Call to Commitment

 

Daily food distribution

      1.      Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.   

      2.      Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 

      3.      Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 

      4.      but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 

5.      And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 

6.      whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 

7.      Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.  

We have studied the phenomenal success and growth of the church, the first and only church at this time, as it forms in Jerusalem. The number grew to at least 5,000, which some would count to be over 8,000, depending how we interpret Acts 4:4. Was five thousand the total number of Christians or were 5,000 added to the original 120 disciples and the 3,000 converted and baptized on the day of Pentecost? I will leave it for every reader to decide for himself, although the language use of the text seems to me to favor that five thousand was the total number.

 The last verse of chapter 2 declares that “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved,” to the point that “believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (5:14). It is no wonder that the Jerusalem council was greatly disturbed (4:2) and attempted to oppose it, “so that it spreads no further among the people” (4:17). They made no attempt to believe the Galilean leaders, although miracles from heaven accompanied the preaching of the gospel. They, unanimously and violently, opposed the movement until in this chapter that we are studying, we will see that many of the priests relented and came into faith. 

 Along with the great success, for the first time, we see problems emerging from the inside, adding to the opposition from the outside. Up until now, we read of unity, of the disciples being of one heart and one mind. This not only happened in Jerusalem; it is a common occurrence in the church throughout the ages to the present day. It gives us a principle that determines that it is harder to live with success than with humble beginnings. John Wesley comments: “Ah Lord, how short a time did pure, genuine, undefiled Christianity remain in the world!”

 

Chapter 5:1-11

Judgment falls on Ananias and Sapphira

1.   But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 

2.      And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

3.      But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 

4.      While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 

5.      Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 

6.      And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 

7.      Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 

8.      And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." 

9.      Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 

10.  Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 

11.  So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 

 This account continues from the end of the last chapter, where Luke again hears the first-hand declaration of those, who experienced the first church in Jerusalem. Those, who had lands and properties, they reported, met the needs of all the Christians, especially the Galileans, who had migrated from the north, and the Jews and proselytes, who lived previously outside Israel. These lacked the basic needs of life and Christianity demanded generosity and brotherly love, to the extent of self-denial, towards them. Those, who sold houses and lands, brought the proceeds to the apostles, who distributed to the needy. This was a step beyond the Old Testament law, which instructed the citizens to alleviate the poor, leaving parts of their harvest for them to glean. Other laws commanded that people restore the rights and losses of relatives and, especially, the Year of Jubilee returned properties to all that had lost them, during the previous fifty years. In the Christian spirit, the saints in Jerusalem, who had houses and lands shared with those, who did not.

 It is very obvious, as we study the Gospels, that the earthly manifestations of the Kingdom of God were not perfect. Jesus taught parables that spoke of tares among wheat, leaven in loaves, good and bad fish caught in a net, and virgins, wise and foolish. Not all motivations were pure and in chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira give us an example of carnal pride and a quest for recognition among peers. It was not that the selling of their land was evil, but their motivation was not, principally, to help the needy (v. 1).

Chapter 4:1-4

 Progress through opposition

         1.      Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 

      2.      being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

      3.      And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 

      4.   However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 

On the human level, the preaching of the gospel was a threat to the Jewish leadership. They had a military force, perhaps better defined as a police force, inside the temple, led by a captain.  Among the Sanhedrin were the Pharisees and Sadducees, but the Sadducees were especially agitated, because they did not believe in the doctrine of the resurrection, which the disciples emphasized. They appear now to bring an end to the preaching and the phrase, “came upon them,” describes the violence of the interruption (v. 1). They do not arrest the two gently, when they imprison them.

 The teaching of Peter and John was a challenge to the status quo, in which the leadership found their authority and positions. The apostles’ authority is found “in Jesus,” not in themselves, and they are His mouthpiece, now that Jesus has left this world and gone into heaven. The leaders are greatly disturbed at this earth-shaking development (v. 2).