Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/55

Rh the gift of tongues; but had they the gift of discerning spirits? Those that presume upon security and impunity in sin, tempt the Spirit of God; they tempt God as if he were altogether such a one as themselves.

[2.] That they agreed together to do it; making the bond of their relation to each other (which by the divine institution is a sacred tie) to become a bond of iniquity. It is hard to say which is worse between yoke-fellows and other relations—a discord in good, or concord in evil. It seems to intimate that their agreeing together to do it, was a further tempting of the Spirit; as if when they had engaged to keep one another's counsel in this matter, even the Spirit of the Lord himself could not discover them. Thus they digged deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, but were made to know it is in vain. "How is it that you are thus infatuated! What strange stupidity has seized you, that you would venture to make trial of that which is past dispute? How is it that you, who are baptized christians, do not understand yourselves better? How durst you run so great a risk?"

(2.) Her doom is read; Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband, are at the door; (perhaps he heard them coming, or knew that they could not be long;) and they shall carry thee out. As Adam and Eve, who agreed to eat the forbidden fruit, were turned together out of paradise; so Ananias and Sapphira, who agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord, were together chased out of the world.

The sentence executed itself; there needed no executioner, a killing power went along with Peter's word, as sometimes a healing power did; for the God in whose name he spake, kills and makes alive; and out of his mouth (and Peter was now his mouth) both evil and good proceed; (v. 10.) Then fell she down straightway at his feet. Some sinners God makes quick work with, while others he bears long with; for which difference, doubtless, there are good reasons; but he is not accountable to us for them. She heard not till now that her husband was dead, the notice of which, with the discovery of her sin, and the sentence of death passed upon her, struck her as a thunderbolt, and took her away as with a whirlwind. And many instances there are of sudden deaths, which are not to be looked upon as the punishment of some gross sin, like this; we must not think that all who die suddenly, are sinners above others; perhaps it is in favour to them, that they have a quick passage, however, it is forewarning to all to be always ready. But here it is plain that it was in judgment. Some put the question concerning the eternal state of Ananias and Sapphira, and incline to think that the destruction of the flesh was, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. And I should go in with that charitable opinion, if there had been any space given them to repent, as there was to that incestuous Corinthian. But secret things belong not to us. It is said, She fell down at Peter's feet; there where she should have laid the whole price, and did not, she was herself laid, as it were to make up the deficiency. The young men that had the care of funerals, coming in, found her dead; and it is not said, They wound her up, as they did Ananias, but, They carried her out as she was, and buried her by her husband; probably an inscription was set over their graves, intimating that they were joint-monuments of divine wrath against those that lie to the Holy Ghost. Some ask whether the apostles kept the money which they did bring, and concerning which they lied ? I am apt to think they did; they had not the superstition of those who said, It is not lawful for us to put it into the treasury: for unto the pure all things are pure. What they brought, was not polluted to them that they brought it to; but what they kept back, was polluted to them that kept it back. Use was made of the censers of Korah's mutineers.

V. The impression that this made upon the people; notice is taken of this in the midst of the story; (v. 5.) Great fear came upon all that heard these things; that heard what Peter said, and saw what followed; or upon all that heard the story of it; for, no doubt, it was all the talk of the city. And again, (v. 11.) Great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

1. They that had joined themselves to the church, were hereby struck with an awe of God, and of his judgments, and with a greater veneration of this dispensation of the Spirit which they were now under. It was not a damp or check to their holy joy, but it taught them to be serious in it, and to rejoice with trembling. All that laid their money at the apostles' feet after this, were afraid of keeping back any part of the price.

2. All that heard it, were put into a consternation by it, and were ready to say, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God, and his Spirit in the apostles? As 1 Sam. 6. 20.

12. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

We have here an account of the progress of the gospel, notwithstanding this terrible judgment inflicted upon two hypocrites.

I. Here is a general account of the miracles which the apostles wrought; (v. 12.) By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; many miracles of mercy for one of judgment. Now the gospel-power returned to its proper channel, which is that of mercy and grace. God had come out of his place to punish, but now returns to his place, to his mercy-seat again. The miracles they wrought proved their divine mission; they were not a few, but many, of divers kinds and often repeated; they were signs and wonders, such wonders as were confessedly signs of a divine presence and power; they were not done in a corner, but among the people, who were at liberty to inquire into them, and, if there had been any fraud or collusion in them, would have discovered it.

II. We are here told what were the effects of these miracles which the apostles wrought.

1. The church was hereby kept together, and confirmed in its adherence both to the apostles, and to one another; They of the church were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

(1.) They met in the temple, in the open place that was called Solomon's porch. It was strange that the rulers of the temple suffered them to keep