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2016년 사도행전(使徒行传) 제5강
한 마음과 한 뜻이 되어
말씀 / 사도행전(使徒行传) 4:32-5:16
요절 / 사도행전(使徒行传) 4:32
[4:32] 믿는 무리가 한마음과 한 뜻이 되어 모든 물건을 서로 통용하고 자기 재물을 조금이라도 자기 것이라 하는 이가 하나도 없더라
[4:32] 那许多信的人,都是一心一意的,没有一人说,他的东西有一样是自己的,都是大家公用。
[4:32] All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
[33] 사도들이 큰 권능으로 주 예수의 부활을 증언하니 무리가 큰 은혜를 받아
[33] 使徒大有能力,见证主耶稣复活。众人也都蒙大恩。
[33] With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
[34] 그 중에 가난한 사람이 없으니 이는 밭과 집 있는 자는 팔아 그 판 것의 값을 가져다가
[34] 内中也没有一个缺乏的,因为人人将田产房屋都卖了,把所卖的价银拿来,放在使徒脚前。
[34] There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
[35] 사도들의 발 앞에 두매 그들이 각 사람의 필요를 따라 나누어 줌이라
[35] 照各人所需用的,分给各人。
[35] and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
[36] 구브로에서 난 레위족 사람이 있으니 이름은 요셉이라 사도들이 일컬어 바나바라(번역하면 위로의 아들이라) 하니
[36] 有一个利未人,生在居比路,名叫约瑟,使徒称他为巴拿巴。(巴拿巴翻出来,就是劝慰子)。
[36] Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
[37] 그가 밭이 있으매 팔아 그 값을 가지고 사도들의 발 앞에 두니라
[37] 他有田地,也卖了,把价银拿来,放在使徒脚前。
[37] sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
[5:1] 아나니아라 하는 사람이 그의 아내 삽비라와 더불어 소유를 팔아
[5:1] 有一个人,名叫亚拿尼亚,同他的妻子撒非喇,卖了田产。
[5:1] Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
[2] 그 값에서 얼마를 감추매 그 아내도 알더라 얼마만 가져다가 사도들의 발 앞에 두니
[2] 把价银私自留下几分,他的妻子也知道,其馀的几分,拿来放在门徒脚前。
[2] With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
[3] 베드로가 이르되 아나니아야 어찌하여 사탄이 네 마음에 가득하여 네가 성령을 속이고 땅 값 얼마를 감추었느냐
[3] 彼得说,亚拿尼亚为什么撒但充满了你的心,叫你欺哄圣灵,把田地的价银私自留下几分呢。
[3] Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
[4] 땅이 그대로 있을 때에는 네 땅이 아니며 판 후에도 네 마음대로 할 수가 없더냐 어찌하여 이 일을 네 마음에 두었느냐 사람에게 거짓말한 것이 아니요 하나님께로다
[4] 田地还没有卖,不是你自己的麽。既卖了,价银不是你作主麽。你怎麽心起这意念呢。你不是欺哄人,是欺哄神了。
[4] Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
[5] 아나니아가 이 말을 듣고 엎드러져 혼이 떠나니 이 일을 듣는 사람이 다 크게 두려워하더라
[5] 亚拿尼亚听见这话,就仆倒断了气。听见的人都甚惧怕。
[5] When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
[6] 젊은 사람들이 일어나 시신을 싸서 메고 나가 장사하니라
[6] 有些少年人起来,把他包裹抬出去埋葬了。
[6] Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
[7] 세 시간쯤 지나 그의 아내가 그 일어난 일을 알지 못하고 들어오니
[7] 约过了三小时,他的妻子进来,还不知道这事。
[7] About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
[8] 베드로가 이르되 그 땅 판 값이 이것뿐이냐 내게 말하라 하니 이르되 예 이것뿐이라 하더라
[8] 彼得对他说,你告诉我,你们卖田地的价银,就是这些麽。他说,就是这些。
[8] Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
[9] 베드로가 이르되 너희가 어찌 함께 꾀하여 주의 영을 시험하려 하느냐 보라 네 남편을 장사하고 오는 사람들의 발이 문 앞에 이르렀으니 또 너를 메어 내가리라 하니
[9] 彼得说,你们为什么同心试探主的灵呢。埋葬你丈夫之人的脚,已到门口,他们也要把你抬出去。
[9] Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
[10] 곧 그가 베드로의 발 앞에 엎드러져 혼이 떠나는지라 젊은 사람들이 들어와 죽은 것을 보고 메어다가 그의 남편 곁에 장사하니
[10] 妇人立刻仆倒在彼得脚前,断了气。那些人进来,见他已经死了,就抬出去,埋在他丈夫旁边。
[10] At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
[11] 온 교회와 이 일을 듣는 사람들이 다 크게 두려워하니라
[11] 全教会,和听见这事的人,都甚惧怕。
[11] Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
[12] 사도들의 손을 통하여 민간에 표적과 기사가 많이 일어나매 믿는 사람이 다 마음을 같이하여 솔로몬 행각에 모이고
[12] 主藉使徒的手,在民间行了许多神迹奇事,(他们(或作信的人)同心合意的在所罗门的廊下。
[12] The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
[13] 그 나머지는 감히 그들과 상종하는 사람이 없으나 백성이 칭송하더라
[13] 其馀的人,没有一个敢贴近他们。百姓却尊重他们。
[13] No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
[14] 믿고 주께로 나아오는 자가 더 많으니 남녀의 큰 무리더라
[14] 信而归主的人越发增添,连男带女很多)。
[14] Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
[15] 심지어 병든 사람을 메고 거리에 나가 침대와 요 위에 누이고 베드로가 지날 때에 혹 그의 그림자라도 누구에게 덮일까 바라고
[15] 甚至有人将病人抬到街上,放在床上,或褥子上,指望彼得过来的时候,或者得他的影儿照在什么人身上。
[15] As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
[16] 예루살렘 부근의 수많은 사람들도 모여 병든 사람과 더러운 귀신에게 괴로움 받는 사람을 데리고 와서 다 나음을 얻으니라
[16] 还有许多人,带着病人,和被污鬼缠磨的,从耶路撒冷四围的城邑来,全都得了医治。
[16] Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
ONE IN HEART AND MIND
Acts 4:32-5:16
Key Verse 4:32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”
Last week we learned the message and spirit of the early Christians. Their message was simple: Only Jesus saves. Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation that God has provided. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Only Jesus saves. There is no other way. Jesus told the early Christians to spread this message in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth. It was not easy. In Jerusalem, they faced opposition and persecution. So they prayed, “Sovereign Lord...enable us to speak your word with great boldness.” Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Like them, we must proclaim the message that only Jesus saves by the power of the Holy Spirit. Today’s passage gives us a glimpse inside the early Christian church. It was like paradise on earth. It became a source of blessing for the whole world. But where God is working mightily, Satan also works. Satan attacked the church from within. However, God used the event to clarify the purpose of the church. The Christian church is God’s dwelling place. We must come to church to honor God and to have fellowship with God and grow in his image. May God bless our study.
First, the grace of Christ, a giving spirit, and world mission (4:32-37)
The early Christian church was, in a word, like heaven. Jesus was ruling every heart as Christ the Lord. Look at verse 32. “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” Their spiritual unity was nothing but the work of the Holy Spirit. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they could be one in mind and heart. The Holy Spirit is one, but he dwells in each person’s heart. He fills each one with the love of God and true joy and peace. This love of the Spirit united the early Christians as one; they were like a beautiful family. As a result, they shared their possessions together. They were not like a hippie commune, full of free-loaders and irresponsible escape artists. They retained ownership of their property. They supported themselves and their families. But they did not claim that their possessions were their own. They did not say, “That’s mine!” Instead, they said, “Everything belongs to God. If the Lord needs it, please take it, brother.” Their spiritual unity came from the Holy Spirit under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Look at verse 33. “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.” The apostles were testifying that the Lord Jesus had risen and was alive and was ruling the church and the world. They had been warned by the Sanhedrin not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But they were not afraid of men in high positions. They saw the living God with the eyes of faith. Though the religious leaders had crucified Jesus, God raised him from the dead. Now the Lord Jesus was alive and was working in and through them. The more they were persecuted, the stronger their faith grew. The more they were threatened, the bolder and more powerful they became. They were ready to give their lives to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The resurrection message, as well as their life-giving spirit, influenced the early church to be bold in its witness and sacrificial in its giving. Verse 33 ends, “...and much grace was upon them all.” This grace has many aspects, but it is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus. This grace means the grace of forgiveness of sins. When God raised Jesus from the dead, he declared that sinners are justified by faith in Jesus (Ro 4:25). This grace also means the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Ro 8:11). He is God living in us and among us. In the Old Testament, God’s dwelling place was the Jerusalem temple. Now Jesus is the Temple. Once Jesus was asked for a miraculous sign to prove his authority. He replied, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (Jn 2:19). The temple he was referring to was his body. Jesus was God in the flesh. Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead. Jesus ascended into heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit on his people. In this way, he came to live in our hearts. Each believer is like a temple. As the Lord Jesus gathers us together in his name, we form a spiritual community, which we call the Christian church. The church is the dwelling place of our Lord Jesus Christ. The church is not a building or organization. The church is a community of believers who honor Christ as Lord with one heart and mind. Where Jesus reigns, there is true freedom. They found freedom from the power of sin. They found freedom from the power of death. The Holy Spirit transformed them into spiritual men and women. Former tax collectors became sacrificial men of God. Former prostitutes became holy mothers of prayer. Former demon possessed men became obedient servants of God. Former religious leaders tasted the love of God and gained a true shepherd’s heart for others. They were so happy that they would do anything for Jesus. They were filled with inexpressible joy. Their hearts were bursting to please God and be a blessing to others. As soon as they noticed someone in need, they were ready to help without reservation. So there were no needy persons among them. Those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles, who distributed to anyone as he had need. Those who gave had the joy of giving. Those who received tasted the deep grace of Jesus on them personally. The love of God and true joy and peace were overflowing among the believers. Luke introduces one of the believers. Look at verses 36-37. “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” The grace of Jesus had a profound effect on Barnabas. He could see the kingdom of God in Jesus. He could find the meaning of life in Jesus’ holy mission. He wanted to give his life for Jesus and the gospel. He began by selling a field he owned and bringing the money to the apostles. His giving spirit grew until he became a leader in the church and a fruitful missionary. We meet Barnabas again several times in the book of Acts. When the Apostle Paul was first converted, none of the disciples were willing to accept him. But Barnabas saw the work of Jesus in Paul and accepted him and brought him to the Jerusalem church by faith (9:26,27). Later, Barnabas established Paul as a powerful Bible teacher for the Antioch church (11:26). We can say that without Barnabas there would be no Paul. Barnabas was also a good shepherd for Mark. Mark, a city boy and a mommy’s boy, deserted the first mission journey team (13:13). It was a great failure. No one wanted to accept Mark, or even look at him, especially Paul. But Barnabas embraced Mark at a high cost (15:39). Through Barnabas’ spiritual encouragement, Mark was raised as a great servant of Jesus, the author of Mark’s gospel. Indeed, Barnabas knew the grace of Jesus. He saw others with the grace of Jesus. He knew how to sacrifice himself for the work of God. Barnabas was selfless in his dedication to Christ and his love for fellow believers. He embodies the spirit and faith of the early Christians. Here we learn that as the Risen Christ dwells in his church, his grace transforms ordinary people into great servants of God for world mission. UBF ministry began in Kwang Ju, Korea in the early 1960s. When the resurrection of Christ was proclaimed powerfully by Dr. Lee and Mother Barry, the grace of Jesus filled the hearts of young Korean students. A sacrificial, giving spirit welled up in them and they wanted to do something for the needy and later for world mission. For example, during medical school Dr. Joseph Chung wanted to give something for the poor. He had nothing. So he sold his blood and offered the money for the needy. This giving spirit grew in him until he came to America as a missionary. He is a medical doctor. But he has always given his first priority to teaching the Bible to young American students at no charge. He has also taken care of many poor patients at no charge. He has prayed for American young people with a broken shepherd’s heart for more than 25 years. God has used his one-to-one Bible study to raise spiritual leaders for America. Now he is praying to go to North Korea as a missionary. The giving spirit that sprouted in Korea over 40 years ago has produced more than 1600 missionaries to 90 countries. God began to work through UBF in the USA in the late 1970s. Through the gospel messages of Dr. Lee and Mother Barry, selfish American students were touched by the grace of Christ and began to grow in a giving spirit. Gradually this has produced the beginnings of a missionary movement. John Peace was once a selfish UIC student. He played the role of the tax collector in the 1983 Christmas Drama. But he could not express anything, especially the joy of a changed man in Christ. It was because he was not a changed man in Christ. So he received a lot of coaching. Finally, he repented and accepted the grace of Christ in his heart. He performed extremely well in the drama. More than that, he began to grow as a sacrificial shepherd for God’s children. God blessed his sacrificial life by establishing his family with Shepherdess Maria. God blessed his fellowship to be the fastest growing in Chicago UBF. Now he has become Missionary John Peace, a permanent missionary to Ukraine. May God enable us to grow in the grace of Christ, learn a giving spirit, and send many missionaries from America.
Second, Shepherd Peter rebukes Satan’s work (5:1-11)
The early Christians’ fellowship was beautiful indeed. It was a picture of heaven. It was the womb for raising great spiritual leaders. But where God was working powerfully, Satan appeared. Look at 5:1. A man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. They discussed it among themselves and decided not to offer the full amount, but to keep part of it for themselves. This was perfectly okay. The land was Ananias’ to do with as he pleased. The proceeds of the sale were his as well. The problem was that he tried to deceive the church members into thinking that he had offered the whole amount when he had not. He wanted to be recognized as a sacrificial servant of God like Barnabas, when he was not. He did not see the Risen Christ dwelling in the church. He saw the Christian church as a place to gain honor for himself. He brought his offering and placed it at Peter’s feet expecting to be recognized. Well, in a way he was recognized. Look at verse 3. “Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?’” Peter was not deceived by Ananias. Peter knew that Satan was in Ananias’ heart. Satan made him a liar. Satan made him a hypocrite. Satan wanted to turn the Christ-centered fellowship into a human honor society. Perhaps Peter remembered Jesus’ warning to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy (Lk 12:1). This disease could spread through their fellowship like gangrene and ruin their Christ-centered spirit. Peter was very clear toward Christ’s enemy, Satan. Peter rebuked Ananias immediately. He rebuked him for lying to the Holy Spirit. What happened to him? Verse 5 says he fell down and died. Lying to the Holy Spirit is a most serious sin indeed. It comes from unbelief. Worse than that, it comes from Satan himself. When Sapphira first heard about her husband’s scheme, she should have stood on God’s side to help him repent, as a suitable helper. But she agreed with him. A wife must honor God more than her husband, and vice-versa. Christ must be honored in the private conversations in a house church. What happened to Sapphira? About three hours later, she came in. Their hidden conspiracy was exposed openly as the work of Satan. Peter said, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” At that moment she also fell down and died. What was the effect on the church? Verse 11 says, “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” This fear was the fear of God. The fear of God is awesome respect for the holiness and majesty of God. We must know that God is the Judge of men’s hearts. God has the power of life and death. God does not allow Satan into his holy dwelling. We must fear God and resist Satan. Fortunately, this event was unique in the history of the Christian church. If the Holy Spirit put to death every sinner who came into the church, no one would be left. Still, we must know that God was making a statement: The Christian church is God’s dwelling place. Those who try to make use of God’s church for their own benefit are playing a dangerous game. Those who come to church to seek a boyfriend or girlfriend, or connections to get a job should repent before God. The Christian church is also the dwelling place of the truth. Paul describes the Christian church as, “God’s household...the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1Ti 3:15b). Therefore, Christians must accept God’s word in their hearts. Christian churches must focus on Bible study. By the way, testimony sharing time is not the time to show off. It is the time to repent honestly before God. Then God has mercy on us. Then God changes us into his holy children. Apostle John said, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:8-9). May God help us to honor the word of God in the Christian church. May God help us to recognize the Christian church as God’s dwelling place.
Third, God pours out his grace to heal and to save (5:12-16)
After Ananias and Sapphira’s event, the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. Verse 13 says that no one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless more and more men and women believed in the Lord. Many sincerely repented and accepted Christ as Lord. God purifies his church for them. Through the purified church, God was pleased to pour out his grace all the more. Verses 15-16 say, “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.” In this passage we learn that the Christian church is not a human organization. The Christian church is God’s dwelling place. He invites us to come for grace that transforms us into his holy children. He wants to use us for his purpose of world salvation. We must not come for petty personal benefit. We must listen to his word and repent of our sins. Then we can grow in Christ and be happy in his grace.