ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA BIBLE TEXT : Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-16 LESSON 284 Junior Course MEMORY VERSE: “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape” (Proverbs 19:5). BIBLE TEXT in King James Version BIBLE REFERENCES: Acts 4:32-37 32 And the multitude of them that believed NOTES: were of one heart and of one soul: Unity neither said any of them that After their release from prison, the Apostles continued to ought of the things which he preach the Gospel. They spoke with the boldness that was given to them when they were filled with the Holy Ghost, as they possessed was his own; but they prayed. They preached about Jesus and His resurrection. They had all things common. spoke with great power as they witnessed and testified. Jesus 33 And with great power gave the had promised that they would receive power and be witnesses apostles witness of the after they had received the Holy Ghost ( Acts 1:8 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all great grace was upon them all. Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the 34 Neither was there any among earth ). them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or There was a multitude of believers. One day as Peter was preaching, 3000 people believed and were baptized (Acts 2:41 houses sold them, and brought the 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the prices of the things that were sold, same day there were added unto them about three thousand 35 And laid them down at the souls ). Another time, among those who heard the Gospel, there were 5000 who believed ( Acts 4:4 4 Howbeit many of them apostles' feet: and distribution was which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was made unto every man according about five thousand .). The believers were bound together by as he had need. love and unity, for Jesus had told them to love one another 36 And Joses, who by the apostles (John 15:12 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one was surnamed Barnabas, (which another, as I have loved you ). He had prayed for His disciples that they would all be one ( John 17:21-22 21 That they all may is, being interpreted, The son of be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also consolation,) a Levite, and of the may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast country of Cyprus, sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given 37 Having land, sold it , and brought them; that they may be one, even as we are one:). They were of one accord and of one mind, just as Paul wrote that Christ’s the money, and laid it at the followers would be ( Romans 15:6 6 That ye may with one mind apostles' feet. and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Philippians 1:27 27 Christ. Only let your conversation be as it 1 becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, Acts 5:1-16 But a certain man or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast named Ananias, with Sapphira his in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the wife, sold a possession, gospel; 2 Corinthians 13:11 11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be 2 perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and And kept back part of the price, the God of love and peace shall be with you .). his wife also being privy to it , and brought a certain part, and laid it Possessions Sold at the apostles' feet. Although there is no evidence that they were told to do so, 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Christ’s followers sold what property they had and gave the Satan filled thine heart to lie to the money to the Apostles. Of their own free will they did this – Holy Ghost, and to keep back part none were asked or compelled to do so. The believers seemed to have a great desire for spiritual possessions. Treasures in of the price of the land? Heaven ( Matthew 6:19-21 19 Lay not up for yourselves 4 Whiles it remained, was it not treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thine own? and after it was sold, where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust was it not in thine own power? doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: why hast thou conceived this thing 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also .) seemed to be more valuable to them than anything else. Annanias and Sapphira 1 of 6 in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. The money was not hoarded. The Apostles were generous and 5 And Ananias hearing these words gave to those who were in need. The true Spirit of the Gospel is fell down, and gave up the ghost: to help others, for the Bible states, “God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7). God usually does not require a person to and great fear came on all them sell his property in order to be a Christian. Although, if a person that heard these things. loved his possessions to the extent that they kept him from 6 And the young men arose, serving Do, it would be necessary to dispose of them. There is wound him up, and carried him an account in the Bible of a rich young ruler whose possessions stood between him and the Lord. He asked Jesus what good out, and buried him . 16 7 thing he could do to inherit eternal life ( Matthew 19:16 And, And it was about the space of behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good three hours after, when his wife, thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? ). He had lived a not knowing what was done, came good life, loved his neighbours, and kept some of the in. commandments. He asked, What lack I yet?” The young man 8 had many possessions and he loved them more than he loved And Peter answered unto her, God. Jesus told him that he would have treasures in Heaven if Tell me whether ye sold the land he would sell his possessions and give to the poor. The young for so much? And she said, Yea, man was very rich and loved his money dearly. He went away for so much. grieved. His possessions hindered him from serving God ( Mark 22 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions .). it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Spiritual Possessions behold, the feet of them which Many of Christ’s followers do not have great earthly possessions, have buried thy husband are at but what they do have is consecrated to the Lord for His service. the door, and shall carry thee out. They also have spiritual possessions, which can be used to be a 10 Then fell she down straightway blessing to others. One day Peter and John helped a lame man. at his feet, and yielded up the Peter said: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give ghost: and the young men came I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” To be healed of his lameness meant much more to the in, and found her dead, and, lame man than money. We, too, can pray, testify, and speak carrying her forth, buried her by words of encouragement to those who are in spiritual need. In her husband. Isaiah 41:6 we read, “They helped every one his neighbour; and 11 And great fear came upon all every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.” the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Barnabas 12 Among the believers who sold their possessions and gave the And by the hands of the money to the Apostles was one who was especially mentioned. apostles were many signs and He was a man by the name of Joses, later called Barnabas by wonders wrought among the the Apostles. In the days that followed, this man was used by people; (and they were all with the Lord in a great way. He let nothing hinder him from serving one accord in Solomon's porch. the Lord. He gave himself and his talent, as well as his 13 possessions, to God. Barnabas befriended and helped Paul And of the rest durst no man when he was a new convert ( Acts 9:26-27 26 And when Saul join himself to them: but the was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the people magnified them. disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that 14 he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to And believers were the more the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord added to the Lord, multitudes both in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had of men and women.) preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.).