Luke does not share with us how long the interval of time is between the close of Acts 4 and the beginning of Acts 5. There does seem to be a longer interval though, enough so that perhaps some apathy or complacency has begun to creep into the Church. When that happens, God gives a “wake-up” call to refocus us. In the case of the Early Church, this “wake-up call” involved an offering. Barnabas brought an offering from his heart; Ananias and Sapphira brought an offering from pretense. The former was blessed; the latter was judged, and the judgment was severe. Oh the impact that judgment had upon the Church. It was a cause for self-evaluation. The Church would need this “wake-up call” as the first vestiges of persecution began. Complacency would be a thing of the past; dependence upon God would be the demand of the hour moving forward.
