes this of their sin:

They were ambitious of being thought of as eminent disciples

They were covetous of the wealth and distrustful of God

They lied to God (the Holy Spirit)

“As it is better not to vow than to vow and not to pay, so better had it been for him not to have sold his land at all than thus to keep back part of the price; not to have pretended to do the good work than thus to do it by the halves” -Matthew Henry

Some speak of the God of the old testament and the God of the new testament as if he is more brutal or more strict in the old testament than he is in the new. While the Mosaic law was not yet fulfilled in Christ, it is true that they were held to more laws. But God is the same God int he new testament as he was in the old, and this is a great example of the attribute of God’s justice displayed int he new testament.

How easy or difficult is it to confront sin in others and why?

Because we sometimes have sin in our own lives

For more study on biblical correction. see Matthew 18

When confronted with sin, why do we sometimes fall into more sin when we are unrepentant?

Because sin darkens our hearts: Ephesians 4:18

Ephesians 4:18 NASB95

being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;

God’s People Display Reverence (Acts 5:10-11)

Acts 5:10–11 NASB95

And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

How do we balance an understanding of the seriousness of sin, with an understanding of grace and the willingness to forgive?

By knowing the biblical God

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How can the church instill more of an understanding of reverent fear of God to its people?

By encouraging people to be in the word. People will not have reverent fear of God if they do not know who he is. People need biblical knowledge of God. The world will try to tell you who God is, but we need to know who he says he is, and the only way we can know that is through God’s word and sitting under faithful bible teaching.

“Be killing Sin or it will be killing you” - John Owne

Mention Mortification of Sin (Exposition of Romans 8:13) for further study.

Romans 8:13 NASB95

for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Conclusion

Head: How was Jesus generous and how can we imitate him?

Jesus gave his own life for the church in sacrificial love for us

We can imitate him by doing the same for others to a lesser degree

2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB95

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Heart: How have you experienced the generosity of the church body that you can thank God for?

Through Will and Amanda, through various people in this church.

Galatians 6:10 NASB95

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Hands: Where do you need to demonstrate increased generosity?

Conclude: We are the people of God and should follow Christ’s command to love one another and obey the command to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” This is the grace of God that allows that, so we can pray to him and ask him to do that work in our lives. Also, we need to look to Christ and know him. We need to be in God’s Word as frequently as we can be. I know I don’t do it enough. We need his word because man cannot live on bread alone.

Pray

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994).