When I was growing up, my favorite sport to play was American football. I still enjoy watching it. Recently ESPN added an additional channel to cover Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli Manning as commentators. I will often switch to this channel during the game to hear what the Manning brothers are discussing.
Today’s reading at the end of Acts 4 appears to switch channels, revealing two different viewpoints on the early church. First, we see a beautiful picture of harmony. Due to new Jewish believers moving into Jerusalem, the believers were working together in unity. Everyone was helping one another financially. From time to time, people were selling their property so there wasn’t any need among members. They would bring the proceeds to the apostles to distribute as necessary. They were genuinely living in community with one another.
An example of this generosity was Barnabas. “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet” (vv. 36–37). Then the text switches channels and we get a different perspective. Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife, also owned a piece of property. They too decided to sell their property and they brought a portion of the sales to the apostles (5:2). But both Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead. Why?
Because of their deception. Peter asked Sapphira as he had earlier questioned her husband, “Is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said. Peter said, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (vv. 8–9). Both Ananias and his wife had falsely claimed they had brought all the proceeds of the sale to the apostles. Their deception was met with punishment from God.
Go Deeper
This story prompts us to examine ourselves. Have you been completely honest before the Lord? We are only fooling ourselves when we aren’t.
Pray with Us
Show us where we haven’t been completely honest with You, God. We don’t want our selfishness to interfere with our testimony about You. Give us clean hands and pure hearts.
All the believers were one in heart and mind.Acts 4:32
