Barnabas and Ananias

Introduction

When an author is writing a story they have to be very meticulous about what they write. While a fiction writer can dream up plenty of content to fill a story only limited by the imagination; a writer of history or non fiction cannot do that. They have to be sure to include what’s most important about a history or a person’s life and leave out all the less important stuff (to keep the story concise and digestible for the reader). For writers of the ancient world, it was a tall order to write down history (or anything). Unlike now, where I can go to office depot, get a couple 300 packs of paper and write all the mediocre stories I want; Our boy Luke here does not have that option. Writing materials were scarce, expensive and fragile. So, as Luke was investigating the stories of the apostles he probably heard hundreds of stories. But, he had to bring everything he heard into one concise story. One of the stories that he included that has remained controversial in the church, is that of Ananias and Saphirra. We strive to present Jesus as the grace filled Son of God who looked upon the most egregious of sinners with grace and acceptance. To tell of the mighty love of the Father that he would give up his Son that we may be restored to him. To share of the work of the Holy Spirit in showing God’s power and how he never leaves us. We look upon the story of Ananias and Saphirra with fear or scratching our heads. I mean God just showed the whole world the greatest act of mercy in its history right? Why would he all of the sudden show such merciless wrath on these people who made a mistake (even though Jesus on the cross was DEFINITELY a picture of God’s wrath and mercy working in tandem with each other. And I believe this story is that same theme. To fully understand this we have to see where the church was during this time. Right after Peter and John’s release from the Sanhedrin Luke describes the church doing an amazing thing in not treating anything they had selfishly. So no one would have any need at all. Even showing a picture of one man doing an incredibly generous act. And it’s in Barnabas that we see the set up as to why Ananias and Saphirra did what they did. What I pray to do then is to show you why God did what he did. And, why that’s important for us as LOFT City Church.

Acts 4:32-37

Luke describes what the Church in Jerusalem was doing in living their lives in Jerusalem. Paul’s letters would give us even more context to their economic situation. From what we could gather, the church in Jerusalem was among the poorest of the entire early church. Jerusalem was the center of religious and political life in Israel. Unfortunately, it never was in a place with a lot natural resources. It always struggled for water constantly for example. It was also the center of discontent for Roman rule among the Jews. Add in the fact that Non Christian Jews were starting to put economic pressure on the Christian Jews, The situation was always dire (Which is why Paul would ask other Churches for aid to the Jerusalem Church). The Church began to see all their possessions not as private, but commonly shared. From what we can tell this was an attitude that applied to the rich and the poor alike. If you owned property during this time you were probably doing better than most. Luke describes those who owned these properties selling them and laying everything down for the church to use. With all the common ownership no one had any need because everyone was taking only what they needed. For God’s saved people, selfishness and greed were no longer an option. Everyone had the common good of the church on their minds not their own gain. It’s in this wave of selling and giving that Luke introduces the man Barnabas. Or Joseph, it says in the text the apostles called him Barnabas. This man who the followers of Jesus gave the name Son of Encouragement was a part of this selling of his property and serves as our contrast to Ananias and Saphirra.

Acts 5:1-11