Respecting the Fire
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The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Beware of the Serpent! (Acts 4:32–5:16)
the Spirit-filled church is unified, magnified, and multiplied
As a fire burns, their are always those who think that they are immune to its power. They have to learn proper respect for the fire.
As the church grew some tried to take advantage of the Holy Spirit's work for their own glory. God protected the purity of the church by disciplining Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Here we see 3 reactions to the Holy Spirit in the early church.
1. Enjoying the Warmth of the Fire (32-37)
1. Enjoying the Warmth of the Fire (32-37)
acts 5
32 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. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 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 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. 36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
The Reason for the Warmth (32-33)
The Reason for the Warmth (32-33)
Unity in Property
Unity in Witness
Unity in Grace
The Reason for the Warmth (32-33)
Unity in Heart, Unity in Property, Unity in Witness, Unity in Grace
Not Christian Communism. They all owned their own property until it was voluntarily laid at the apostles feet.
The Way they were Warmed (34-35)
The Way they were Warmed (34-35)
The Way they were Warmed (34-35)
The Example of Warmth (36-37)
The Example of Warmth (36-37)
Believer’s Bible Commentary F. The Persecution and Growth of the Church (4:1–7:60)
Somewhat sarcastic but sadly too often true is F. E. Marsh’s modern parallel:
One has said, in contrasting the early Church with the Christianity of today, “Is it not a solemn thought, that if the evangelist Luke were describing modern instead of primitive Christianity, he would have to vary the phraseology of Acts 4:32–35 somewhat as follows: …” And the multitude of them that professed were of hard heart and stony soul, and every one said that all the things which he possessed were his own: and they had all things in the fashion. And with great power gave they witness to the attractions of this world, and great selfishness was upon them all. And there were many among them that lacked love, for as many as were possessors of lands bought more, and sometimes gave a small part thereof for a public good, so their names were heralded in the newspapers, and distribution of praise was made to every one according as he desired.”
2. Stealing the Warmth of the Fire (1-10)
2. Stealing the Warmth of the Fire (1-10)
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 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. 3 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? 4 “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.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. 7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 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.” 9 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.” 10 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.
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 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. 3 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? 4 “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.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. 7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 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.” 9 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.” 10 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. 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. 12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. 12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
The Deception (1-2)
The Deception (1-2)
The Confrontation of Ananias (3-6)
The Confrontation of Ananias (3-6)
The Confrontation of Sapphira (7-10)
The Confrontation of Sapphira (7-10)
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Beware of the Serpent! (Acts 4:32–5:16)
Ananias means “God is gracious,” but he learned that God is also holy; and Sapphira means “beautiful,” but her heart was ugly with sin.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Beware of the Serpent! (Acts 4:32–5:16)
Hypocrisy is deliberate deception, trying to make people think we are more spiritual than we really are.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Beware of the Serpent! (Acts 4:32–5:16)
Ananias means “God is gracious,” but he learned that God is also holy; and Sapphira means “beautiful,” but her heart was ugly with sin.
44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
23 “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Beware of the Serpent! (Acts 4:32–5:16)
The church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), and Satan attacks it with his lies. The church is God’s temple in which He dwells (1 Cor. 3:16), and Satan wants to move in and dwell there too. The church is God’s army (2 Tim. 2:1–4), and Satan seeks to get into the ranks as many traitors as he can. The church is safe so long as Satan is attacking from the outside, but when he gets on the inside, the church is in danger.
3. Spreading the Warmth of the Fire (11-16)
3. Spreading the Warmth of the Fire (11-16)
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. 12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
Believer’s Bible Commentary F. The Persecution and Growth of the Church (4:1–7:60)
great power and great grace. Vance Havner lists four other marks, as follows: great fear (5:5, 11); great persecution (8:1); great joy (8:8; 15:3); a great number who believed (11:21).