Motives Matter

Acts 5:7–11 (NASB95) 

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. 

Acts 5:7-11 describes the tragic consequences of Ananias and Sapphira's deception. Approximately three hours after Ananias's death, his wife, Sapphira, enters the scene, unaware of what had transpired. Peter questions her about the price they received for the land, allowing her to confess the truth. Tragically, she repeats her husband’s lie, sealing her fate. Sapphira, like Achan's family in Joshua 7, was complicit in the deception and thus shared in the punishment. Her refusal to tell the truth, even when given the opportunity, underscores the depth of her deceit. 

Peter confronts Sapphira with her sin, revealing the severity of their transgression: "How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?" "Testing God" in this context refers to a deliberate act of defiance and unbelief, similar to Israel testing God in the wilderness. Ananias and Sapphira’s deception was not simply a lie to the apostles; it was a direct challenge to the Holy Spirit's authority and the integrity of the early church. Their sin was not about the money but their heart attitude and attempt to deceive God. 

Just as Ananias had fallen dead, Sapphira, too, fell and died. This swift and dramatic judgment underscores God's holiness and the seriousness of sin within the community of believers. Sapphira’s death at Peter’s feet contrasts sharply with the couple’s earlier pretense of submitting their offering at the apostles’ feet, highlighting the irony of their deceptive act. 

While the dramatic judgment experienced by Ananias and Sapphira may not be the norm in the modern church, their story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in our lives. We must be careful not to allow a desire for recognition or approval to lead us into hypocrisy and deceit. God sees our hearts and desires genuine authenticity and transparency within His community. This requires us to cultivate a culture of accountability, where we can confess our sins to one another and seek forgiveness. While we can be grateful for God's grace and mercy, we should not take His forgiveness for granted. True repentance involves a change of heart and a commitment to living in accordance with God's will. By prioritizing honesty and integrity, we can create a healthy and thriving church community where God's presence can be fully experienced and His power can be unleashed.  

Blessings, 

Ryan Goodnight 

Unity and Generosity

Acts 4:32–37 (NASB95) 

32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 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 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. 36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

Acts 4:32-37 provides a beautiful picture of the early church's unity and generosity. Luke emphasizes the oneness of the believers: "The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul." This unity wasn't merely an emotional sentiment; it manifested in concrete actions. No one claimed private ownership of their possessions but shared everything they had. This radical sharing was not communism or socialism as some try to teach today, but a voluntary expression of generosity and mutual support within the community, similar to the sharing described in Acts 2:44-45. It was a practical response to the community's needs, motivated by love and a deep sense of belonging.  

This generosity ensured that there were no needy persons among them. Those who owned property would sell it and bring the proceeds to the apostles for distribution to anyone in need. This voluntary giving and distribution system demonstrates the practical application of their shared faith and commitment to caring for one another. 

The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. This bold proclamation, coupled with the believers' unity and generosity, resulted in "much grace" being upon them all. This “grace” refers to both God's favor and the tangible blessings experienced by the community.  

The passage then introduces Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, whose name means "son of encouragement." He sold a field and donated the proceeds to the apostles. This act of generosity prefigures Barnabas's later role as a key figure in the early church, supporting Paul and other missionaries in spreading the Gospel. 

This passage challenges us to consider our own level of commitment to the Christian community. Each of us is different than the rest, but are we unified in heart and mind, working together to advance God's Kingdom? Is our status and lifestyle more important to us than the well-being of those around us? The early church's example of radical generosity and unity serves as a powerful model for us today, reminding us that true Christian fellowship involves both spiritual and practical expressions of love and care. 

Blessings, 

Ryan Goodnight 

Empowered with Boldness!

Acts 4:27–31 (NASB95) 

27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. 

Acts 4:27-31 describes the powerful response to the believers' prayer. After reciting Psalm 2 and acknowledging God's sovereignty, something extraordinary occurs: the place where they are meeting is shaken. This shaking resembles Old Testament theophanies (physical encounters with God), particularly Isaiah 6, where the temple trembles at God's presence. This event signifies God's response to their prayer and His endorsement of their appeal to His authority. It’s not merely a coincidence; it’s a divine affirmation. The shaking, along with other Lukan imagery like the cloud in Acts 1:9 and the wind and sound in Acts 2:2-3, depicts a powerful divine presence answering the believers' pleas.  

This shaking parallels the initial outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, emphasizing the connection between prayer, the Spirit's presence, and bold proclamation. While the first outpouring at Pentecost was characterized by dramatic physical phenomena, subsequent outpourings reveal other gifts that the Holy Spirit provides to believers. In this instance, it was the believers' internal empowerment for their mission, which we continue to experience today. 

After the shaking, they are all filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly speak God’s word, which is a direct answer to their prayer in verse 29. In the Old Testament, "the word" refers to the Law and the prophetic message. Luke's consistent use of this phrase in Acts to denote the proclamation of the Gospel shows that he regarded this message as divinely inspired, carrying the same weight and authority as the Old Testament scriptures. 

The filling of the Holy Spirit empowers them for boldness, a primary effect of the Spirit's presence in Acts. This boldness is not mere human courage; it is a supernatural confidence granted by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak God’s truth without fear. This empowerment is crucial in the face of opposition and persecution. Acts also notes that the filling of the Spirit is linked to signs and wonders, suggesting that the believers may have also expected further miraculous manifestations of God's power to accompany their bold proclamation. 

But did you notice that they did not pray for the opposition to be removed? Instead, they prayed for boldness to carry on with their mission despite the opposition. Many times, God uses opposition to advance the progress of His Kingdom. What an inspiring perspective we find in the first-century church. What is your perspective today when things do not go our way? 

Blessings,  

Ryan Goodnight 

Prayer is How We Fight

Acts 4:23–26 (NASB95) 

23When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? 26‘The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 

Acts 4:23-26 describes the early church's response to the Sanhedrin's threats. Upon their release, Peter and John return to their companions and report what transpired. “Their own" likely refers to the entire community of believers, 8,000 strong at this point, which would align with the general pattern in Acts. The subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit in verse 31 seems to affect the entire multitude, further suggesting a larger gathering.  

The believers respond to the opposition not with fear but with prayer. Their prayer begins by addressing God as "Sovereign Lord" (δέσποτα). They acknowledge God's sovereignty over all creation, declaring Him the Creator of "heaven and earth and sea and everything in them." This affirms God's ultimate power and control, even over those who oppose His will. This echoes a common Jewish prayer form and alludes to Psalm 146:6, which cautions against trusting in human princes.  

The believers then quote Psalm 2:1-2, applying it directly to their situation: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His Messiah." They see the opposition from Herod and Pilate, representing Roman power, along with the Jewish rulers, as fulfilling this prophecy. The believers interpret the psalm’s enemies to include the Jewish aristocracy, who were "rulers" (ἄρχοντες) that orchestrated Jesus' crucifixion and are now persecuting His followers. The "peoples," originally referring to the Gentiles, are now understood as the "peoples of Israel" who oppose Jesus. This interpretation reflects the belief that those rejecting Jesus, even within Israel, are aligning themselves with the enemies of God. 

This passage emphasizes the importance of prayer when facing opposition. Jesus instructed us in Luke 6:28 to “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” When we encounter resistance or opposition, our initial response should be to pray to God. Like the early church, we should recognize God's sovereignty and trust in His ability to turn any obstacle into a means for our benefit and the fulfillment of His will. We should also remember that opposition to the Gospel is not surprising; it often indicates that we are on the right path, realizing God's purposes.  

Blessings, 

 Ryan Goodnight