GIVING FREELY
Play Audio
If you prefer listening to today’s Bible guide reading, play this audio file.
If the audio bar is not appearing, click here to play the audio.
Opening Prayer
Father in Heaven, thank you for your gift of your Spirit. Help me to hear his voice and to follow his leading with wholehearted obedience and faith.
Read ACTS 4:32–5:11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Ananias and Sapphira
5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 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 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 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 just to human beings but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 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 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
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 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
At the start of this week, bring to the Lord your plans, your hopes, and your concerns.This passage is unsettling, to say the least! God takes the lives of an ordinary Christian couple because of a lie that was completely unnecessary. If they had simply said that they were keeping some money aside, nobody would have minded: the property was theirs to dispose of as they wished (5:4). But they chose to lie and paid for it with their lives. So why did they do it? It seems that Ananias and Sapphira were seeking prestige among the believers; perhaps they thought they could buy influence or position. Though the act of giving appeared generous, God saw through the facade. God cares more about the heart of the giver than the amount they give.
However, it is not only this story that I find unsettling. The first part of the passage also makes me uncomfortable. In a world where the accumulation of possessions is prized, sacrificial giving seems crazy. One could argue that it is better to steward resources well than to sell and give the proceeds away. Barnabas could have paid people to farm his land and then given the food grown to the poor. The difference 2,000 years on is that we have lost the eternal perspective of the first believers: if you genuinely believe that Christ could return tomorrow, what use are more possessions (Luke 12:16–21)?
Apply
Ask the Lord to show you what or how much he wants you to give and to whom.
Closing prayer
Lord God, where you call me to give, help me to do so with wisdom, generosity, and integrity, always with the benefit of your kingdom in mind.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.