Sharing All Things in Common and Some Remarkable Happenings

“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.  And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.  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 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need…However, the people held them in high esteem.  And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.” –Acts 4:32-35; 5:13b-14 (NASB.  Read Acts 4:32-5:16).

Today we look at a long passage, especially if we read all twenty-two verses suggested.  Remember we are studying a summary of the early church, and as Luke wrote Acts he gave very pertinent and memorable information to give us an insight into how the Holy Spirit worked to lead the apostles and add to the church “multitudes of men and women who were constantly added to their number” (5:16).

This passage is hard to explain and raises the question of whether Christian groups should share all things in common as the early church did.  Dr. William Barclay, Bible scholar, reasons that the early church was progressing well, with the proclaimers and teachers filled with the Holy Spirit and persons being converted and added to the church daily.  But then practical matters entered in and had to be dealt with.  Where would money for food and shelter come from?  No one seemed to have the power, like Jesus, to turn a few fish and loves into enough food to feed thousands.  The apostles and other believers did have an intense sense of responsibility that all fare well.  This sharing all things in common was not socialism or communism—not a legal act of law-passing.  Sharing was spontaneous and voluntary as the needs arose.  Dr. Barclay notes:  “When the heart moves us to share…society becomes really Christian…not when law compels it.  The charity of legislation can never be a substitute for the charity of the heart.”  (William Barclay.  The Daily Study Bible.  Acts of the Apostles.  Philadelphia, Westminster, 1953, p. 41).

Notice how many things happened.  We can learn spiritual lessons from each of them:

(1)  They voluntarily brought what they had and shared with each other, laying it at the apostles’ feet.

(2)  Joseph, a Levite, also named Barnabas (an important later missionary with Paul and on his own) sold his land and brought the proceeds to the common treasury.  This is the first mention of Barnabas in Acts.  His name means “son of consolation.”  He would become an asset to the spread of the gospel.

(3)  Ananias and Sapphira, man and wife, sold a piece of property.  They, as Barnabas, brought proceeds of land sale to the apostles, but they used subterfuge in their transaction, pretending to bring the whole amount but keeping back for themselves.  The sin was not keeping back some for themselves; it was in pretending they had brought the whole—first Ananias, and then Sapphira.  Peter insists that Ananias’ sin is against God.  Ananias dies on the spot and is taken out and buried.  Sapphira, coming three hours later, and still holding to giving the whole to the Lord’s treasury, dies, as had her husband.  Is death not severe punishment for telling a lie, for pretending?  Why did Luke include this story in the account of the early church?  To brand religious hypocrisy for all time seems to be the object of this miracle.  “Their sin was vanity and ambition.  They wished to have a greater reputation for liberality than they were entitled to.”  (J. R. Dummelow.  A Commentary on the Holy Bible.  Philadelphia:  Westminster, 1958, p. 824).  No doubt, this couple wanted praise for their giving.  Their claim was not the truth; we might say they embezzled from God.  Such radical judgment as death is not the usual way to deal with the sin of pretense.  Theirs was a prime example of “seeming” and “being.”  Jesus warned severely against hypocrisy. They should have known the Old Testament warning as well on hypocrisy:  “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40).  Dr. George MacDonald wrote:  “Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look instead of trying to be what one is not.  (Quoted by Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe.  An Exposition of the New Testament.  Acts.  Colorado Springs:  Cook, 1989, p. 421).

(4)  “Great fear” came upon believers.  This followed immediately after the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, certainly an event of great magnitude and a somber example for all believers.  But fear here indicates “a healthy respect for the power of God.”  They had seen God’s power manifested in marvelous ways and they stood in fear, awe and reverence of Him and of what He was doing in their midst.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7a).

(5)  “Ecclesia” (church) is used first in Acts 5:11 to indicate the body of believers.  And within the church, signs and wonders were taking place.  The church continued to meet at the Temple on Solomon’s Porch.

(6)  The “rest” (meaning the orthodox Jews who were not accepting Christianity) did not associate with Christians.

(7)  Favor of the church and of the preached word grew among the people.

(8)  Many brought their sick so that Peter could heal them.  Many thought that even if his shadow fell upon the sick, they would be healed.  This is similar to those in Corinth later who thought to touch the garments of Paul would bring healing.  But there is no indication given by Luke here that any such superstitious beliefs came true.

There was not magic to what Peter, John and the others were doing.  Through the Holy Spirit they had the power to preach and heal.

(9)  Word spread out and people came to hear from towns surrounding Jerusalem.

(10)  “Multitudes” of men and women were added to their number. The church grew!

How exciting and marvelous that the early church grew so.  And that impetus has continued with varying degrees of growth through the centuries to our own day.  A study of Acts behooves us to ask:  “How is our church growing?”  Dare we pray for the Holy Spirit to move us, as it moved the early ecclesia (church) so that we may reach out in power to share the gospel and see a harvest of souls for the Lord?