2022_01_17 Insight Post- Kim Feld

  -   January 17, 2022

This week’s reading- Acts 5-6

Luke sets up the end of chapter 4 and the beginning of Acts chapter 5 as a contrast. So, let’s look at a few of these verses together:

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. (Acts 4:32-37 NLT)

 1 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. (Acts 5:1-2 NLT)

Acts 4:34-35 tells us that Barnabas wasn’t the only one who generously sold property and gave it to be used for the community, but Luke highlights him as an example. In contrast, he shows us the deception of Ananias and Sapphira. Please note that the apostles did not demand that the people sell their belongings; this was done as a response to the unity they felt as a community blessed by God.

To be honest, I struggle with this passage. The judgment is swift and harsh, seemingly without opportunity for repentance. But the Holy Spirit was moving so powerfully within this community! Is it really possible that Ananias and Sapphira felt zero conviction over their choice? That seems unlikely to me, but they allowed Satan’s voice to be louder. There’s a huge lesson in this for us.

I’m sure there were many things at work in this for Ananias and Sapphira. Maybe they wanted the praise and acknowledgment Barnabas and others received for their generosity. Maybe their withholding was a sign of fear, feeling like they needed to look out for their future. Unfortunately, Luke doesn’t share those things with us, but this story opens the door for us to look at areas of our lives and hearts that we may be withholding from God.

God’s voice is described as a gentle whisper (see 1 Kings 19:11-13), while Satan is described as a roaring lion, seeking who he can destroy (see 1 Peter 5:8). I’ve learned that God’s voice may not be the loudest one I hear, so I need to train myself to know what His voice sounds like by spending time in His word and being still in His presence (see Psalm 46:10). This story is also a sober reminder that I need to be more concerned about what God thinks than what others think. This is an area that I can get tripped up in easily.
As believers, we are all promised the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But how much of ourselves we allow the Holy Spirit access to is entirely up to us.

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach