Part Eleven

2. Part Eleven Acts 4:32 – 5:11

4. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to

5. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 him was his own; but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the

6. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were

7. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them down at the apostles’ feet; and they would be

8. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 distributed to each, as any had need. And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which

9. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 translated means, Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

10. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his

11. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart

12. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it

13. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to

14. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it.

15. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about

16. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for

17. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put

18. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as

19. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 well.” And she fell immediately at his feet, and breathed her last; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried

20. Acts 4:32 - 5:11 her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.

21. The Bible is brutally honest as it records the good, the bad, and the ugly of church history.

22. Today’s passage can be divided into two distinctive parts: the sharing of the saints and the sins of the saints.

23. Let’s take a look at the sharing of the saints first.

24. Sharing • Spiritual Participation • Strong Preaching • Simple Provision

25. Spiritual Participation!

26. Acts 4:32a And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul;

27. The congregation of those who believed had grown so rapidly that they were no longer numbered.

28. That startling growth was the direct result of the action recorded in verse 31, when those who were filled with the Holy Spirit began to speak the Word of God with boldness.

29. That should sound familiar to us.

30. Take a look at John 4:23-24.

31. John 4:23-24 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks

32. John 4:23-24 to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

33. The basis of their shared life was twofold.

34. First, they were preoccupied with ministering to each other.

35. They were so content with meeting the needs of each other that they had no concern for gratifying their own desires.

36. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

37. Philippians 2:4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

38. Second, they were focused beyond themselves to reaching the lost world with the truth of the gospel.

39. John 8:31-32 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are disciples of Mine;

40. John 8:31-32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

41. That left them little time to bother with trivial personal matters.

42. Sharing • Spiritual Participation • Strong Preaching • Simple Provision

43. Strong Preaching!

44. Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrec-tion of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

45. They did the very thing they were commanded not to do by the religious leaders.

46. We must continue to declare what we have seen and heard!

47. I am compelled!I am obligated to share the Gospel!

48. 1 Corinthians 2:1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

49. 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

50. 1 Corinthians 2:3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,