Of this self-denying goodwill no one afforded a brighter example than a man of the tribe of Levi[696], and a native of Cyprus, whose name was Joseph, or, as he was called by the Apostles, Barnabas[697], the _Son of Consolation_, or rather of _Exhortation_, on account of the extraordinary gifts of inspired discourse and exhortation by which he was distinguished[698] (Acts iv. 36). His estates, which were probably considerable, he sold, and rejoiced in the distribution of the price amongst his poorer brethren. Before long, however, a sad incident occurred, which told of evil already at work within the Christian society. A certain man named Ananias, with the privity of his wife Sapphira, sold a possession, and having appropriated a portion of the price, laid the remainder at the Apostles’ feet, giving it to be understood that that was the whole sum he had received (Acts v. 1, 2). But his aspiration after high honour amongst his brethren with so little cost to himself did not escape the detection of the Apostle Peter. Fixing his eye upon him as he brought the portion and laid it before him, he enquired how he had permitted Satan to tempt him to deceive the Holy Ghost. _While it remained_, said he, _was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God_ (Acts v. 4). At these words, so stern, so solemn, and yet so true, reading his heart to its lowest depths, the wretched man was utterly overwhelmed, and _fell down and gave up the ghost_. When the awe of the assembly at this instant judgment on the sin of hypocrisy had somewhat subsided, the young men[699] who were present rose up, and wrapping the body in the usual burial clothes[700] bore it forth to a tomb without the city[701] (Acts v. 6). Three hours had scarcely elapsed before his wife Sapphira, not knowing what had occurred, entered the place where the disciples were met together, and was straightway asked by Peter whether she and Ananias had really sold the farm for the price which the latter had alleged. To this she replied in the affirmative, and thus made her husband’s sin her own, and deliberately confirmed the fraud. The Apostle had not denounced the awful judgment, which had befallen her husband, he had only denounced the offender. But now he not only denounced the sin, but declared its instant penalty, saying, _Behold the feet of them which buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out_. Thus informed at one and the selfsame moment of her husband’s fate and her own, she too dropped down a corpse, and was instantly conveyed to the grave by those who had just returned from burying Ananias (Acts v. 8–10).