Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-14
Che freeman.
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.


wonderful work, goes back to the state
ment concerning the community of goods
among the early disciples, and introduces
the important and instructive incident of
this lesson. Among the several named
who disposed of some of their property
and gave tbe proceeds to the church were
Ananias and Sapphira. The generosity OF
others who had thus given, had doubtless
been applauded, and the donors held in
reputation for their gifts, and hence a
desire was created among others to share
in their honors by initiating their deeds.
1t is by no means indicated that the
parties mentioned in this lesson, or indeed
any others, disposed of all their property.
but they converted some part of it into
money that they might be better able to
serve the church. When they sold prop.
erty thus, it was doubtless understood that
the proceeds were to be given to the
church.
Ananias and his wife sold n possession,
and he came into the assembly of the
disciples, as it would appear, and in some
conversation, not here given, probably,
professed to bring the price of the land
sold, and give 1t into the common treasury.
Laying it at the apostles feet simply indi-
Gated that it was put iDto the hands of
these agents of the church to be used in
supplying the need of those who lacked.
MANY writers have held that Ananias did
not, in so many words, lie about the matter
as his wife afterwards did, but it is natural
to think that in presenting the gift he led
those present in some way to understand
that he had brought the full sum for which
his property had been sold.
Whether Peter, acting as the head Of
the band of disciples. detected the fraud
by the special operation Of the Holy Spirit,
or whether it had by some means become
known in the assembly what price was
obtained for the land we do not certainly
know. Either way would be possible,
and it is everywhere natural that such
transactions become public before it is
thought that much is known about them.
Peter charged the frand directly home
upon Ananias, as though the matter was
SO clear 10 him that no further proof was
was needed. He boldly characterizes the
whole business as suggestion of Satan,
and in its nature lie unto God.
His reasoning is clear, the land was in
their possession, there was no law or rule
obliging them to sell; having sold it they
were at Liberty to give any part Of the
proceeds TO the church, but now they
came with the pretense of giving all they
had obtained for the land, while, in reality
they kept part of the price for their own
use. This was the nature of their offense; !;
and when the terrible character Of the
crime flashed upon the conscience of
Ananias, under the scathipg words of
Peter, he fell dead In the midst of the
assembly. 1t was only natural that great
fear should come upon all who heard these
things. :. 1t seems that it was necessary
for the stability aud purity of the early
church that along with the great gifts of
that early period there should also be
given great and solemn warnings. AS
was the custom in the east, at least
among the Jews the body was at once
prepared for burial. The Jews were
made ceremonially unclean by the contact
of dead body, and hence they buried at
once to avoid pollution. In this case
there may have been some added haste
on account of superstitious fear. The
sudden manifestation of divine displeasure
may have caused them to look upon tho
body of Ananias almost as an accursed
thing. The young men, mentioned as
performing this work of preparing and
burying the body, were doubtless the men
of strong nerve and vigorous health who
belonged to the company of the disciples.
The word is in the comparative degree in
the Greek, The younger, and is the word
much used to denote strong vigorous men,
with little regard for their years. if only
they were not enfeebled by age.
About three hours after, perhaps at
another gathering of the disciples, later in
the day, Sapphira came into the assembly,
not knowing the fate of her husband.
Peter at once put the question directly TO
her. Tell me whether ye sold the land
for SO much?" doubtless mentioning the
sum brought in by her husband. She
promptly answered in the affirmative,
true to the compact she had made with
her husband. Peter repeated to her the
same question, virtually, which he ad-
dressed to Ananias in the third verse, and
then solemnly declared to her that the
swift vengeance which had overtaken him
was now to fall upon her. As these words
fell upon her ears she too sank to the floor
and was speedily carried fourth and buried
with her husband. 1t is TO be noticed that
in either case th @ sin charged is sin against
the Holy Ghost. This was its nature
these persons, along with the rest of the
disciples professed to be moved and led
by the Holy Ghost. Ananias claimed to
be thus moved to sell his land and give the
proceeds to the!church; and in bis conduct
he belied his profession. He was moved
OF Satan while he claimed 10 be moved OF
the Holy Ghost. Satan prompted desire
for credit and reputation for benevolence,
and suggested that all this might be
obtained and yet part of the price kept
for private use while they pretended to
give all. There was no element of
philanthropy or benevolence about the
proceeding, but only what they considered
cheap way of securing good repute
among the people. All this might have
passed only as mean subterfuge If it had
been the work of those who make no |
pretension 10 godliness, just as the schem-
ing man of the world often buys himself