READINGS ON THE SPIRIT (2)
READINGS ON THE SPIRIT (2)
JT Our subject is the Holy Spirit as He is presented objectively to us in the book of Acts. He is presented as a divine Person down here, as Christ was here, only as in the assembly. The relation in this book between the Spirit viewed objectively, and His operations in a subjective sense, has to be made clear. Coming in according to what we had this morning, He formed the assembly; this involved subjective operations. The result of these operations is seen in the end of chapter 2 where the assembly is really formed, although not actually named. In the Authorised Version, Acts 2: 47, the word church appears without question, but in the New Translation it is in brackets, indicating that its existence in the original is doubtful. That the assembly was actually formed is, however, evident, and it is that in which the Spirit operates and in which He is to be apprehended objectively, making way for another great feature of truth, that is, the Lord’s relation to what is presented. It is said that “the Lord added (to the assembly) daily those that were to be saved” (Acts 2: 47). He added to what was there. So that the dispensation proceeds and enlarges, the divine Persons being brought into it and seen as operating in it. The result of Peter’s address, recorded in chapter 2, is seen in verses 42 to 47. Then we are told, “the Lord added (to the assembly) daily those that were to be saved”. Conditions had been effected by the Spirit in relation to which the Lord is seen adding “those that were to be saved;” adding them sovereignly. They “were to be saved”, and He is putting them into the assembly. I think it is important to carry these thoughts with us as we proceed into chapter 5. The dispensation is developed in relation to the assembly, and divine Persons are all operating in it.
JD [p. 284] Why is it the Lord added instead of the Spirit? Is it that the Spirit was already objectively known in the assembly, and that was His sphere? The Lord would add from the outside, as it were, whereas the Spirit would work as in the assembly.
JT I think that is how the truth stands. The Spirit has effected the state of things which enables the Lord to act sovereignly in taking care of certain persons, and they are known as “those that were to be saved”. There are those that are not to be saved, of course, they are out of what God is doing; and there are “those that were to be saved”, and the Lord is looking after them. He rules over the dead and the living, (Romans 14: 9). He selects those that are to be saved and places them in the assembly. Later He will place them elsewhere, but He is placing them now in the assembly. That brings out what we were alluding to this morning, the relation between the lordship of Christ — Christ above — and the Spirit operating here. So that in chapter 5 we have first “the Holy Spirit” in verse 3, that is the Spirit by Himself, as it were; then we have “God” in verse 4, which you may say is the Father; then we have “the Spirit of the Lord” in verse 9. So the three Persons are in mind in this attack of the devil through Ananias and Sapphira. Now we are in the presence of the economy of God set up in the assembly and attacked as such, because that is the point particularly, the Holy Spirit in it; He was specially lied to. The liberty of the apostles is striking in this new sphere; it is said that “many wonders and signs took place through the apostles’ means”. It is to stress their position, because they represented the authority of Christ. Then we are told, “all that believed were together”, meaning they would be together in spirit, even if not always in body. They were together in body as seen in the beginning of chapter 2, but at the end of that chapter the idea is characteristic. Generally speaking that is what marked them.
ANW “The apostles’ feet” would indicate a place of authority.
JT Yes, that is what is meant; those that represent the Lord have their full place where the Holy Spirit is operating. So today where the Spirit is operating the authority of God and of Christ is recognised; where it is not recognised it is doubtful whether God is working there at all. Then chapter 2 goes on to say they “had all things common, and sold their possessions and substance, and distributed them to all, according as any one might have need”. That is, there was perfect care for the bodies of the saints as well as for their souls. And then, “every day, being constantly in the temple with one accord, and breaking bread in the house, they received their food with gladness and simplicity of heart”. It is the general character of the saints as viewed in this external way; a remarkable product, and God has His place, for they praise Him. They had favour with all the people; so far things are as they should be, as the Lord Jesus was here “in favour with God and men” (Luke 2: 52). Persecution had not come. It would come, but in the meantime this is a beautiful thing being set up by the work of the Spirit. The Spirit having come in, the Lord added to what was there.
JD We can understand what takes place immediately in the end of chapter 4; the devil was standing by to corrupt the whole thing.
JT That is what we have to look at now. The work proceeded immediately after chapter 2 and the economy was set up in a most palpable and desirable and acceptable way. Peter and John go out and there are results, and then persecution comes in. The servants come back to their own sphere, to their own company and narrate what had happened, and then we are told that “when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.
[p. 286] And the heart and soul of the multitude of those that had believed were one, and not one said that anything of what he possessed was his own, but all things were common to them; and with great power did the apostles give witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4: 31 - 33). Then as to giving: “For neither was there any one in want among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold and laid it at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each according as any one might have need”. Then Joseph, surnamed Barnabas, a Levite, came in, who, “being possessed of land, having sold it, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles”.
We are struck with the place that external or temporal matters had with them. How practical they were: but the devil is now ready to corrupt them, to get a man and woman who were in the light into an untruthful condition. Thus the objective position of the Spirit is at once in evidence, the attack is against Him.
ANW Verse 32 says “not one said that anything of what he possessed was his own”, including these two, I suppose, up to a point.
JT Remarkable! It is to bring out the practicalness of the conditions; they were balanced. The stress is on the temporal needs, which are so perfectly met on the principle of sacrifice; not yet by persons well-off, as in chapter 11. 29, but in the general attitude of all.
JWD What is the difference between divine Persons acting in Their own prerogative, and doing things by One Another’s power? The Lord said He used the Spirit of God to cast out demons instrumentally, Matthew 12: 28.
JT It is good to bring that up. One of the first things stated in this book is that the Lord “by the Holy Spirit charged the apostles whom he had chosen” (Acts 1: 2). The gospels tell us also that the Lord said,
“[p. 287] If I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then indeed the kingdom of God is come upon you” (Matthew 12: 28), meaning that an organised system had come in. If He were operating by another divine Person, that would mean that one divine Person is subject to another. The economy is established, called the kingdom. The relation of divine Persons to each other in the economy is of extreme importance. The Father is supreme, He reserves things to Himself. The Son tells us that, and then the Son tells us about the Spirit; the Spirit is coming and He would do things. The Lord says to the disciples, in effect, Keep that before you; do not do anything for the moment; times and seasons were to be left with the Father. Now from Pentecost onwards in Acts the Holy Spirit had come and the apostles were to make room for Him. In chapter 2 we see how particularly effective His service was when He took one of them, Peter, and effected through him a wonderful result in the conversion of three thousand persons. Today the governments are saying, Think of the war, let everything else be subservient to that. But the answer is: Think of the Holy Spirit! Think of the marvellous things He is effecting! Coming into the present world conditions He is working out the greatest things. The greatest thoughts are being developed through the presence of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; and that is the great point.
JTJr When the apostle says, “he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6: 17), does that bring out how close we are to the Lord?
JT Just so. In Ephesians 4: 2 - 6, the apostle says, “with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love; using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, as ye have been also called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all”. That is, he puts the position of the economy in its concentric circles. The fact is stated at the outset that there is “one body and one Spirit”. That is the great central thought, and the great result of the presence of the Holy Spirit here. “One body:” we are to come into all we have been speaking of. We are to learn first to take account of the saints: has each one got the Spirit? “Parted tongues, as of fire, ... sat upon each one of them”. Consider what is in mind, watch them, see what is coming out in each one, and let him see what is coming out in me. Let us learn to respect and love one another and see that we are worthy of each other. The Spirit has for Himself suitable material to work out the truth of the body. Then we have “one Lord”, which is an outer circle; and then “one God and Father of all” is the outermost circle, taking in all.
JRH Would Ephesians 4: 22 - 25 link on with this? “Having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts; and being renewed in the spirit of your mind; and your having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness. Wherefore, having put off falsehood, speak truth every one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another”.
JT Yes; the new man is essential to the whole position. The old man would corrupt the whole system. That is what the devil is aiming at here: “the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts”. It is seen in the deception which marked Ananias and Sapphira.
JTJr “If any one corrupt the temple of God, him shall God destroy” (1 Corinthians 3: 17). That is the idea in this chapter, is it not?
JT Yes. Here the devil would corrupt the assembly by this man and his wife. They had no other distinction;
[p. 289] we know nothing of them except what is stated in this chapter. They had “agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord”, and to “lie to the Holy Spirit”.
RWS The point of invincibility seems to have been reached in verse 31 of chapter 4: “The place in which they were assembled shook”. In this line of persecution the devil is completely defeated, so he tries a different method of attack — from within. Is that what he has been doing ever since? In the attack on the apostles before the tribunal he was unsuccessful; now he comes through persons inside to bring in deception.
JT It is a frontal attack in the fourth chapter; the leaders say (verse 17), “that it be not further spread among the people, let us threaten them severely, no longer to speak to any man in this name”. And in verse 18, “having called them, they charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus”. In verse 7 they are questioned; then Peter replies, and they see his boldness and that of John; then they threaten them, verse 17. In verse 21 they “having further threatened them, let them go”. I suppose the attack there was as far as the authority could go. It was frontal, as remarked. This movement must be stopped — that was what was in their minds. But what they met was too much for them — in the boldness of Peter and John, the way they spoke, with no effort to disguise their lowly origin. The result was the consolidating of the position. Chapter 4 is the attack and the consolidation. The question then was, whether the position had been damaged by the attack, but the fact was it had been consolidated. So we have the resultant things described from verse 32 to the end. Satan sees it is futile to proceed on this line; he is not succeeding. Now what is to be done? He will try to corrupt the position. What Satan cannot destroy he will corrupt, that is the great principle of satanic warfare. But the Spirit of [p. 290] God is in power in the assembly and the matter is dealt with summarily.
ANW By what power would you say Peter discerned the lie? Should we have that power?
JT The facts mentioned are to bring out what the apostles were. They were the direct product of the Lord, of His patient working with these men; they were the Lord’s own handiwork. Peter is put forward in these chapters, he is the leading apostle. Matthew 10: 2 says, “first, Simon, who was called Peter”. He is equal to every emergency. This is a most serious one, it was the devil working in two of their own. It brings out how needful it is to be on the alert, as the Lord says in Mark 13: 37, “But what I say to you, I say to all, Watch”. If I do not watch, I may become an agent of the devil.
JWD Do you think it is possible for anything like this sort of deliberate deception to operate amongst us today?
JT Yes; it may become true of any of us unless there is watchfulness. I may become an agent of the devil to damage the position, to corrupt it. Suppose these two had been allowed to continue — it would have been said, This company is not what it professes to be, there are liars amongst them. The Spirit of God saw to that. It is difficult to say anything as to the immediate details of their death; there is no evidence that Peter did anything, but they died. “Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired”.
AEH Would it be right to say that the fact of the Spirit having operated in me would not be sufficient to save me from a collapse of this kind? I must understand something of the objective presentation of the Spirit in the economy to save me from this.
JT Yes; if the Spirit is apprehended as a divine Person operating personally amongst the brethren it is more serious, because one thought connected with His [p. 291] presence is first-hand knowledge. Of course God has that of everything in His universe. He made the universe; but at the same time He came down to see when men were building the tower of Babel. And He came down to Sodom, “to see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it”. That is the way God would assure us of His righteous judgment. The presence of the Holy Spirit here implies first-hand knowledge of what is going on in our souls, in our circumstances; nothing can go for long undetected if He has a place.
AB Do you think there is a wonderful tribute paid to Peter and John in Acts 4: 13? “They recognised them that they were with Jesus”. It is not exactly that Jesus was with them, but that they were with Him.
JT Yes — “with Jesus”. The work of Christ in them remained, a primary feature, because their names are to appear in the heavenly city. They are not directly the product of the Spirit, but of Christ’s own handiwork. The Lord had said to them, “the Spirit of truth ... shall bear witness concerning me; and ye too bear witness” (John 15: 26, 27). They are viewed throughout as distinct. His own handiwork, “because ye are with me from the beginning”.
AB Would that link on with John 20: 22, where it is said, “he breathed into them, and says to them, Receive the Holy Spirit”?
JT Yes; they had a special advantage; no other men had or ever will have the advantages they had. And that brings out this very thing we are speaking of. What immediately follows in John 20 is the forgiveness of sins by the assembly, or the saints. “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained” (John 20: 23). That comes into our present-day circumstances. There is much evil arising among us, some of it hidden for years, and yet eventually it comes out. I suppose the length [p. 292] of time in some cases indicates how weak the position is, but still it comes out.
ANW Had Ananias and Sapphira lied when they made the arrangement? The position was challenged when they placed the money at the feet of the apostles.
JT Yes. They were doing what others were doing, but not with the same sacrifice, and they covered this with a lie, affording Satan an opportunity to discredit the whole position. It is said that “Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, ... being possessed of land, having sold it, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles”, verses 36, 37. These two persons would act similarly. Evidently it was pride of heart; but it gave Satan an advantage. Covetousness entered into it, leading them to lie, Satan tempting them. It was the old man working; but it was the new man in Barnabas. It was the old man in Ananias and Sapphira; but it was the work of the Spirit in Barnabas.
RA Does Peter discern by the Spirit that Ananias is not what he should be, only bringing half the price?
JT He discerned that evil was there. It is a question of the power he had. He was an apostle of course, and the Holy Spirit was in him. He was operating by the Holy Spirit. Peter evidently discerned the state these two were in and the sin that was being perpetrated on the Holy Spirit. He said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lie to the Holy Spirit?” He discerned their course was deceptive and thus corrupting, and he challenged it.
JWD Do you see anything in the expression that Satan has filled in contrast to the filling idea of the Spirit in the Acts?
JT Just so. It is a terrible thing to be filled by the devil! And it was with a purpose, that he should lie to the Holy Spirit; and put aside for himself a part of the price of [p. 293] the estate.
JRH Your remark as to evil being hidden for a long time is a humbling matter. Do you think that we should be able to detect evil much more quickly than we do?
JT It was detected quickly here. It was important to bring out what the economy was, how fortified, the Spirit being apprehended in it objectively, not just working in one and another, but generally operating, a divine Person in charge, as it were. It was He that brought out the guilt of Ananias and Sapphira.
RWS It would be hidden more effectively between man and wife than between man and man, naturally speaking.
JT Collusion is easier; it would have taken place in their home. The Holy Spirit would have first-hand knowledge of that. He knew what had happened in the house — collusion to deceive. Peter says to the wife, “Why is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?” That did not happen in the assembly, but elsewhere.
AHP Would having the Spirit promote the idea of transparency amongst the people of God as bringing about correspondence between what we say and what we are? The Lord said He was altogether what He said. Ananias was not that.
JT Quite so. What an object that Man was for heaven! Here there was that which immediately discerned and resisted the corruptive element. Corruption is a weapon of the devil. Violence is too, of course, but corruption is more subtle. The antidote to that is in ourselves: “Watch”, the Lord says. We are to be true in our household relations and affairs because the issuance of very much is from the house, the place of family responsibility. Ananias and Sapphira took counsel there to bring this into the assembly. The product of that house is over against the two wave loaves brought out of the houses of the Israelites on the day of [p. 294] Pentecost. What they brought out of their houses was not a dual lie, but what represented the new man. The loaves were baked with leaven, but the leaven was rendered impotent, the fire being applied.
Ques What bearing does this lack of transparency have upon the question of practical unrighteousness amongst brethren?
JT It was unrighteous, but more, it was an act of pride; they would act like Barnabas, that is the outward setting of it. The devil would say to them, Now you be like Barnabas. The brethren are taking account of him, giving him a title. Why should not you have that? Besides, they were covetous. They said, We would like to have that, but we do not want to give up all the money. Added to the motive of pride there was covetousness.
WL Why does Peter act alone?
JT It is to bring out what Peter was. The Lord put him first, and in moral power and wisdom he was first.
WL In regard to Barnabas all the apostles act together.
JT It is to bring out what he was. The Lord had him in mind for great services.
JWD Is there not a formation answering to Peter’s ministry which would be very serviceable if true amongst us now.
JT You mean the power of discernment?
JWD Yes, in household matters; the peculiar kingdom line that Peter seems to have had committed to him.
JT Peter was a married man himself. In this case he waited for the wife to come, he did not send for her. “But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lie to the Holy Spirit, and put aside for thyself a part of the price of the estate? While it remained did it not remain to thee? and sold, was it not in thine own power? Why is it that thou hast purposed this thing in thine heart? Thou has not lied to men, but [p. 295] to God. And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired. And great fear came upon all who heard it ... . And it came to pass about three hours afterwards, that his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in”. Peter did not send for her, clearly. “And Peter answered her, Tell me if ye gave the estate for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much”. There are no witnesses called, no papers of evidence sought for. It is to bring out the spiritual power that was there through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and especially in Peter. What a man he was! He is the handiwork of Christ. Indeed he himself in his own experience had known what it was to have the devil operating in him. What triumph is witnessed in him now as acting in the assembly in the power of the Holy Spirit in defeating Satan’s efforts there!
ANW I think you have said this is to be considered as a special case and might never be repeated. It is to have its effect as shown in verses 11 to 13: “And great fear came upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders done among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch, but of the rest durst no man join them: but the people magnified them”.
JT It is the beginning of things, and there is outstanding judgment executed; never to be forgotten in the history of assembly discipline. Here, we are dealing with the Spirit viewed objectively in relation to assembly discipline. There is a great deal hidden among us, things that should be brought to the assembly; some assuming that things can be settled without the assembly, that capital sins can be settled with God without the assembly, but God will not have that. The assembly has a great place in discipline. The fact is stressed in Matthew, “tell it to the assembly”, not, ‘Tell it to the Lord’, but “tell it to the assembly”.
Ques What are capital [p. 296] sins?
JT An action such as this is one, an act of collusion in pride, the desire to have reputation; or it may be some evil conduct extending over years. The devil is endeavouring to set aside the great fact of the assembly. It exists, very feebly now, but God would have us walk in the light of it. Whatever happens that should be, as it were, taken to the door of the tabernacle according to Leviticus 4, take it there and settle it there.
JWD How do you apply the scripture, “ye who are spiritual restore such a one” (Galatians 6: 1)?
JT All these scriptures have to be taken contextually. “If even a man be taken in some fault;” what the apostle says about it shows it is not a root matter and spiritual persons can deal with it. But still, the principle of the assembly is involved in that, because John 20: 23 does not say the Lord was speaking of the assembly; He spoke to the disciples: “whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them”. It is a question of confidence, and heaven would recognise the judgment of spiritual men in certain matters. Priesthood is involved, and the priests will act in relation to the assembly. It is a question of how the restoration takes place. It cannot be regarded as independency for it is according to Scripture, the special circumstances being understood.
JD If the conscience of the assembly has not been disturbed by the action, and spiritual persons having become acquainted with it, they can settle it.
JT You would have to allow for the magnitude of the sin.
JD Whether it was simply “taken in a fault”.
JT Even if a man be taken in some fault. Do not pounce upon the man and make much of it, rather look into it and see whether it is a root matter. Is it characteristic or not characteristic? The person is taken or found in it. The priests know what to do and the assembly has confidence in them.
[p. 297] TW In the assembly the penalty depends on the state of the persons, not exactly on the crime.
JT We do not make the penalty fit the crime; we are dealing with persons, having their recovery in view.
ANW There is a point in his being given his high title, “Satan”.
JT He was not known as Satan in the early days of Genesis, the serpent is the only designation used, suggestive of the degraded position of Satan. That is how he came into the present creation. Later he is called devil, Satan, old serpent, so there is no doubt as to who he is. In Genesis 3 the allusion is to cattle; he is not viewed as an angel or operating through a man. He is a serpent. The title given to him is in accord with the moment. He is the form of a serpent. According to Ezekiel 28: 13 he had been a great being: “every precious stone was thy covering”. He is seen in Genesis as degraded and attacks the woman. You just wonder about it, how she could listen to such a creature. How much could be said of that! Adam had probably given him his name. Her husband called him serpent; why should she listen to him? But she did. Eve was in the transgression, Paul says, not Adam; that is not to be forgotten. The spearhead in this case was Ananias; the devil was in the man and incited him to do what Barnabas did. But Eve was in the transgression and Adam came into it. She was in it without him, she was the sinner before Adam, a very solemn consideration; in this way the woman has more experience of sin than the man. He came into it. Now here it is said that Ananias “put aside for himself part of the price”, he did it and “having brought a certain part, laid it at the feet of the apostles”.
JV Why do you think the three divine Persons are brought in; he lied “to the Holy Spirit”, he lied “to God”, and he tempted “the Spirit of the Lord”?
JT The three Persons in the Godhead are there. The Spirit is made more prominent than the Father and the Son; He is viewed by Himself, and then God viewed by Himself, and finally the Spirit is spoken of as the Spirit of the Lord. The attack was directed against the Spirit in the assembly.
JWD In regard to the devil in Ezekiel 28:17, “Thy heart was lifted up”, Peter must have discerned an affinity between that and these two.
JT That is exactly what is said in 1 Timothy 3: 6: “not a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into the fault of the devil”, which is pride. That is what Ananias was suffering from.
FKC In dealing with this matter in discipline, not only is the sin of the thing spread out, but the great dignity that attaches to the saints as having the Holy Spirit is emphasised. Peter said, “Thou hast not lied to men, but to God;” and then they had tempted “the Spirit of the Lord”. The great dignity of the position is set out by Peter’s word.
JT That is a good way to put it. The enemy is attacking the economy, divine Persons all seen in it. It is the enormity of the sin — not just a matter of a lie and pride in any setting; what was there on God’s part is what the enemy was attacking; so that it is an enormous sin.
JDeb In contrasting this with the sin in Joshua 7, the young man with the Babylonish garment; what is the difference?
JT There is similarity. The young man hid the Babylonish garment and the wedge of gold. And it was also an inaugural time; the people were entering into the land. It was a Babylonish principle, theft and deception, brought in in a subtle way as this was.
JDeb Joshua said, to Achan, “Give glory to Jehovah” in connection with it. How do you look at that?
JT Seeing he confessed it.
JDeb In doing so did he give glory to [p. 299] God?
JT Yes. So here: God is glorified by what happened, not only in the exposure of Ananias and Sapphira, but also in the judgment meted out, in the power to deal with evil. What comes out in Corinth is that there is one very bad case selected. There was fornication among them, a specified case which was a very bad one. It was the only one apparently dealt with at that time, whereas Paul says later that there were others that had not judged themselves. Why should that be? Why should evil continue without being judged, just as it often is today? It was the weakness at Corinth in dealing with it that admitted of all these things continuing. Here the thing is met, dealt with as it comes in, and hence no corruption resulted. That is the thing to have on our consciences, to make room for the Spirit so that there will be detection. There is much corruption because many things are unjudged among the brethren and many think we cannot deal with them. The Lord would say, I want the assembly to be recognised in these matters, the Holy Spirit is in it and the Lord is in it. The Holy Spirit must be honoured, fear must be with us as in relation to the assembly.
JRH Would it show the great accuracy of Peter’s discernment that he brings out the inception of the matter as being with the man when he says, “Why is it that thou has purposed this thing in thine heart?”
JT Sapphira entered into it, but he took the lead in it.
JD Do you think Peter would remember the “parted tongues of fire” that sat upon each one, and would exercise his judgment as having that in mind?
JT The word fire enters into this; the severity of the judgment, because the Spirit is God. God is amongst us, and really through the Spirit. “A habitation of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2: 22); that is what the assembly is.
TAT Is there any instruction in the way [p. 300] the young men acted in connection with this discipline?
JT They were available; it connects with Exodus 24, where the youths of the children of Israel were available to Moses; he sent them, and they acted as priests. Here the young men buried Ananias and his wife. Possibly their youthfulness may mean that they were persons characteristically ready to serve among the saints in a physical sense. It is remarkable that they are called “young men” in verse 6, not “devout men”, as it is in the case of Stephen — “devout men carried” him.
SJH There are no documents in this case, but remarkable power to deal with it. That should help us in a case difficult to prove. So often cases are too difficult to prove and they go on through weakness. How can we meet that?
JT That is a good point to bring out. We must have proof. The Lord said in John 18: 23, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil;” and we know no proof can be brought up that is not really truth. So it is very important to have evidence. Then there is light, which makes all things manifest, (Ephesians 5: 13). As in the assembly it forces out darkness. When Judas went out it was night, the light of the Lord’s presence among the disciples forced him out. That is the thing to have before us, the scope of the situation, for the Spirit is not simply viewed as working in us, He is viewed objectively as a divine Person. You are impressed that there is something wrong. The thing is not to work up anything circumstantially, but to wait. Something will happen. The Holy Spirit is there with first-hand knowledge of everything, of what goes on in our houses and businesses, and something will happen to expose us. I do not see anything else, but to take up this line. Persons with the Spirit count on God and on the Spirit to expose the thing. You are conscious something is wrong, and you want help to bring it out so that it may be dealt with,
[p. 301] and you wait on God who through His Spirit will act — perhaps also using governmental circumstances.
JH The filling of the house would mean that what is contrary would be expelled.
JT That is right. You see how Judas is exposed in John 12, when the house was filled with the odour of the ointment: “why was this ointment not sold ... and given to the poor?” How utterly incongruous! He dealt just with what was relative to himself, how he was regarded in the position. We are to regard Christ supremely in the assembly, but Judas is bringing in this commercial matter. It was “not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief”, that is the judgment of the Spirit of God stated long afterwards — “he was a thief and had the bag”. The light exposed him.
ANW John 8 is an evidence of that.
JT The light forced the woman’s accusers out. The Lord wrote on the ground and this exposed them.
AB It is the same principle with Mary of Magdala out of whom went seven demons.
JT That is true, the position is rendered untenable.
Ques Is there substance in Peter?
JT Just so, that is what is seen here. The effect of this action comes out afterwards as the position is again consolidated: “great fear came upon all”. Applications for fellowship were fewer, but their quality would be improved.
AHP These features are carried forward to the address to Philadelphia. The Lord says, “Behold, I make them of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie; behold, I will cause that they shall come and shall do homage before thy feet, and shall know that I have loved thee” (Revelation 3: 9).
JT They are made to worship at the feet of the assembly. It is very remarkable. God must be working in view of this, for the reference is prophetic. Indeed [p. 302] in the testimonies before the authorities God is bringing out what He has here.
JWD In regard to the thought of proof in cases of discipline, what about proof covering reception?
JT There should not be much difficulty there. I think we spend too much time in dealing with souls; the point is, Can they establish a right to the tree of life? “Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life, and that they should go in by the gates into the city” (Revelation 22: 14). That is the point; if they establish that right then there is no more to say, they have the same status as any of us.
JWD Do you think a state of spiritual uneasiness amongst the brethren is sufficient warrant for keeping a person out?
JT I would be afraid of a person if the assembly normally is unsatisfied about him. He has not established his right. If one in the meeting is unreasonably opposed, that is another matter. Here the point is that the persons that would join are easily detected. It says, “of the rest durst no man join them, but the people magnified them; and believers were more than ever added to the Lord”, meaning believers in the true sense of the word. I think the action of discipline cleared the air. I always observe more liberty and power in meetings immediately after the Lord’s rights are asserted in discipline. And then this matter of Peter’s body, the shadow: “so that they brought out the sick into the streets and put them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came, might overshadow some one of them. And the multitude also of the cities round about came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons and persons beset by unclean spirits, who were all healed” verses 15, 16. It is a remarkable consolidation of the position, with increased power publicly for the apostles.