Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles,
St. John Chrysostom,
The Second Sunday of Pascha - Thomas Sunday
And Joses, who by the
Apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of
consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and
brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet.
The writer is now about to
relate the affair of Ananias and Sapphira, and in order to show that the man's
sin was of the worst description, he first mentions him who performed the
virtuous deed; that, there being so great a multitude all doing the same, so
great grace, so great miracles, he, taught by none of these, but blinded by
covetousness, brought destruction upon his own head. Having land—meaning that
this was all he possessed—sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the
Apostles' feet. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a
possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it,
and brought a certain part, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. ch. 5:1-2 The
aggravating circumstance was, that the sin was concerted, and none other saw
what was done. How came it into the mind of this hapless wretch to commit this
crime? But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the
Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Acts 5:3 Observe
even in this, a great miracle performed, greater far than the former. Whiles it
remained, says he, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in
your own power? Acts 5:4 That is, Was there any obligation and force? Do we
constrain you against your will? Why have you conceived this thing in your
heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these
words fell down, and gave up the ghost. Acts 5:5 This miracle is greater than
that of the lame man, in respect of the death inflicted, and the knowing what
was in the thought of the heart, even what was done in secret. And great fear
came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, and wound
him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of
three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter
answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? Acts 5:6-8 The
woman he would fain save, for the man had been the author of the sin: therefore
he gives her time to clear herself, and opportunity for repentance, saying, Tell
me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then
Peter said unto her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Holy
Ghost? Behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door,
and shall carry you out. Then she fell down straightway at his feet, and
yielded up the ghost; and the young men came in, and found her dead, and,
carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the
Church, and upon as many as heard these things. Acts 5:9-11
After this fear had come
upon them, he wrought more miracles; both Peter and the rest; 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. And of the rest dared no man join
himself to them, i.e. to the Apostles; but the people magnified them, i.e. the
Jewish people. If no man dared join himself unto them, the Apostles, there
were, however, the more added unto the Lord, believers, multitudes both of men
and of women, insomuch that they brought out into the streets their impotent
folk, and laid them upon couches and beds, that at the least the shadow of
Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. Acts 5:12-15 For Peter was the
wonderful one, and he to whom they more gave heed both because of his public
harangue, the first and the second and the third, and because of the miracle;
for he it was that wrought the miracle, the first, the second, the third: for
the present miracle was twofold: first, the convicting the thoughts of the
heart, and next the inflicting of death at his word of command. That at the
least the shadow of Peter passing by, etc. This had not occurred in the history
of Christ; but see here what He had told them actually coming to pass, that they
which believe in Me, the works that I do shall they do also; and greater works
than these shall they do. John 14:12 There came also a multitude out of the
cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them that were
vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one. Acts 5:16
And now I would have you
observe the way in which their whole life is interwoven. First there was
despondency on account of Christ taken from them, and then came joy because of
the Spirit descending upon them; again, dejection because of the scoffers, and
then joy in the result of their own apology. And here again we find both
dejection and gladness. In that they had become conspicuous, and that God made
revelations to them, there was gladness: in that they had cut off some of their
own company, there was sadness. Once more: again there is gladness upon their
success, and again sadness by reason of the High Priest. And so it will be seen
to be the case throughout. And the same will be found to hold in the case of
the ancient saints likewise.— But let us look over again what has been said.
They sold them, it is
written, and brought the prices, and laid them down at the Apostles' feet.
Recapitulation. Acts 4:34-37 See, my beloved brethren, how instead of leaving
the Apostles to sell, they themselves sold, and presented the prices to them.
But a certain man named Ananias, etc. Acts 5:1 This history touches Bishops
too, and very forcibly. And the wife of Ananias was privy to the thing done:
therefore he examines her. But perhaps some one will say that he dealt very
harshly with her. What do you mean? What harshness? If for gathering sticks a
man is to be stoned, much rather ought he for sacrilege; for this money was
become sacred. He that has chosen to sell his goods and distribute them, and
then withdraws them, is guilty of sacrilege. But if he is sacrilegious, who
resumes from his own, much more he who takes from what is not his own. And do
not think that because the consequence is not now the same, the crime will go
unpunished. Do you see that this is the charge brought against Ananias, that
having made the money sacred, he afterwards secreted it? Couldest thou not,
said Peter, after selling your land, use the proceeds as your own? Were you
forbidden? Wherefore after you had promised it? See how at the very beginning,
the devil made his attack; in the very midst of such signs and wonders, how
this man was hardened! Something of the same kind had happened upon a time in
the Old Testament. The son of Charmi coveted the devoted thing: for observe
there also what vengeance ensues upon the sin. Sacrilege, beloved, is a most
grievous crime, insulting, and full of contempt. We neither obliged you to
sell, the Apostle says, nor to give your money when you had sold; of your own
free choice you did it; why have you then stolen from the sacred treasury? Why,
he says, has Satan filled your heart? Acts 5:3 Well, if Satan did the thing,
why is the man made guilty of it? For admitting the influence of the devil, and
being filled with it. You will say, they ought to have corrected him. But he
would not have received correction; for he that has seen such things as he had
seen, and is none the better, would certainly be none the better for anything
else that could be done; the matter was not one to be simply passed over: like
a gangrene, it must be cut out, that it might not infect the rest of the body.
As it is, both the man himself is benefitted in regard that he is not left to
advance further in wickedness, and the rest, in that they are made more
earnest; otherwise the contrary would have ensued. In the next place, Peter
proves him guilty, and shows that the deed was not hidden from him, and then
pronounces the sentence. But wherefore, upon what purpose have you done this?
Did you wish to keep it? You ought to have kept it all along, and never to have
professed to give it. The sacrilege, beloved, is a grievous one. For another,
it may be, coveted what was not his own: but it was at your discretion to keep
what was your own. Why then did you first make it sacred, and then take it? Out
of excessive contempt have you done this. The deed does not admit of pardon, it
is past pleading for.— Therefore let it be no stumbling-block to any, if at
present also there are sacrilegious persons. If there were such persons then,
much more now, when evils are many. But let us rebuke them before all, that
others also may fear. 1 Timothy 5:20 Judas was sacrilegious, but it was no
stumbling-block to the disciples. Do you see how many evils spring from love of
money? And great fear, it is said, came on all them that heard these things.
Acts 5:5 That man was punished, and others profited thereby. Not without cause.
And yet, signs had been wrought before: true, but there was not such a sense of
fear. So true is that saying, The Lord is known by executing judgments. Psalm
9:16 The same thing had occurred in the case of the Ark: Uzzah was punished and
fear came upon the rest. 2 Samuel 6:7 But in that instance the king through
fear removed from him the Ark; but here the disciples became more earnestly
heedful. [And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not
knowing what was done, came in, etc.] Acts 5:7 But observe how Peter, instead
of sending for her, waited till she entered; and how none of the others dared
carry out the intelligence. Such the teacher's awfulness, such the disciples'
reverence, such the obedience! An interval of three hours,— and yet the woman
did not hear of it, and none of those present reported it, although there was
time enough for it to be noised abroad; but they were afraid. This circumstance
the Evangelist relates with wonder even, when he says, Not knowing what was
done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, etc. Acts 5:8 And yet she might
have perceived even from this that Peter knew the secret. For why, having
questioned none other, does he question you? Was it not clear that he asked
because he knew? But so great was her hardness, it would not let her attempt to
evade the guilt; and with great confidence she replied; for she thought she was
speaking only to a man. The aggravation of the sin was, that they committed it
as with one soul, just as upon a settled compact between them. How is it that
you have agreed together, he said, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the
feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door. Acts 5:9 First he
makes her learn the sin, and then shows that she will justly suffer the same
punishment with her husband, since she has committed the same wickedness: And
they shall carry you out. And she fell down straightway at his feet, for she
was standing near him, and yielded up the ghost. Acts 5:10 So entirely by their
own act had they invited upon themselves the vengeance! Who after that would
not be struck with awe? Who would not fear the Apostle? Who would not marvel?
Who not be afraid? And they were with one accord, all of them in Solomon's
porch, Acts 5:12 no longer in a house, but having occupied the very Temple,
they there passed their time! No longer they guarded themselves against
touching the unclean; nay, without scruple they handled the dead. And observe
how, while to their own people they are severe, against the aliens they do not
exercise their power. But the people, he says, magnified them. Acts 5:13 And as
he had mentioned their being in Solomon's porch, that you may not wonder how
the multitude allowed this, he tells us that they did not dare even to approach
them: for no man, he says, dared join himself unto them. But believers were the
more added unto the Lord, multitudes both of men and women: 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.
(v. 14, 15.) Great faith, surpassing what had been shown in the case of Christ.
How comes this? Because Christ declared: And greater works than these shall he
do, because I go unto My Father. John 14:12 And these things the people do,
while the Apostles remain there, and are not moving about from place to place:
also from other places they were all bringing [their sick] on beds and couches:
and from all quarters accrued to them fresh tribute of wonder; from them that
believed, from them that were healed, from him that was punished; from their
boldness of speech towards those (their adversaries), from the virtuous
behavior of the believers: for certainly the effect produced was not owing to
the miracles only. For though the Apostles themselves modestly ascribe it all
to this cause, declaring that they did these things in the name of Christ, yet
at the same time the life and noble conduct of the men helped to produce this
effect. And believers were more added unto the Lord, multitudes both of men and
women. Observe, how he now no longer tells the number of them that believe; at
such a rate was the faith making way even to an immense multitude, and so
widely was the Resurrection proclaimed. So then the people magnified them: but
they were now no longer lightly to be despised as once they were: for in a
little moment, at a single turn of the scale, such have been the effects
produced by the fisherman and by the publican! Earth was become a heaven, for
manner of life, for boldness of speech, for wonders, for all besides; like
Angels were they looked upon with wonder: all unconcerued for ridicule, for
threats, for perils: compassionate were they, and beneficent; some of them they
succoured with money, and some with words, and some with healing of their
bodies and of their souls; no kind of healing (πἅν
εἶδος
ἰατρείας)
but they accomplished.
Peter all but pleads for
himself, when at the point to inflict the punishment, and at the same time
gives a lesson to the rest. For because the act would seem exceeding stern,
therefore it is that he does so much in the case. In respect of the woman also
the process of judgment was terrible. But see how many evils grow out of the
sacrilege: covetousness, contempt of God, impiety; and upon these too he
pleaded for himself before the assembly, in that he did not immediately proceed
to punishment, but first exposed the sin. None groaned, none lamented, all were
terrified. For as their faith increased, the signs also were multiplied, and
great was the fear among their own company: for the things which are from
without do not so militate (πολεμεἵ)
against our peace, as do the acts of our own people. If we be firmly joined
together, no warfare will be hard: but the mischief would be the being divided
and broken up. Now they went about in the public place: with boldness they
attacked even the market, and in the midst of enemies they prevailed, and that
saying was fulfilled, Be Thou Ruler in the midst among Your enemies. Psalm
110:2 This was a greater miracle, that they, arrested, cast into prison, should
do such acts as these!
If those for lying
suffered such things, what shall not the perjured suffer? Because she simply
affirmed, Yea, for so much, ye see what she suffered. Bethink you then; they
that swear and forswear themselves, of what should they be worthy? It comes in
opportunely today even from the Old Testament to show you the heinousness of
perjury. There was, it says, a flying sickle, ten cubits in breadth. Zechariah
5:2 The flying betokens the swift advent of the vengeance which pursues oaths;
that it is many cubits in length and breadth, signifies the force and magnitude
of the woes; that it comes flying from heaven, is to show that the vengeance
comes from the judgment-seat on high: that it is in the form of a sickle,
denotes the inevitableness of the doom: for just as the sickle, where it comes
and has hooked the neck, is not drawn back with nothing but itself, but with
the head reaped off, even so the vengeance which comes upon the swearers is
severe, and will not desist until it have completed its work. But if we swear
and escape, let us not be confident; this is but to our woe. For what think ye?
How many, since Ananias and Sapphira, have dared the same with them? How is it
then, say you, that they have not met with the same fate? Not because it was
allowed in them, but because they are reserved for a greater punishment. For
those who often sin and are not punished, have greater reason to fear and dread
than if they were punished. For the vengeance is increased for them by their
present impunity and the long-suffering of God. Then let us not look to this,
that we are not punished; but let us consider whether we have not sinned: if
sinning we are not punished, we have the more reason to tremble. Say, if you
have a slave, and you only threaten him, and do not beat him; when is he most
in fear, when most inclined to run away? Is is not when you only threaten him?
And hence we advise each other not to be continually using threats, thereby
choosing rather to agitate the mind by the terror, and lacerating it worse than
with blows. For in the one instance the punishment is momentary, but in the
other it is perpetual. If then no one feels the stroke of the sickle, do not
look to this, but rather let each consider whether he commits such sins. Many
like things are done now as were done before the Flood, yet no flood has been
sent: because there is a hell threatened, and vengeance. Many sin as the people
did in Sodom, yet no rain of fire has been poured down; because a river of fire
is prepared. Many go the lengths of Pharaoh; yet they have not fared like
Pharaoh, they have not been drowned in a Red Sea: for the sea that awaits them,
is the sea of the bottomless pit, where the punishment is not accompanied with
insensibility, where there is no suffocation to end all, but in ever lengthened
torture, in burning, in strangling, they are consumed there. Many have offended
like the Israelites, but no serpents have devoured them: there awaits them the
worm that never dies. Many have been like Gehazi, yet they have not been struck
with leprosy: for instead of leprosy, it remains for them to be cut asunder,
and numbered among the hypocrites. Many have both sworn and forsworn; but if
they have indeed escaped, let us not be confident: the gnashing of teeth awaits
them. Yea, here too they will suffer many grievous woes, though, it may be, not
immediately, but after further transgressions, that the vengeance may be the
greater; for even we often set out at first with small sins, and then through
great offenses lose all. Therefore when you see anything happening to you, call
to mind that particular sin of yours. The sons of Jacob are an example of this.
Remember Joseph's brothers; they had sold their brother, they had even
attempted to slay him; nay, they had slain him, as far as inclination went;
they had deceived and grieved the old man; they suffered nothing. After many
years they are brought into extreme peril, and now they are put in remembrance
of this their sin. Exceeding wisely is this circumstance brought in. Hear what
they say: We are verily guilty concerning our brother. Genesis 42:21 In this
manner then do thou also, when anything happens, say, We are verily guilty,
because we have not obeyed Christ; because we have sworn; my much swearing, and
my false swearing, has fallen upon my own head. Confess thou; since they also
confessed, and were saved. For what though the punishment follow not
immediately? Since Ahab also did not immediately after his sin in the matter of
Naboth suffer that vengeance which he yet at last suffered. 1 Kings 21:19 And
what is the reason of this? God sets you a time, in which to wash yourself
clean; but if you persist, at last He will send down the vengeance. You have
seen the fate of liars. Consider what is the fate of false swearers, consider,
and desist. It is impossible a swearer should not forswear himself, whether he
will or not; and no perjurer can be saved. One false oath suffices to finish
all, to draw down upon us the whole measure of vengeance. Let us then take heed
to ourselves, that we may escape the punishment due to this offense, and be
deemed worthy of the loving kindness of God, through the grace and mercies of
His only-begotten Son, with Whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory,
power, and honor, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.
