Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/51

Rh sat so loose to the wealth of this world; for meum—mine and tuum—thine are the great make-baits. Men's holding their own, and grasping at more than their own, are the rise of wars and fightings.

2. They abounded in charity, so that, in effect, they had all things common; for, (v. 34.) there was not any among them that lacked, but care was taken for their supply. These that had been maintained upon the public charity, when they turned christians, probably were excluded, and therefore it was fit that the church should take care of them. As there were many poor that received the gospel, so there were some rich that were able to maintain them, and the grace of God made them willing. Therefore those that gather much, have nothing over, because what they have over, they have for them who gather little, that they may have no lack, 2 Cor. 8. 14, 15. The gospel hath laid all things common, not so that the poor are allowed to rob the rich, but so that the rich are appointed to relieve the poor.

3. They did many of them sell their estates, to raise a fund for charity; As many as had possession of lands or houses, sold them, v. 34. Dr. Lightfoot computes that this was the year of jubilee in the Jewish nation, the fiftieth year, (the twenty-eighth since they settled in Canaan fourteen hundred years ago,) so that what was sold that year being not to return till the next jubilee, lands then took a good price, and so the sale of those lands would raise the more money.

Now, (1.) We are here told what they did with the money that was so raised; they laid it at the apostles' feet, they left it to them to be disposed of as they thought fit; probably, they had their support from it; from whence else could they have it ? Observe, The apostles would have it laid at their feet, in token of their holy contempt of the wealth of the world; they thought it fitter they should be laid at their feet than lodged in their hands or in their bosoms. Being laid there, it was not hoarded up, but distribution was made, by proper persons, unto every man according as he had need. Great care ought to be taken in the distribution of public charity, [1.] That it be given to such as have need, such as are not able to procure a competent maintenance for themselves, through age, infancy, sickness, or bodily disability, or incapacity of mind, want either of ingenuity or activity, cross providences, losses, oppressions, a numerous charge; those that upon any of these accounts, or any other, have real need, and have not relations of their own to help them; but, above all, those that are reduced to want for well doing, and for the testimony of a good conscience, ought to be taken care of, and provided for, and, with a prudent application of what is given, so as may be most for their benefit. [2.] That it be given to every man, for whom it is intended, according as he had need, without partiality or respect of persons. It is a rule, in dispensing charity, as well as in administering justice, ut parium par sit ratio—that those who are equally needing and equally deserving, should be equally helped, and that the charity should be suited and adapted to the necessity, as the word is.

(2.) Here is one particular person mentioned, that was remarkable for this generous charity; it was Barnabas, afterward Paul's colleague. Observe,

[1.] The account here given concerning him; v. 36. His name was Joses; he was of the tribe of Levi, for there were Levites among the Jews of the dispersion, who, it is probable, presided in their synagogue-worship, and, according to the duty of that tribe, taught them the good knowledge of the Lord. He was born in Cyprus, a great way off from Jerusalem, his parents, though Jews, having a settlement there. Notice is taken of the apostles' changing his name after he associated with them. It is probable that he was one of the seventy disciples, and, as he increased in gifts and graces, grew eminent, and was respected by the apostles, who, in token of their value for him, gave him a name, Barnabas—the son of prophecy, (so it properly signifies,) he being endued with extraordinary gifts of prophecy. But the Hellenist Jews (saith Grotius) called praying, ταράκλησιςπαράκλησις [sic], and therefore by that word it is rendered here; A son of exhortation; (so some;) one that had an excellent faculty of healing and pursuadingpersuading [sic]; we have an instance of it, ch. 11. 22, 24. A son of consolation; (so we read it;) one that did himself walk very much in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, a cheerful christian, and this enlarged his heart in charity to the poor; or one that was eminent for comforting the Lord's people, and speaking peace to wounded troubled consciences; he had an admirable felicity that way. There were two among the apostles that were called Boanerges—Sons of thunder; (Mark 3. 17.) but here was a son of consolation with them. Each had his several gift, neither must censure the other, but both ease one another; let the one search the wound, and then let the other heal it and bind it up.

[2.] Here is an account of his charity, and great generosity to the public fund. His is particularly taken notice of, because of the eminency of his services afterward in the church of God, especially in carrying the gospel to the Gentiles; that this might not appear to come from any ill will to his own nation, we have here his benevolence to the Jewish converts; or perhaps this is mentioned, because it was a leading card, and an example to others; he having land, whether in Cyprus, where he was born, or in Judea, where he now lived, or elsewhere, is not certain, but he sold it, not to buy elsewhere to advantage, but, as a Levite indeed, who knew he had the Lord God of Israel for his inheritance, he despised earthly inheritances, would be cumbered no more with them, but brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet, to be given in charity. Thus, as one that was designed to be a preacher of the gospel, he disentangled himself from the affairs of this life; and he lost nothing upon the balance of the account, by laying the purchase-money at the apostles' feet, when he himself was, in effect, numbered among the apostles, by that word of the Holy Ghost, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them, ch. 13. 2. Thus, for the respect he shewed to the apostles as apostles, he had an apostle's reward.

CHAP. V. In this chapter, we have, I. The sin and punishment of Ananias and Sapphira, who, for lying to the Holy Ghost, were struck dead at the word of Peter, v. 1..11. II. The flourishing state of the church, in the power that went along with the preaching of the gospel, v. 12..16. III. The imprisonment of the apostles, and their miraculous discharge out of prison, with fresh orders to go on to preach the gospel, which they did, to the great vexation of their persecutors, v. 17..26. IV. Their arraignment before the great Sanhedrim, and their justification of themselves in what they did, v. 27..33. V. Gamaliel's counsel concerning them, that they should not persecute them, but let them alone, and see what would come of it, and their concurrence, for the present, with this advice, in the dismission of the apostles with no more than a scourging, v. 34..40. VI. The apostles' cheerful progress in their work, notwithstanding the prohibition laid upon them, and the indignity done them, v. 41, 42.

UT a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the