I.
I’ll get us started on our text for this week as I do most weeks asking you to read over the passage a couple of times.

For our first reading let’s read the entire passage without stopping to pay particular attention to any one part of the passage.

Then, let’s pause for a moment in silence and let the passage settle into our minds.

Then read the passage again and notice (or even make note of) what draws you in the most deeply to these scenes.

II.
Acts 4:32-5:11

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

III.
There’s a lot going on here and a lot to draw our attention.

There is a description of the behavior of this group of people in regard to how they behaved toward one another; The apostles as a group are described in regard to their proclamation. The behavior of several individuals is mentioned, Barnabas, Ananias, Sapphira, Peter and a group (or groups) or young men..

What did you focus on?

Did this draw your focus as something to affirm or as something that was problematic to you?

Take some more time with this Scripture passage and we’ll get back together later to share our collective focus on a couple of things.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}