Homily 13

Acts 5:17-33

Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,

and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

"Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported,

saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.

So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, let they should be stoned.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the councile. And the high priest asked them,

saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"

But Peter and the other apostles answeredand said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

"Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."

When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.


Me

I'm interested in how the Sadduccees and Pharisees on the council interact with one another. And I'm interested that one of the council's worries is that they would be blamed for the death of Jesus.

Chrysostom

Chrysostom compares the miracle of the apostles' rescue from prison to Christ's miracles-- the deed is done in secret; its results are evident to all. He notes that the Pharisees do not ask, "How did you get out of prison?" but rather, "as if nothing had happened, they ask, 'Did we not straitly charge you not to speak?' " And after having witnessed the apostles' miraculous escape, "yet the expect to overpower them: such is their childish folly!" (81)

Chrysostom notes that the council feared the multitude when they ought to have been fearing God. When pressed, the apostles reply not in high rhetoric but rather with the same story they'd been telling again and again: "the Cross, the Resurrection." (83)

Remarking on the apostles' security in their oppression and poverty, Chrysostom comments favorably on the security and blessedness of voluntary poverty. A poor man, he suggests, can refrain from oaths and swearing much more easily than a wealthy man.

Homily 12

Acts 4:36 - 5:16

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

having land, 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 he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

"While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.

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

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

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

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."

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.

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

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.

Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


Me

I want to know so much more about Ananias here... did he explicitly state that he was giving all his proceeds, whilst secretly holding some back? Or was he punished for merely giving less than everything without duplicity?

Because Peter says that Ananias has lied, it's fair enough to assume that he did explicitly lie. Still, it would ease my mind if the passage said that outright.

I'm interested at how quickly the dead are buried-- is this Jewish custom? As soon as Ananias died he was buried. So quickly, in fact, that three hours later Peter could tell his wife of the grave.

The Church continues to grow through the healings of the apostles. There's an early hint at the beginning of relic-veneration here: even the shadow of Peter would heal the sick.


Chrysostom

Chrysostom notes that the passage begins with a good example-- that of Barnabas performing a virtuous deed. Ananias' and Sapphira's deed, then, should be interpreted in light of Barnabas' norm.

He emphasizes that the sin was not in having personal property-- nobody compelled or forced Ananias and Sapphira to sell their land. The sin was in keeping for themselves what had been already consecrated to God:

He that has chosen to sell his goods and distribute them, and then withdraws them, is guilty of sacrilege... Ananias, having made the money sacred... afterwards secreted it. (77)

Why, Chrysostom says one might ask, didn't Peter admonish or correct Ananias? The answer is that one who had seen all that Ananias had seen-- who had witnessed the daily miracles, who knew personally the disciples of Jesus Christ himself-- and who yet tried to deceive the Holy Spirit, was already beyond hope:

As it is... the man himself is benefitted in regard that he is not left to advance further in wickendess. (77)

Chrysostom then returns to his old topic of swearing: "If those for lying suffered such things, what shall not the perjured suffer?" (79) Anyone in the habit of making oaths, he says, is bound eventually to break an oath. And perjury is a terrible sin.

We are not now generally punished as quickly as Ananias. This is all the "more reason to tremble." (79) When somebody has committed a wrong, they are in perpetual fear of eventual punishment. And punishment is indeed being stored up for the unrepentant. So what should we do?

Chrysostom gives the example of Joseph's brothers, who believed themselves guilty of his murder and eventually repented of it, believing their misfortune to be the result of their sin. And, by their repentance, they were forgiven.

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. (80)