Acts (Part 40) – Acts 4:34 – Act 5:2

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Acts (Part 40) – Acts 4:34 – Act 5:2

Acts 4:34 – Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

1. One of the reasons that the Christians in Jerusalem decided to sell their houses and lands could have been because they knew that within their lifetimes Jerusalem would be completely destroyed (Luk 21:24, 32).
2. Their houses would be leveled and their land worthless at that time, so it would make sense to sell them and give the money toward the support of the poor in the church.
3. Neither was there any among them that lacked:
   1. None of them lacked at that time.
   2. This is typical of the early stages of communal living when the group’s possessions are sold and the proceeds are distributed to those in need.
   3. But then human nature kicks in and there is little incentive to work hard and produce when the fruit will be shared by all.
   4. The end result of communal living is poverty, which appears to be what happened to the saints in Jerusalem (Act 11:27-30; Rom 15:26).

Acts 4:35 – And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

1. And laid them down at the apostles’ feet:
   1. At this time, the practice of the Jerusalem Church was to immediately give the money one had purposed for the maintenance of the poor to the apostles for them to distribute it.
   2. Later, in an effort to help the poor saints in Jerusalem (whose poverty was likely exacerbated by this system), Paul taught that each person should lay by themselves in store to give to the poor when a need arose (1Co 16:1-3).
2. and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
   1. When distribution of money or goods is made, it should be made to those who are in need.
   2. The scriptures always stipulate that compulsory giving only applies to those who are in need (food, clothing, shelter, necessary medical care, etc.) (see notes on Act 2:45).
   3. Those who are able to provide for themselves must do so, or suffer deprivation (2Th 3:10).

Acts 4:36 – And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

1. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas,
   1. Joses (Barnabas) shared his name with one of the brothers of Jesus (Mat 13:55).
   2. The apostles gave Joses the nickname Barnabas.
      1. Surname v. – 1. trans. To give an additional name, title, or epithet to (a person). To call by another or additional name; to attach another appellation or designation to; more widely, to designate, entitle.
      2. Surname n. – 1. A name, title, or epithet added to a person’s name or names, esp. one derived from his birthplace or from some quality or achievement. b. A second, or an alternative, name or title given to a person, place, edifice, etc. 2. The name which a person bears in common with the other members of his family, as distinguished from his Christian or given name; a family name.
      3. Epithet n. – 1. An adjective indicating some quality or attribute which the speaker or writer regards as characteristic of the person or thing described.
   3. It is common for saints in the Bible to be renamed after their conversion.
      1. Simon was surnamed Peter by Jesus (Mar 3:16), which is what he usually went by for the rest of his life.
      2. Saul of Tarsus was renamed Paul (Act 13:9).
      3. Abram was renamed Abraham (Gen 17:5).
      4. Sarai was renamed Sarah (Gen 17:15).
      5. Jacob was renamed Israel (Gen 32:28).
   4. Joses was called Barnabas exclusively thenceforth in the scriptures.
   5. Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith (Act 11:22-24).
   6. Barnabas was an apostle (Act 14:14).
   7. Barnabas was a prophet (Act 13:1).
   8. He went on to become Paul’s traveling companion (Act 13:2-3).
2. (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,)
   1. Barnabas means “the son of consolation.”
   2. Consolation n. – 1. The action of consoling, cheering, or comforting; the state of being consoled; alleviation of sorrow or mental distress.
   3. Console v. – 1. trans. To comfort in mental distress or depression; to alleviate the sorrow of (any one); ‘to free from the sense of misery’ (J.).
   4. Barnabas had the gift of consoling, cheering, and comforting those in sorrow, mental distress, and depression.
   5. He was the embodiment of Isa 40:1-2.
3. a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
   1. Barnabas was of the tribe of Levi.
   2. Being from the country of Cyprus, his family was likely exiled there when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and scattered the Jews all over the world (Jer 29:10-14).

Acts 4:37 – Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

1. At this time, the apostles were distributing money to the poor that was given to them for that purpose (Act 4:34-35).
2. Barnabas was not only a compassionate man that helped others with his words and encouragement (see comments on Act 4:36).
3. He also showed his faith by his works (Jam 2:14-18) and sold what he had in order to give to the poor (Luk 12:33).
4. He indeed was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith (Act 11:22-24).

Acts Chapter 5

Acts 5:1 – But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

1. But
   1. It is all to common in life for things to be going smoothly, and then trouble strikes.
   2. From time to time, there is a fly in the ointment in the church or in our lives which causes a stinking savor (Ecc 10:1).
   3. Naaman was “a great man with his master, and honourable…he also was a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper” (2Ki 5:1).
   4. “Every man has some but or other in his character, something that blemishes and diminishes him, some allay to his grandeur, some damp to his joy; he may be very happy, very good, yet, in something or other, not so good as he should be nor so happy as he would be. Naaman was as great as the world could make him, and yet (as bishop Hall expresses it) the basest slave in Syria would not change skins with him.” (Matthew Henry)
2. a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife,
   1. Ananias means “protected by Jehovah” (Unger’s Bible Dictionary).
   2. Sapphira means “beautiful” (Unger’s Bible Dictionary).
   3. Let this be a lesson to us that God is no respecter of persons (Rom 2:11).
   4. Just because you are protected by Jehovah and beautiful does not give you a free pass to willfully sin against God with impunity.
3. sold a possession,
   1. The possession they sold was land (Act 5:3).
   2. They were following Barnabas’ example (Act 4:36-37), possibly hoping for attention or commendation.
   3. But their hearts were not pure like Barnabas’ (Act 11:22-24), as the following verses will demonstrate.

Acts 5:2 – And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

1. There would have been nothing wrong with selling land, keeping part of the proceeds, and giving the rest to the apostles to be given to the poor of the church.
2. The problem was that they lied about it and pretended to give the entire price of the land (Act 5:4).