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. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.
Acts 4:36-37
But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.
Acts 5:1-14
It is clear from the Greek text that there is a direct sequential or logical link between these two examples:
“ For instance, there was Joseph . . .”
“But there was a certain man named Ananias with his wife, Sapphira . . .”
They are two examples of the same principle – when the Holy Spirit comes He touches every area of your life and brings your life in line with the principles of God. Luke closes chapter 2 and chapter 4 with the same statement. When God’s Spirit comes to indwell you at a deeper level, all areas of life are touched and changed and come into line with His truth.
These two examples are being set against each other in order to highlight the distinction. The Holy Spirit has intended for us to have the juxtaposed examples of Joseph (Barnabas) and Ananias and Sapphira for our instruction. If that is the case, it is worthy of further investigation. These people have been named for us. They are not just “someone” but named people whose names are full of meaning. Each name means something significant.
- Joseph – “May He add” / Barnabas – “Son of Encouragement”
- Ananias – comes from a Hebrew root word for “Yah has favoured”, or “Yahweh is gracious”.
- Sapphira – “beauty, beautiful” as in a sapphire or lapus lazuli a gemstone.
This is the first time we are introduced to the one we Christians know in the New Testament as Barnabas– the Son of Encouragement. Here we know him as Joseph, but he is also known as Barnabas. He is a Levite who has been touched by the Spirit of God and inspired to give his all to the Lord, like all Levites are supposed to do. Barnabas sells a field he owned and gives the money to the Apostles. The inference behind the text is that he gave ALL the proceeds from the sale of the field to the Lord, via the Apostles. It is a simple and succinct statement which contrasts with the account of Ananias and Sapphira which is detailed, deliberate and definitive.
We have a very short statement set against a rather long, full description of what was going on in these two selected stories. The two accounts are set in juxtaposition to highlight the differences between them. Barnabas the son of encouragement is all that he should be. This sets the scene for what we are to learn of Barnabas as the book of Acts unfolds. This is far from the case with Ananias and Sapphira. They are far from what they ought to be. The one who is favoured by God does not respond as he ought. There is no sparkle at all about Sapphira. She turns out to be something she is not. These two epitomise the description of Paul in Titus 1:16 where he wrote “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him”. It is reminiscent of Simon in Acts 8 and the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. Simon and the sons of Sceva think they can either buy or counterfeit the things of God. Ananias and Sapphira are of the same ilk, the same counterfeit spirit. They too sold property like Barnabas and brought money to the apostles, but they claimed they were giving all when in fact they were giving only a portion of it.
The next step is to ask your big picture questions and to examine the details of the text and the way it is recorded for us. Before you do, allow me to highlight the account recorded in Acts 5 related to Ananias and Sapphira.
Luke tells us,
- “He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.”
- “You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.
- The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!“
- As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.”
- About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
- Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
- And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
- Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
- Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.
- But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.
- The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade.
- Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.
Now is the time to look at the big picture, taking particular note of the highlighted portions above and then ask the detail questions you need to ask.
Your life is short. You have no clue when this ride will end. Stay present and live fearlessly!
Rick Godwin
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. Anyone who lives fully and truthfully is prepared to die at any time.
Ian Vail
Integrity is telling myself the truth. Honesty is telling the truth to other people.
Spencer Johnson
Why we do something is much more important to God than what we do. We ought to have the same mindset.
Ian Vail
A slave who acknowledges his enslavement is halfway to his liberation.
Anon
A person must be big enough to admit their mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.
Anon