Commentary on Acts 5:6-11

By Bob Myhan

⁶ And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

The Jews of those days did not generally hold funerals as we do today. They buried the dead promptly and unceremoniously. Neither did they use coffins or caskets as is customary in our day. One might remember the haste in which our Lord’s body was buried.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of  Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. (John 19:31-42)

If not for Joseph and Nicodemus, the body of our Lord most likely would have ended up in the common grave for executed criminals.

⁷ Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

Three hours at the church’s meeting place is not uncommon even today, as many congregations are discontinuing Sunday evening services. But at this particular time in the infancy of the Lord’s church, with no written New Testament to guide them, it was more important to spend a good deal of time at the feet of the apostles.

We have no way of knowing where Sapphira had been during those three hours. It is, however, possible that there was some gender separation during part of the worship. Perhaps she was with the other women or some of the children. One might reasonably think that she would have heard of her husband’s death during that period but it may have been kept from her, deliberately, in order to expose her culpability in the intended deception.

⁸ And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."

Not knowing that the jig was up, she inadvertently confessed to her part in the sin.

⁹ Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."

Peter is not asking for information but is asking the question to bring her quickly to the realization that the sin had been exposed. The news of her husband’s death and burial is immediately followed by the pronouncement of her own.

¹⁰ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.

There is no indication that Peter did anything to Sapphira other than to pronounce her impending death. Her body was also removed quickly from the place of meeting and buried.

¹¹ So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

The Preacher wrote,

Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. (Ecc. 8:11)

As mentioned in our last issue, God does not always punish sin so swiftly and severely; but from time to time He has done so in order to teach man to respect His laws. Consider the following events in the wilderness wanderings of Israel.

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food,  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Cor. 10:1-12)

God’s people, in particular, need to comprehend the enormity of sin.

(To be continued)

Benevolence and Relief (Part 6)

By Bob Myhan

As was pointed out in the last issue, Paul did not write to the churches of Galatia with regard to what might or might not be done with money from the local church treasury. Nor did he write to them regarding anything to be done by the local church as a collective unit, with the possible exception of withdrawing from the Judaizing teachers who were among them. (4:21-31)

We continue our analysis of the epistle. In what sense was Paul “unknown by face to the churches of Judea”? Surely, it was in the sense that he was “unknown by face” to those who made up those churches.

Notice the “us” in what they were hearing (v. 23). Had Paul “persecuted us” (churches) or had he “persecuted us” (individuals)? Obviously, it was the latter. (see again Acts 8:1-3)

Had they been “bewitched” as churches or as individuals? Did the local churches have eyes other than the eyes of the individual members? Did the congregations receive the Spirit as collective units or did the individual members receive the Spirit? (3:1-2)

Had they “begun in the Spirit” collectively or individually? We know it was individually because of the contrast between “begun in the Spirit” and “made perfect by the flesh.” (3:3)

Did the churches or the individuals, who made up the churches, experience “the hearing of faith”? (3:5)

Were they “sons of Abraham” as individuals or as congregations? (3:7)

Did the Scripture foresee that God would justify Gentile churches or Gentile individuals? And would “all nations” be blessed collectively or distributively? (3:8)

Are those who are “of faith” individuals or congregations? (3:9)

Who was “under the curse” - congregations or individuals? Does “everyone” refer to congregations or to individuals? (3:10)

Does “no one” refer to congregations or to individuals? Do local congregations “live by faith” separate and apart from their members living “by faith”? (3:11)

Does “the man” refer to a congregation or to a member of a congregation? (3:12)

Did Christ redeem us from the curse of the law as congregations or us individuals? (3:13)

Does “the blessing of Abraham” come upon “the Gentiles” as congregations or as individual members of congregations? Do churches or individual members of churches receive the promise of the Spirit through faith? (3:14)

(To be continued)

Where Are You?

By Mike Thomas

Owensboro, KY

Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" (Gen. 3:9)

Where are you when we need you at church;

When we gather for worship in spirit and truth?

Where are you when we need your help singing;

When we offer up praise as our hearts join as one?

Where are you when we pray for those who are suffering;

When your brethren need help as we petition our God?

Where are you when the Lord's death is remembered;

When we see His broken body and taste the forgiveness in blood?

Where are you when we rightly divide the word of God;

When the teacher and students need your input and support?

Where are you when we lay by in store on the first day of the week;

When the money you spend on pleasure could help Christ's kingdom replete?

Where are you when we care for the needy;

When those who are in trouble could use your succor and strength?

Where are you when a soul needs the encouragement to obey God's word;

When another man's son or another woman's daughter could become a child of God?

Where are you when we need you at home to care for your family;

When those in need of your attention are neglected for your selfish pursuits?

Where are you Adam and why are you hiding? What have you done that keeps you away?

Is this the condition you want to be found in when the Lord calls for us on Judgment Day?