The National tribune., 1892-08-04
SUNDAY !: ]: .!M|!|EDITA 1I0N.

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A Study of the,i'International Sunday
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School Lesson Appointed for August
IA, 1892. s,afs
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Subject: Ananias and Sapphire. Acts. s:
III.
rOne reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l
INTRODUCTION.
We remember the meeting at which SITS.
Peter and John reported their experiences in
arrest, imprisonment and trial. "a: $780, 1t
was gathering for praise and prayer. second
descent of the Holy Spirit was manifested. We
notice several results-the disciples were in
spired with bodness; they were one in heart
and soul; they felt common interest, and re-
garded their possessions as subject to use by the
whole body of believers; they disposed of their
property, real and personal, so as to have ready
money for immediate and pressing wants. The
movement was popular, and man was held
in special regard who having much was willing
to sell and share the proceeds. One, named
Joses fBarnabas), the Of consolation. at
once sold some property and brought the pro-
ceeds to the Apostles for use "a: 31-37.) The
account does not say he sold all his property.
Many words of com lment were heard by him.
It was seen that such sacrifice gained one
large place in the hearts and confidence Of the
Apostles. Some without property doubtless
regretted they could not show such confidence
in the new cause. We see how persons might
be tempted to do acts which would lift
them into prominence, and that specially IT
they had weakness for human praise. 1t
seems such selling of property was purely
voluntary act. We have in this account an
intmation of the serious results of any
attempt to mako tho property Of Christians
common to possession and use. The
world seems not yet prepared for this, and
prematureness is robbery of the honest and
industrious. This is specially so when, az we
seem to have reason to hold, the Church has no
such unmistakabe insight into mems actions
and intents as to be able to discriminate on the
spot and strike dead all impostors.
Noticing in what esteem Barnabas was held,
"a: SO. 81, the idea entered the mind of Ananias
or Sapphire that it would be very desirable to
be SO magnfed. From the expression ". u
"his wife also being privy to it," we may IN
fer tho thought originated with Ananias.
They both loved praise, but it is clear they
valued money at even higher standard. 10
want to have what did not belong to thcm-to
wit, gratitude for parting with all their prop
erty in the interest Of the early Church-was
dishonest and wicked. They desired to pass
for greater benefactors than they were willing
to be; to get praise for what they were not; to
overshadow Barnabas; to put all the Christians
of the place under greater obligations to them;
to harvest where they did not SOW.
l. References.
Verse l. Ananias. 9:1O-17; 1872; "a: /.
Sold possession. ST. Mt, 80: %.
Verse 2. Kept back part of the price. " 3;
Nh, 3O:2 Deu., %: 81; Fec, So NAL, 3: 8,
8; compare "purloining." Titus, 2: 10. Laid
it at the Apostles feet. a: 81 Brought GER
tain part. q "a.
Verse 3. Why hath Satan filled thine heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost? Gen., 3: 10; 1 Ch.,
81 Il; st. Mt, 10 %; st. Lu, 22:3 st. John,
1879; s:4; 1927; 2 Cor, 2:11; Ii: 3.
Why? Reason, covetousness. JOSH z; XII,
5: 20-27; ST. Luke Is: % %; st. John, IL: 6;
IT,, 60, 10; 2 Ii, A: 10. st. Peter knew the
deception. How? l Cor, IL: 10. To lie. l
Verse4 Ananias was sinful. 8: 81; st. Mt,
Is g. Lied to God. Elk, Is: 8; Ps., 1879 a; 1
Th, 48.
Verse 5. Fell down and gave up ghost
(diedl. v. 10; job, ID: 10; Jer., 1879; st.
Mt, 81: 80. Compare cases of Nadab and
Abihu Lew 10: /, 2-Korah, Dathan, and
IL Gehazi; XII, 5 :27-Herod Acts, II: 23-
Elymas; 13: Sill. See also ST. Mt, -: AZ, 48;
St John, 6:70; Rev.. 2l:6. We see death the
consequence Of sin. Gen, 3: 1913. Fear. See
on Verse II. Cannot conceal anything from
God. Jer., 90: "a.
Verse &. Wound up the body for burial. st.
John, IL : Al; 10: 40. Carry out the corpse. V.
10; Lew. 1914
Verse T. Wife sinned too. Gen., $50.
Verse 8. Agreed together. Ps., so: 18. Tempt
the Spirit. Ez., 1872 Z; NJ, IA: %: Deu.,
6: IS; Ps., rs: Is, al, So.
Verse 10. Yielded up Ghost V. 8. Fell
down. v. 5.
Verse II. Fear. V. 5; 2:43; 1917; Nu.,
Is 81; Ps., SO: 6; 64:9; / Cor, 10: IL, IL;
Heb, 4: II: %; / Pet l: II.
2. When.
We may date May, A. d. 90.
The session of the prayer and conference
service must have been protracted, since three
hours interviewed between the two deaths.
SonIe think Sapphire was slain at second
gathering. So Bloomfield. Bengel intimates
that woman. being the weaker vessel, was
given by Providence a longer time for repent
auce. She carried the terrible falsehood all
that time without relenting her purpose to
utter it, There is no way of telling the dura-
ton of the interval between the decision Of
Anauias to sell his property, giving the pro-
ceeds to the Church, and the actual passing
over of the proceeds Tin part) to the Apostles
We cannot suppose the interval protracted 1t
would require some time to change title (the
possession was real estate) and receive pay
ment. We may suppose Ananias did not bring
his money to the Apostles at the same meeting
AS that held when Barnabas made his Offering
a: 36, 81 And both transferences were after
the meeting held to hear the report of SITS. Peter
and John. 1t was the proof given at that meet
ing of Gods presence and blessing that in
spired the unity of feeling which eliminated
in unity of possession of property. "a: 81 49,
Perhaps when Ananias sold his property he
really purposed to devote the entire sum re-
back a part of the price may have been the
result of sudden impulse temptation The
money in hand seemed large; too much; more
than he was thought to be worth, and hence
the amount he paid over to the Apostles could be
less without suspicion; more good deal, per-
haps than Barnabas turned into the Apostolic
treasury; more than might be needed just now,
and so, capable of being paid in nstallments.
one on the spot and another in the future, if
necessity demanded.
g. Where.
We may presume the meetings Of the first
Christians were held in the same upper
room" referred to in /: Is; place." 2: 1;
house" 2: g; stSeel the question fully dis
cussed in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE June 30.)
a. Personal.
The persons who figure principally we're
Ananas and Sapphira--man and wife. Both
names are beautifulLin origin, and it was I'M
fitting they two bore them. Their very names
were lies. for they misrepresented facts, since
Ananias promised goodness and Sapphire