The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-28

tuo power was eXeftcO.
z. OF the resurrection. 80 They claimed
to do what they accomplished through the
help of Christ, who before had been crucifed.
and who if he helped after death, must have
risen to life. Cor, Is: 1916.
8. Grace. 33. They commended themselves
to people by reason Of the help (grace) of God.
S: IL. No one could, for example, see their
generosity to each other without admiring it.
8. At Apostles feet. 80, 81. This implies
10. Interpreted. SO. Perhaps this was for
the benefit of Theophilus, who did not under
stand Hebrew.
Suggestions
/, Cultivate Church unity.
9. Crush selfshness. Be generous. Help the
poor.
g. In emergency, great calamity. sudden gen.
eral loss. be willing to part with more than
usual contributions for help.
4. Witness for Christ in word and deed.
5. Commend religion to all your associates.
Convince the irreligious Of the truth of Chris
tianity by the beauty and consistency of your
lives. Be in favor.
ANANIAs AND SAPPHIRA.
Acts, 5:1-11.
Late in Summer of A. D. 30.
Place.
Jerusalem. 1:13. IA, Is; 4: %, 81.
Occasion.
The picture drawn in a. 81 is very BEAU
tiful. 1t presents rs with what We may call q
perfect Church. The next picture is the one
we are to study this week. 1t is great con-
trast. We are reminded of the fact that among
The Twelve was the false, wicked, hypocrisic
Judas No body Of Christians has ever yet met
every one Of whom was without some serious
faults. We recall the parable of the wheat and
the tares, and also the parable of the drag net,
containing bad as we'll as good fishes. Compare
Isa., 5: Ia. st. Paul describes Church not
having spot Of evil. Eph., 5 :25-27. There
is nodoubt but that st. Paul had in mind Cant,
Al: "Thou art ali fair, there is
spot in thee" We are to understand the Church
in its later development particularly in its
Heavenly condition. We tend toward it. We
aim for it. 1t is even now so attained that we
are shocked at the sin of some conspicuous
Christian claimant. And yet it is not enough
realized to give the Church authority to say it
is perfect.
We have seen the Church in trouble from
enemies from the outside. 80 Read 4: 1-30.
Now we find the Church harmed from within,
endangered by tho evil conduct of its own
and it was we'll it be dealt with on the spot
and in very signal, effective way.
Aaanias and Sapphira.
The name Ananias means ,chom deborah has
gracionsly gipen Sapphirn is derived from the
precious stone. the sapphire We would ex-
pect very much from persons with two such
names. Both words now stand, however. for
so mich of hypocrisy that no parent would
take the responsibility of naming child either
Ananias or Sapphire. have wandered about
among thousand cemeteries studying epitaphs,
H. = n ~ - Il
all names are of biblical origin, did find that
any Apanas or Sapphire ever died. To call
man an Ananias is equivalent to the styling
him liar
Two other persons named Ananias are men,
toned in the Bible-a disciple at Damascus
%: 10-17) and the high priest. Acts 90 2-5.
It seems Ananias of Acts 5 was man of
some wealth-probabIy Jew-married. We
do not know his age whether he had children,
etc. He was simply a certain man."
Motive of Ananias and Wife
We may infer that persons who gave gene.
rously became favorites, were much talked
about, werc praised. etc. Some might get in,-
pulse to contribute simply out of an itching for
some popularity. But, in a company SO poor as
the first disciples, we wonld not imagine the
temptation so great. And yet. to be promineat
among 5000 persons a. AZ was very desirable.
We may suppose the impulse prompting Ana.
MAS was good. In genuine spirit he sold the
property aud received the money. Now came
in the temptation. Avarice found place. The
money seemed greater gift than Ananas pur.
posed. Perhaps he got good price. The
money got him instead Of he tho money. Sin
grows. Next comes sacrilege. To go to God
with gift In hand and lie on the lips was an
insult to Deity. Sacrilege and then falsehood.
Then, the wish to appear more than he was in
benevolence was shameful hypocrisy. But
worse yet lie and his wife combined together to
commit great SIM We bear in mind that the
evil did not consist in not giving the full price,
but in pretending that o part price was the en-
tire price.
The real impertinence and wckedness Of the
act of Ananias were enhanced by the fact that
he was not dealing simply with human beings,
but with God Himself. 3.
Beautiful names for women are Alathea Con-
stancy, Fidelia. indicating truthfulness, relia-
bility. genuineness. So for men good names are
Heman. Homer, ETC., given to denote sincerity,
trustinness.
Miracle.
What caused the deaths Of Ananias and Sap
phira? Did ST. Peter, by miraculous power i'm
parted to him. kill the deceivers? We're man
and wife so shocked. by knowledge their sin
was found out, that they dropped dead by nerv-
Gus stroker There is no way but to conclude,
SO far IS tho account implies that the deaths
Then. miraculous feature is seen, some say,
in the knowledge which st. Peter had of the
motives, mental operations, secret contrivances,
wicked agreements of Ananias and vito.
Doctrine.
Many theologians see strong argument in
favor Of the Deity of the Holy Spirit in the
fact that in verso 3 st. Peter declares Ananias
sinned against the Holy Ghost, and then in
verse says Ananias lied to God, the inference
being. as some claim, that the Holy Ghost aud
God are one and the same.
Suggestions.
/. Sin grows-pride. give all, give some, sac
rilege hypocrisy, falsehood.
e. Evil seeks company-husband and wife.
8 Be liberal; do not give all, do not give
scrimpngly.
4. Women can give join in Christian work /;
help
5. Be united. The 5000 (4:4) equal ono.
6. Be genuine; never put on appearances;
be truthful.
z. Cannot deceive God.
Ananids In Art.
See death Of Ananias" by Raphael.