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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 4:32–5:11

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Church on the Move, and today we look at an essential component of a church on the move which is community. A church is more than just a gathering of people in one place. We are a community of believers, and that makes all the difference when it comes to moving forward together as a church. (Read Acts 4:32-33 and pray.)

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We have been following the narrative of the early church as recorded for us in these opening chapters of Acts, and we just completed a section detailing the first example of opposition to the church. Peter and John healed the man who was lame from birth. Peter preached about Jesus. The religious leaders arrested them and ordered them not to preach in Jesus’ name again. The believers prayed for boldness to continue sharing God’s word, and God shook the place where they were meeting.

After describing this opposition from outside the church, Luke immediately pauses in his narrative to give us a snapshot picture of the church from the inside. He gave us an earlier picture of the church in Acts 2; now he gives us this second picture here in Acts 4.

Just as different pictures bring out different aspects of the same person, these two pictures of the church emphasize different characteristics. The first picture in Acts 2 was more of an overall picture, describing the four essential elements of a Christian church. This picture is more personal, focusing on the various characteristics of Christian community.

Once again, a church is more than just a club or an organization. We are a community bound together by the Holy Spirit and by our faith in Jesus Christ. The stronger our community together as a church, the more God can use us in this world and for his kingdom.

And so, Luke gives us this beautiful and encouraging picture, highlighting four important characteristics of Christian community for us to admire and emulate as a church. Christian community is marked by: 1) loving unity among the believers, 2) powerful witness to unbelievers, 3) sacrificial giving to the church, and 4) personal holiness among the church’s members. God calls us as a church to Christian community, so let’s take a closer look at these four characteristics together.

I. Loving unity (4:32)
   – Psalm 133:1

The first characteristic is loving unity. We see this in verse 32 where we read:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32)

What a beautiful picture! This is the type of unity God longs for us as a church. The early believers were one in heart and mind. This speaks of deep friendship and unity of purpose.
This loving unity was not just confined to Sunday mornings but demonstrated itself in practical ways throughout the week as well. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. This was a sharing, caring church.

It is good to share with each other as a church body. Sharing frees up other resources for the kingdom of God. We tend to be more independent and individualistic in our culture, but the church is called to be a community. We should be willing to share what we have with each other, and we should be willing to receive help from others when we are the one who happens to be in need.

I remember times when church members have helped us with meals, with childcare, with lawn care when I threw out my back, with vehicles when our car was in the shop and many other ways the church has reached out in loving care to our family by sharing what they had with us. We all need to do the same for each other.

Psalm 133 says: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1). That’s the first important characteristic of Christian community we want to emulate as a church. We should be marked by a loving unity.

II. Powerful witness (4:33)
   – Acts 1:8, 4:31

A second characteristic of Christian community is powerful witness. Look at verse 33 next:

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)

The early church was marked by a powerful witness for Christ. Now part of that was they had apostles who were empowered to do great signs and wonders in the community. That certainly adds to your witness!

But that’s not what Luke emphasizes. The focus here is not on amazing signs and wonders but rather on the simple sharing of the gospel—simply sharing about Jesus and the resurrection. We may not be able to do signs and wonders like the apostles, but we can certainly tell others about Jesus!

Remember, the power to witness comes from the Holy Spirit, not from the ability to work miracles. Jesus told the disciples: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Acts 4:31 tells us: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31).

This was not only a loving community. It was a witnessing community. And as a result, God’s grace was upon them. As important as loving unity is to church community, if that unity does not result in powerful witness to others, then the church will grow inward. We are not meant to be a community just for ourselves. We exist for God’s glory and to bring others into community with us.

So, that’s the second important characteristic of Christian community: powerful witness for Christ to those outside of the Christian community.

III. Sacrificial giving (4:34-35)
   – Deuteronomy 15:4-5

A third important characteristic of Christian community is sacrificial giving. We read in verses 34-35:

There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. (Acts 4:34-35)

This is similar to Deuteronomy 15:4 where we read: “There should be no poor among you.” The word translated “poor” in Deuteronomy is the same word translated “needy” here in Acts.

This is an amazing description of the early church. There were no needy persons among them. Why not? Because of the sacrificial giving of others. From time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles.

“From time to time” implies that the people did this as the need came up. This was not a common fund for everyone to dip into as they pleased but rather a charity fund to help those in need. This was not an example of absolute equality among church members but rather of caring and sharing. This was not a matter of common ownership but rather a readiness to share with those in need. Not everyone sold their fields or houses (Acts 12:12). This was voluntary, sacrificial giving to help others in their time of need.

The fact that they laid the money at the apostles’ feet is an example of humble submission. They
rightly viewed the apostles as God’s messengers and representatives. Rather than dictating how their donation would be used, they yielded control of the money to the apostles so the apostles could decide how best to distribute the funds.

At this point in time the apostles are doing it all. They are trying to teach the word and administrate the distribution of funds to the poor. They are trying to fulfill both the spiritual and physical ministries of the church. When we come to chapter six, we will see that this was too much for them, and so the diaconate was formed to come alongside the apostles and help with the physical ministry of the church.

Do you practice sacrificial giving so that others will be blessed both spiritually and physically? At our church we have what we call God’s Fund, where people contribute from their resources to help others in need. Over the years God’s Fund has been an amazing source of blessing for those in our church and community who have had various needs.

IV. Personal holiness (4:36–5:11)

And then finally, the early church was distinguished by personal holiness. This is seen both in Barnabas’ example of generous giving as well as in God’s response to Ananias and Sapphira and their deceitful giving to the church. Personal holiness is an extremely important aspect of Christian community because it is part of what distinguishes the church from the world around it. Let’s face it. If we in the church are living just like those in the world, there’s not much that’s Christian about our community.

   A. Barnabas – example of generous giving (4:36-37)

So, let’s look at Barnabas and his example of generous giving first. Picking up at verse 46:

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:36-37)

Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus. His given name was Joseph, but he acquired the nickname Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement.” Barnabas had a reputation as an encourager, and indeed it seems every time we come across Barnabas in the book of Acts, we find him encouraging others (Acts 9:27, 11:25-6, 13:43, 15:35, 39).

Barnabas was not only an encourager, but he was also a generous giver. The two often go together. Here we find him selling a field he owned and bringing the money to the apostles. We already learned that others in the early Christian community did the same. Now we are given this specific example of Barnabas, most likely as a contrast to the immediately following account of Ananias and Sapphira.

   B. Ananias and Sapphira – example of deceitful giving (5:1-11)

Whereas Barnabas is an example of generous giving, Ananias and Sapphira are an example of deceitful giving. Ananias’ name means “the Lord is gracious” and Sapphira’s name means “beautiful.” Sadly, unlike Barnabas, who truly was a son of encouragement, Ananias and Sapphira did not live up to their names. Look at verses 1-2:

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 5:1-2)

Reading between the lines, Ananias made it seem that he gave the whole amount, even though he kept back part of the money for himself. His wife was in on it too. The word translated “kept back” is a word meaning “to steal or embezzle.” This implies that they had initially agreed to bring the full amount to the Lord, but then decided to keep some back. This is the same as stealing, similar to putting money into the offering plate at church, having it counted in your name, but then removing some later.

Their sin was a combination of greed, stealing and lying, but Peter focuses on the lying here—on the hypocrisy part of it. Look at verses 3-4:

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

Satan is a tempter and a deceiver, and Peter recognizes his work here. Peter knows what it is like to be manipulated by Satan. Jesus once exposed Satan at work in Peter’s life too (Matt. 16:32). Now Peter exposes Satan at work in Ananias and Sapphira’s deception. In keeping back some of the money for themselves, they have not just lied to the apostles, but to the Holy Spirit. The phrase “kept for yourself” is that same word for stealing or embezzling again.

And so, they are guilty of both stealing and lying, but the sad part is there was no need for either sin. They didn’t need to bring the whole amount. That wasn’t required. The land belonged to them before they sold it. The money was at their disposal after they sold it. The problem wasn’t that they didn’t give the whole amount. The problem was that they gave with the wrong motive. They gave not to help others but in order to make themselves look good. They were trying to “keep up with the Joneses” or in this case with the “Barnabases.” (the Barnaby Joneses?).

The virtue of Barnabas’ act is that it was voluntary. Ananias and Sapphira were under no compulsion. They didn’t have to give any or all of the money. Peter is astounded at their actions. He asks them, “What were you thinking?” And then he drives the full point home. They have not lied to men but to God. Notice this is parallel to the phrase “lied to the Holy Spirit” earlier, indicating that the Holy Spirit is indeed God.

So, how did Peter know this? This was a supernatural word of knowledge given to Peter. There was no way he could have known this apart from the Holy Spirit revealing it to him. Peter confronts Ananias with his sin, and then we read in verses 5-6:

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. (Acts 5:5-6)

Church giving is a serious matter. It is an act of worship before God. You’re not playing games when you give. And you’re certainly not playing games when you lie to God or take from the offering. God certainly took this sin seriously. He took Ananias’ life, and great fear seized all who heard about it. The young men come forward, wrap up his body and take him out to bury him.

Well, that’s Ananias. What about Sapphira? Look at verses 7-11:

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. (Acts 5:7-11)

Sapphira comes in, not knowing what happened. Peter asks her about the field and the price. This was her opportunity to confess and repent. Instead, she also chooses to lie to God and the Holy Spirit.

Peter is further astounded. How could they agree to test the Lord? In a moment of prophetic condemnation, he announces that those who buried her husband will bury her too. History repeats. Sapphira falls down and dies at Peter’s feet, right where she and her husband had laid the money earlier. The young men carry her out and bury her beside her husband.

You might wonder, why was God’s punishment so harsh, so severe? It’s because the future of the church was at stake. Persecution couldn’t stop the gospel, but a lack of holiness could. Satan had already tried persecution from outside the church. Now he switched strategies and attacked from within.

What a sad contrast between the first verse of our passage (“All the believers were one in heart and mind”) and the last verse (“Great fear seized the whole church”). Great fear seized all who heard about these events, and God made it clear to all that personal holiness was also an essential element of Christian community.

APPLICATIONS: Let me close this message with three applications for us today, especially from the Ananias and Sapphira part of the story.

1) The seriousness of sin (affects the whole community)
   – Joshua 7:1-26

First of all, we need to understand the seriousness of sin. When you are a Christian, your sin affects the whole church community. Why? Because you are a part of the church, and there is no church apart from its members. This is the first time Luke has used the word “church” in the whole book of Acts, and it occurs here in this case of church discipline protecting the community from hypocrisy and deceit.

In the gospels Jesus spoke most harshly against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Ironically, the same people who complain that God is too harsh here are probably the same people who complain there are too many hypocrites in the church. You can’t have it both ways!

This is similar to the case of Achan in the Old Testament book of Joshua (Josh. 7:1-26). In both cases an act of deceit interrupts the progress of God’s people. And in both cases serious discipline was required.

2) The importance of holiness (the church needs to be holy)
   – 1 Peter 1:15-16

Secondly, we need to understand the importance of holiness. The Holy Spirit indwells the church, and the church needs to be holy! Later on, Peter would write: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Perhaps Peter was thinking about what happened to Ananias and Sapphira as he wrote these words.

3) The spiritual law of accountability (you reap what you sow)
   – Numbers 32:23; Galatians 6:7

And then thirdly, we need to understand the spiritual law of accountability. The Bible says you reap what you sow. (Gal. 6:7). We may think our sin is hidden from others, but it is always visible to God. Numbers 32 says: “You may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23).

We are accountable to each other in the body of Christ. Ananias and Sapphira had instant accountability. God is gracious when he defers judgment, but we all eventually reap what we sow.

Christian community is marked by loving unity among the believers, powerful witness to unbelievers, sacrificial giving to the church, and personal holiness among the church’s members.

All four of these are important to Christian community. The Bible speaks of the goodness and pleasantness of loving unity. We are called and equipped to witness through the power of the Holy Spirit. Sacrificial giving to the church is part of our worship to God and helps the church fulfill its mission. Personal holiness among the church’s membership is essential to maintaining a good witness in the community.

May we take all four of these aspects of Christian community to heart as we seek to emulate them in our own lives.

© Ray Fowler

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