Read Acts 5:1-11
There are blemishes on the fairest human beauty. The best man has his faults and imperfections. The holiest periods of the church have their disperfections and dishonours. The history of the apostolic days has in the brightest of its glory this sad story of Ananias and Sapphira. The spirit of love was regnant in the early Church. It was a true brotherhood. Whatever anyone had he was ready to share with those who lacked. “Not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own.” This generosity was voluntary — there was no forced communism. But many of the wealthier Christians sold their possessions and brought the money to the apostles, to be used by them in helping the poor. One of these generous givers is named — Joseph Barnabas. Elsewhere we are told that Barnabas was a good man. His name means ‘son of consolation,” or “son of exhortation.” Evidently he was one of those men who have a genius for helping others. He had learned how a Christian man should use his money. He was prompted by love for Christ and for the poor to sell a piece of land and to lay the money at the feet of the apostles, to be used in helping his fellow Christians who were poor.
The closing verses of chapter four and the beginning of chapter five should be read together. The word ‘but’ makes a striking contrast between what goes before and what comes after. One man’s good deeds inspire good deeds in others. No doubt the influence of the generosity of Barnabas did much to make others of the first Christians liberal. No doubt, too, his noble act put it into the heart of Ananias to do what he did. He wanted to be generous, too. The people were loud in their praise of Barnabas when it was known that he had made his gift of love. Perhaps his desire to have the commendation of his fellow church members was the motive, which inspired him. Possibly, at first, his impulse was right and his intention likewise. He may have meant to bring all the money to the apostles. It often happens that under a stirring appeal a man resolves to give a certain large sum to some good cause. But as he thinks over the matter his enthusiasm wanes, his willingness to make the self-sacrifice diminishes, and he ends by giving nothing at all, or only a small part of what he intended to give. This may have been the case with Ananias. At least we know that, having sold the property, he brought only a small portion of the proceeds, which, however, he represented as all he had received — secretly keeping back a part, while getting credit for the giving of all.
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