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THE KING’S BUSINESS
out in these verses. He is called “God” (5:4) and has the attributes o f deity (5:3, 4, 9). (c ) The divine endorsement o f the apostles as authoritative teachers, -5:12-42. First. By giving them supernatural power, 5 :12-16, Such power as is here manifested had been promised to the disciples by Jesus (Acts 1:8; cf. Mark 16:17, 18; John cc. 14-16). Already in the case,o f the discipline of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11), we have seen God setting His stamp of approval on the apostles. Here again God would mag nify the office o f apostle as representing Himself. The Church must recognize the divine authority o f the apostles. So we are told that “the people magnified them” (5:13, cf 2:42; 4:35). , In chapter 4 the apostles had refused to obey the Sanhedrin and had declared them selves henceforth to be mader the guidance o f the Holy Spirit. This attitude is approved by God in these verses (5:12-16). Probably the apostles as well as the people needed this vindication (pf. 18:9, 10). Second. By miraculously, delivering the apostles from the hands o f their enemies, 5:17-42. This miraculous display, as well as the one preceding it (5 .T2-16), was doubtless intended to convince the rulers primarily. O f course, God had worked miraculously before as in chapters 2 and 4 where the house was shaken; but then, only the Church knew o f that; the rulers had seen nothing o f it. Now God will force the matter on the attention o f the rulers. Note the official expressions: “high priest” and “ Sadducees” (v. 17), “high priest” and “ Senate o f the children o f Israel” and “council” (v. 21 ), “officers” (v. 22 ), “cap tain o f the temple” and “chief priest” (v. 24). It may be that this is the reason why the apostles are miraculously delivered from prison here and are not; thus^delivered in chapter 4. One cannot help but be impressed with the absolute certainty on the part o f the
(b )
The Church in internal conflict,
4:32-5:11. The attempt to put into practice the “community o f goods” theory apparently led to distressing internal conflict. When we consider how tenaciously men . cling to property, and see Jhe free sur render o f it in this Christian community, we begin to realize what a great change the Holy Spirit had wrought in the church. Where there is no spirit o f giving there is no outpouring o f the Spirit. This is not the place to discuss whether this attempt at community o f goods was a success or the wis^e and proper thing to do. These people may have had a zeal without knowl edge, but is that, any worse than a knowl edge without zeal? The New Testament tells us of the triumphs and failures o f the early church. There is no evidence in the New Testament that such a thing was ever tried again. Maybe this is an indication of the mind o f the Spirit regarding the mat ter, May not the words “While it remained, was it not thine own?” and “Was it not in thine own power?” indicate that God recognizes human ownership, and calls for stewardship rather than the commun ity idea? The case o f Ananias and Sapphira (5:1- 11 ) is but an illustration o f the dangers arising from such a theory. The incidents recorded in this section were doubtless intended to teach those early believers the sacredness of the Church and the fact that the Spirit’s leadership o f the Church is one that calls for sincer ity and sanctity on the part of the members o f the Church. The church, like the tem ple, the tabernacle, the sanctuary, must be holy. Any defilement, any infringement of the law o f holiness will be punished (cf. Leviticus 10; 2 Samuel 6 ). The effect was to keep hypocrites away and to add many believers to the Church (5:11-14). Mere church membership does not save. The church is not a moral club; it is God’s house. The deity, as well as the personality of the Holy Spirit ( 5 :3) is clearly brought
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