Acts 4:32-5:11 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 4:32-5:11

• How do act you when everything is going right and good in your life?
  • I love it when a plan comes together! And pat you own back.
  • Worry and think Watch out something bad is going to happen!
  • Thank you Jesus! For this time of blessing!
• Context:
  • The early church was going great, people were being won to Christ. The church primarily was still in Jerusalem. We will see two stories that are opposites of the same coin. One is a great blessing the other a great threat to the kingdom of God.
• Acts 4:32
• 32 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.
  • Is it possible to really live like that? If so, what makes it possible?
    • Evidently it is. We need to remember these followers of Jesus come from the same religious background. They see Jesus as their Messiah and as His followers, they may see themselves as the rescued remnant of God’s people. 
  • It sounds like they are fulfilling
    • Deuteronomy 15:4 4 However, there need be no poor people among you…
  • What does it mean to be one in heart & mind?
    • They were one.
  • Are followers of Christ united?
    • Are they practicing love to one another?
  • Do they have same Spirit living inside them?
    • Can The Holy Spirit empower you to live so unselfishly and the Holy Spirit changes your perspective
  • Can unity in pursuit of a common goal be a very powerful thing?
• Acts 4:33-37
• 33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. 34 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, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
  • What are the apostles doing in all of this?
    • They are testifying to the resurrection of Jesus. The warning for the Jewish leaders to be quite about Jesus was being ignored.
    • These early Christians in Jerusalem had 12 living examples of what it means to follow and live for Christ, before them. 
  • What impact did that have on them?
  • What were the results of these united hearts and minds in the world around them?
    • It appears it gave more credibility to their message
    • Within the Church there was no needy person…so needs were being met
  • Is generosity catching and encouraging and can it inspire others to do more? What example are we given here by Luke?
    • People selling property and giving the proceeds to the apostles to distribute.  
  • What is the specific example are we given?
    • Barnabas … we will hear more about Barnabas further in Acts.  Does Barnabas give a good example for being generous?
  • What was being done with the money given?
    • It was not enriching the apostles but going to meet the needs of people.
• Acts 5:1-2
• But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 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.
  • Who did the property belong to that was sold?  
  • Who did the money belong to once they sold the property?
  • What did Ananias decide to with the money from the sale of the property?
    • Keep some for himself… was it his to keep? Is there any wrong in that?
  • Does Sapphira know what is going on?
  • What does Ananias do with the money he is not going to keep?
    • Lays it the apostle’s feet.  So what is the problem? Deception… Ananias is saying all the proceeds from the sale of my property I am giving to help the church.
  • Why didn’t Ananias just tell the truth?
    • I am giving this amount of money from what I received from the sale of my property.
  • Why were they giving the money and making look like a greater sacrifice?
    • They weren’t giving because they loved God – they were giving because they loved themselves – they wanted others to think highly of them, pat them on the back, marvel at their generosity, and applaud them for their sacrifice. Maybe they were envious of  Barnabas and the  honor he received by his donation. 
  • What did Jesus say to do about giving See Matthew 6:1-4
    • “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
• Acts 5:3-6
• 3 “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? 4 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.” 5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
  • Do you think Ananias thought was deceiving the Holy Spirit?
    • I think he thought he was deceiving People.  The word used for “lied” can mean to steal or embezzle.
  • How was Ananias buried?
    • He may have been planning on a fancy funeral. But it looks like he is buried in his own cloak with no mourning performed and his wife uninformed.
  • What impact does this have on those who know about it?
• Acts 5:7-11
• 7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” 9 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.” 10 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. 11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
  • What do you think she expected when coming before Peter?
    • Many thanks for their generous giving… she should have got clue who Peter questions her.
  • Does Peter treat Sapphira fair?
    • She is in the dark about her husband’s fate. She has an opportunity to come clean but maybe she thought the shame would be too much. In telling the truth.
  • Why do you think God dealt so harshly with this deception?
  • Who is to decide what we give to the Lord?
    • 2 Corinthians 9:7 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
  • What do you think, Ananias and Sapphira lost their lives, what about their salvation?
  • TAKE AWAY
    • Notice the first recorded lie in the Church was about money. 
    • Are we to give in way that would bring praise and honor to us?
    • Giving is not about how much you give – it is about Who has got your heart!
    • If God did today what He did then to those being deceptive and hypocritical in the church, what do you think would happen?