Acts 5, 6, 7

Acts 5, 6, 7

Overview:  Two members of the community hold back profits from the sell of a piece of property.  The disciples need some organized help.  Stephen is arrested, preaches a great sermon and is stoned to death.

Acts 4 ends with the early Christian community in something of an idyllic state.  Everything is held in common by all and there was not a needy person among them.  This goes on all the way until the very beginning of the next chapter.  Which is to say, not very long.  Immediately in Acts 5 we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira who misrepresented what they had sold a piece of land for and attempted to deceive the community so that they could keep some of the profit.  Peter sees through what they have done and points out to both of them that it's not what the community they are trying to deceive, but God and that this is an impossible project.  Both Ananias and Sapphira then drop dead.  Continuing on there is some unhappiness with the way some of the folks in the community are receiving what they need which leads to the disciples getting an earful from the unhappy parties involved.  This issue is met by the naming of a group specfically to deal with caring for the physical needs of the community.  In Acts 7 Stephen is arrested and following an impassioned sermon is stoned to death.  The community which had been living in bliss is quickly faced with internal disobedience, discord and attack from the outside.  The point being that, once again, the Bible makes no case for faith being easy.  It is telling that the book of Acts is not four chapters long and does not end with the church living happily ever after.  Instead it chronicles the challenges, the great acts of faith and the hardships that the community lives through as they follow the Way.  It is helpful in our imperfect days and imperfect communities to see that we share our imperfection in common with our earliest Christian predecessors.  And, perhaps, it will inspire us to be as courageously faithful in the face of our sin, shortcomings and imperfections as they were as well.