Outline - Hope of the Glory

At any rate, this Joses Barnabas now forsakes all to join the Spirit-filled throng at Jerusalem and is sorespected and beloved that he is later sent to look into the reports of the conversion of the Gentiles at Antioch,from whence he sends for Saul of Tarsus (Acts 11:19-26) and finally becomes, with Paul, an apostle of theGentiles (Gal. 2:9).THE CASE OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (also from Stam)It is sometimes supposed that the sin of Ananias and Sapphira marks the beginning of the breakdown of thedivine communism practiced in early Acts.This is not so, for while these two deceivers departed seriously from the Godgiven program, they were strickendead immediately and the program continued unchanged.Nor must it be thought that Ananias and Sapphira were slain simply for lying. All of Adam's children have beenguilty of telling lies--often much greater ones--but all have not been stricken dead for it.What we have here is rather a foretaste of conditions which will prevail in the kingdom, when any deviationfrom the divine order will be visited by immediate judgment.Ananias and Sapphira were not slain for dishonesty alone, but for dishonestly keeping back part of their goods,and so violating the standards of the kingdom.They were stricken dead for trying to join the Messianic Church while deceitfully holding on to privateinvestments. Note carefully the wording of Verse 3:"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart TO LIE TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND TO KEEPBACK PART OF THE PRICE OF THE LAND?"Matthew Henry’s Comments on Acts 5:1-11 (like almost everyone, he doesn’t see thedispensational issue)The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when theywere not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance,with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, anddistrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought todeceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart ofAnanias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickednesshad he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestlyspoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; hemight have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie,from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shallput a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to thatwhich is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vastnumbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory,and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hatefulfalsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtfulexpressions, and double meaning in our speech.They wanted to be a part of this committed group of Jews but did not want to lose all oftheir money in the process.a) Communism demands full surrender – in the kingdom program, this was (externally)done willingly. (Our country may be going that direction where we must go alongunder duress!)b) There is a parallel to men today who want the praise of people and the expectation ofheaven!c) Men do not like your devotion to the Word of God. We may soon lose all of ourprotection from persecution for our beliefs or practicesd) And this will be a part of Satanic communism!Many believers just do not want to accept that there was a commune in early Acts.e) Yet is clearly taughtf) We are clearly not under this at all (NIV). Indeed it changed by the time of Acts 11Acts Page 43 January 23, 2011 18:07