All together, Hold that Thought

Acts 4:32-5:16

Acts 4:32–5:16 CSB

Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree 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.” Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things. Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

They Apostles and early believers were ALL IN!

One Heart and Mind

When we last saw the Apostles, they were in a place that was physically shaken because of the power of the Holy Spirit as a response to their prayers. There were 5000 men who believed and the believers were emboldened with power to share the Gospel as a result of their prayer and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The result of this was Unity of both heart and mind and a great grace was upon them. There was great diversity in the early church in both a social and economic sense. Many were poor and many had undergone sudden loss of income because of their decision to follow Jesus. There was still this great threat to believers from the Sanhedrin. This makes them being in one heart amazing. The rich and poor alike felt like family. There was no discrimination among them. The fact that the diversity amongst the new believers was not only economic but also cultural is another amazing observation considering their newfound unity. They came to faith from differing religious thoughts…though all Jewish to this point. Embracing their newfound faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection brought them into a familial relationship, fulfilling Jesus’ prayer in John 17.