Right and wrong Way to Give

The Way Home
THE RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO GIVE

Story 3 - Acts 4:32 to 5:42
In those early days the church, the kingdom of Christ, in Jerusalem was like a great family; for each one was full of love for all the others. No one said of things he owned, “This is mine,” but they thought of their belongings as belonging to all. Some of those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money and laid it down at the feet of the apostles. Did they do this because there was a rule commanding it? No, they did it because each member of the church loved the other members and wanted to help. The apostles divided among the poor the money that was given in this free way. No one among those who believed in Christ was in need.

There was one man who gave away all that he had to help the church. His name was Joseph, but he was called “Barnabas,” which means “the one who encourages.” Why was he called that? Because he was so helpful and cheering in his words. Barnabas sold his land. He then gave the money he got for his land to the apostles, so they might help the poor. Barnabas spent all his time, as well as his money, doing good.

But there was another man in the church at Jerusalem whose spirit was not like Barnabas. He didn’t give up everything and live fully for the Lord. This man, whose name was Ananias, wanted to be known as someone who gave all, but he kept back a part for himself. Ananias sold some land, and agreed with his wife Sapphira to give a part of the money to the apostles for the church, and to keep back a part. This they had a right to do. They could have even kept it all for themselves. But they agreed together to act as though they were giving all the money, and that was agreeing together to tell a lie.

Ananias brought his money and laid it down before the apostles. But Peter, by the power of God, saw what was in the thought of Ananias and said to him, “Ananias, why has the evil spirit filled your heart to tell a lie by your act in keeping back part of the money? Before it was sold, was not the land your

own? And after it was sold, was not the money in your hand? You have tried to tell a lie, not to man, but to God; and God will judge you.”

As Peter spoke these words, Ananias fell down before him, and in a moment was lying dead upon the floor. The young men in the meeting took up his dead body and wrapped it with long rolls of cloth and carried it out and buried it, as was the manner of the Jews.

After three hours had passed, Sapphira, the wife of Ananias, came into the room where Peter was. She did not know that her husband was dead, for no one had told her; such was the fear upon all.

Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for so much?” And he named the sum that Ananias had placed before him.

Sapphira said, “Yes, that was the price of the land.”

But Peter said to her, “How is it that you two people agreed together to bring down God’s anger upon you? Those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out also!”

Then Sapphira fell down, struck dead by the power of God. The young men coming in found her dead; and they carried out her body and buried it beside her husband. A great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard how Ananias and Sapphira died. After that no one dared to try and deceive the apostles regarding their gifts to the Lord’s church.

And every day the apostles went to the Temple; and standing in Solomon’s Porch, they preached to the people about Jesus and salvation through His name. They performed many wonders healing the sick. The sick were brought out into the street, lying on beds and couches, so that when the apostle Peter passed by, his shadow might fall on them. Likewise from the villages around Jerusalem they brought diseased people and those held by evil spirits; and by the power of God through the apostles they were all made well.

All these wonderful works brought great crowds to hear the apostles, as they spoke in Solomon’s Porch. Upon hearing the apostles speak, many believed in Christ, and men and women in great numbers were added to the church.

But all these things, the wonders performed, the large crowds, and people believing in Christ, gave great offense to the high priest and rulers: for they were the leaders who had sent Jesus Christ to the cross only a few months before. These rulers sent their officers to seize all the twelve apostles and thrust them into the common prison of the city. But at night an angel of the Lord came and opened the doors of the prison and brought the apostles out and said: “Go stand in the Temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

Then, very early in the morning, just at the breaking of the day, they went into the Temple and preached to the people. On that day the high priest and rulers met together. Then they ordered that the apostles be brought before them. But the officers who were sent did not find them in the prison. They came back to the rulers and said: “This prison we found shut and locked and the keepers standing at the doors; but when we opened the doors and went inside, we found none of the prisoners there!”

When the captain of the Temple and the rulers heard this, they wondered because they could not understand it. Then someone came in who said, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple and are teaching the people!”

Then the captain of the Temple went with his officers to arrest the apostles again. They did not harm them because the people held the apostles in high honor. Therefore they were afraid that if they dealt harshly with the apostles, the people might stone them. So they brought them into the hall where the rulers were meeting. The high priest said: “We told you not to speak in this name or about that man; and now you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are trying to bring the blood of this man upon us.”

But Peter, in the name of all the apostles, answered: “We must obey God rather than men. You put Jesus to death, hanging Him upon the cross. But the God of our fathers raised Him and lifted Him up to be at His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to give the forgiveness of sins. And we declare these things; and God’s Holy Spirit tells us that they are true.”

When the rulers heard these words, they were very angry and began to think about killing the apostles. But among the rulers there was one very wise man, named Gamaliel. He was a man who was held in honor by all the people. Gamaliel asked to have the apostles sent out of the hall, so he could speak to the rulers. Gamaliel then said: “You men of Israel, be careful in what you do to these men. If what they say comes from themselves alone, it will soon pass away; but if it be of God, you cannot destroy it, and you may even find yourselves to be fighting against God. My advice to you is: do no harm to these men and let them alone.”

The rulers agreed with these words. They sent for the apostles and caused them to be beaten; then they commanded them again not to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles went forth from the meeting of the rulers, happy in suffering for the name of Jesus. And in the Temple and among the homes of the people they did not cease from preaching Jesus as the Savior and the Lord.