Acts Chapter 5

 

Luke recorded in his Gospel the following verse...

 

☆ Luke 3:16...

"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."

 

The Holy Spirit reveals and cleanses.

In the beginning of this chapter take special note of the Holy Spirit doing just this.

 

He reveals the sin and... He deals with the sin.

 

 

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☆ Acts 5:1-2...

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet."

 

In the midst of all the wonderful stuff that is happening... we have a but... something not good.

 

Ananias and his wife Sapphira belonged to the group of believers who voluntarily sold their land, so that the proceeds could be used to help those in need. This couple decided to keep back part of the price for themselves and the rest was brought to and laid at the apostle's feet for distribution.

 

Ananias made out as if the full proceeds of the land was given to the apostles. 

 

This case is a remarkable example of the nature of "hypocrisy," and goes to illustrate the art and cunning of the enemy of souls in attempting to corrupt the church, and to pervert the pure religion of the Gospel. Hypocrisy consists in an attempt to "imitate" the people of God, or to assume the "appearance" of religion.

 

☆ Acts 5:3...

"But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

 

But Peter, by divine revelation, by the spirit of discernment (which by the way is one of nine gifts of the Holy Spirit), calls Ananias by his name, and says to him...

"Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost... to keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?"

 

It was a common belief, as well among the heathens as among the Jews and Christians, that, when a man did evil, he was excited to it by the influence and malice of an evil spirit. 

It is strange that, by the general consent of mankind, sin against God has been ever considered so perfectly unnatural, and so evil in itself, that no man would commit it unless impelled to it by the agency of the Devil. 

 

The words of the apostle Peter here prove that such an agency is not fictitious.

 

Every lie is told with the intention to deceive. Ananias and Sapphira wished to deceive the apostles, and, in effect, deceive the Holy Spirit under whose influence they professed to act. 

 

Their behaviour was hypocritical and a lie.

 

By the way, the Devil didn't make them do wrong. He tempted, he tests and he suggests...

But they chose to do what they did.

 

☆ Acts 5:4...

Whiles it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God.

 

Peter goes on to say to Ananias... "The property was yours to sell or not, as you wished. And after selling it, it was yours to decide how much to give. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us, but to God."

 

Before it was sold, it was Ananias' own proper estate. He had the sole ownership of it, and could have kept it, or disposed of it as he pleased. He was not obliged to sell it. He might have kept it as his own property.

The selling of possessions at this time was a voluntary thing. It was what no man was forced to do. It was a pure act of liberality, and what was not enjoined by the apostles.

Every man was left to his liberty.

 

Peter says again, "You weren't lying to us, but to God."

Ealier on Peter said that he was lying to the Holy Ghost. 

 

The Holy Ghost is God.

 

☆ Acts 5:5...

"And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."

 

On hearing what Peter had said about his lying, Ananias dropped dead... he gave up the ghost... gave up the spirit. 

Ananias would have been so surprised and so shocked to know that Peter knew of this deception... he was literally scared to death. 

 

The result being, that great fear came upon all the believers who heard these things.  

 

God is not to be trifled with.

God knows all and sees all.

We can hide stuff from man... but not God.

 

In every area of our lives (thoughts, words, actions, attitudes) we are to live in reverential holy fear of the LORD.

 

Yes... even moreso today...

 

☆ Acts 5:6...

"And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him."

 

The younger men amongst the believers, covered Ananias up with a sheet, took him out and buried him.

 

By the way, the name Ananias means = "whom Jehovah has graciously given", agrees very ill with his conduct as we have seen.

 

☆ Acts 5:7...

"And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in."

 

Three hours later, Sapphira, Anania's wife appears not knowing what has just taken place.

 

☆ Acts 5:8-9...

"And Peter answered unto her, 'Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?' And she said, 'Yes, for so much.'

Then Peter said unto her, 'How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out.'"

 

Peter asks Sapphira, "Did you and Ananias sell your land for such and such a price?"

"Yes," she replies, "we certainly did."

And Peter asks and then tells her, "How could you and your husband even think of doing a thing like this... conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord's ability to know what is going on? 

Just outside that door are the young men who buried your husband, and they will carry you out too."

 

The Holy Ghost... God... and the Spirit of the Lord, are the same person.

 

Peter had given Sapphira the opportunity to come clean about the selling of their parcel of land.

She too lies and Peter tells her that she will share the same fate as her husband.

 

For husband and wife to agree together in what is good, in things civil, honest, and lawful, and in religious matters, is very commendable.

 

But to agree in a fraud, in a lie, is very dreadful.

 

☆ Acts 5:10...

"Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband."

 

Sapphira too drops dead at Peter's feet, and gives up her spirit. The same young men came in, carried her out and buried her with her husband. 

 

Bible commentator Clarke makes an interesting comment about Ananias and Sapphira here...

 

"... their sin was what the apostle,☆ 1 John 5:16 calls a sin unto death... it's a sin which must be punished with temporal death, or the death of the body, while mercy was extended to the soul. It was right in this infant state of the Church to show God's displeasure against deceit, fraud, and hypocrisy.

Had this guilty pair been permitted to live after they had done this evil, God's long-suffering would have been infallibly abused by others, and, instead of leading them who had sinned to repentance, might have led them to hardness of heart by causing them to presume on the mercy of God."

 

Discussion point... 

How might Ananias and Sapphira have better handled this situation.

Did this couple go to Heaven or not?

 

☆ Acts 5:11...

"And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."

 

A double whammy happened here in the early church... two deaths!

Again Luke records the fact that great fear came upon the whole church... and upon those who heard these things. 

What took place certainly wasn't kept under wraps. 

 

I must mention here, that sadly this is not the case in the church today.

There have been many cases of sexual abuse and other gross misconduct, even by the leadership, that has been conveniently swept under the carpet. 

 

The reason or excuse?

Our church mustn't get a bad name.

 

In the mean time God gets lampooned and the ones that have been abused are spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally scarred for life.

 

Ponder upon these two verses for a moment.

 

☆ Hebrews 9:27...

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."

 

☆ Hebrews 10:31...

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

 

What does that say about how the Christian ought to live his or her life?

 

☆ Acts 5:12-14...

"And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

 

And of the rest dared no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

 

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)"

 

Back on a better note... the early church is now really getting on a roll.

By the apostles laying on of hands, many signs and wonders are done among the people.

And again the people we are told, were all with one accord in Solomon's porch, which is a colonnade on the eastern side of the temple.

The other believers didn’t dare join them, though, but all had the highest regard for them.

 

And more and more believers were added to the Lord... big crowds both of men and women. 

 

Believers who believed in...

□ The Divine mission of Christ.

□ That He was the Messiah.

□ That He died for their sins.

□ That He rose again.

□ That He ascended into heaven.

□  That He sent down the gift of the Holy Spirit.

□ That He ever appeared in the presence of God for them.

□ That it was He who gives repentance and remission of sins... and...

□ He by whom the world is to be judged. 

□ One day Jesus is coming back.

 

These were simple articles, of the truth of which they had the fullest evidence.

 

☆ Acts 5:15...

"Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."

 

So much amazing stuff was happening that they brought many of the sick and infirmed into the streets, laying them on beds and couches.

The Holy Spirit was moving mightily through the apostles...

Shadows healing?... the implication... that even the passing shadow of Peter over the sick... healed them.

 

☆ Acts 5:16...

"There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."

 

Huge crowds came from the surrounding cities of Jerusalem, bringing with them sick people, and those who were harassed, tormented, molested by demonic spirits... AND... everyone of them was healed.

There is absolutely no doubt that the Gospel was preached with great boldness... with signs, wonders and miracles following.

 

☆ Acts 5:17-18...

"Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."

 

But, there was more trouble on the horizon... from religious sector would you believe. 

 

The high priest (of the sect of the Sadducees) and all his cronies with him, when they heard of all the wonderful things that were happening, were filled with anger, indignation and jealousy.

Their social standing, their beliefs, their popularity and their self importance was under threat... that was their thinking.

Position in society was of more concern to them than people suffering. How sad is that for men who were supposed to be serving God... and serving the the people.

 

To deal with their so called problem (inadequacy), they ordered the apostles to be cast in prison.

 

How many apostles jailed we are not told. 

But I am certain that Peter and John were amongst them as we shall see later.

 

☆ Acts 5:19-20...

"But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."

 

However, the Lord had different plans, and an angel of the Lord came that night, opened the prison doors, freed them... and said to them...

"Go to the temple area and speak to the people all the words of this life."

 

"... all the words of this life."

 

This includes all the doctrines of life eternal, founded on the Word, the death, and the resurrection of Christ Jesus. 

 

They were to go to the temple... the most public place... and speak to the people who came there to worship according to the law, the words of this life.

 

They were to teach them the whole doctrine of salvation from sin and death. 

 

They were to show that the law is fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus, and that, by His resurrection, He has brought life and immortality to light.

 

☆ Acts 5:21...

"And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.

But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought."

 

When the "escapees" heard the command of the angel of the Lord, they obeyed, went to the temple early in the morning and taught what they were told to teach... "the words of this life."

 

Meanwhile the high priest arrived and all that were with him. He called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel and then sent for the apostles to be put on trial.

 

These religious leaders obviously had their "doctrinal cages rattled" and mean to do business with the apostles. 

 

Food for thought...

A Christian who is highly critical of other Christians is really very insecure in their own beliefs. 

 

☆ Acts 5:22-24...

"But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow."

 

But when the temple officers arrived at the jail, the men weren't there, so they returned to the Council and reported, "The jail doors were locked, and the guards were standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!"

When the officers and the chief priests heard this, they were frantic, wondering what would happen next with these disciples of Jesus and where all this would end.

 

☆ Acts 5:25-27...

"Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them..."

 

Then, someone came and told them, "The men you put in prison are standing in the temple, teaching the people." 

The captain and his officers, without using violence (because they were scared they might be stoned by the people), brought the apostles and placed them before the council... obviously for a "grilling."

 

☆ Acts 5:28...

"Saying, Did not we straitly command you that you're should not teach in this name? and, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's (Jesus) blood upon us."

 

One very annoyed high priest said, "Didn't we expressly command you not to preach and teach in Jesus's name?

Look what you have done, you've filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.

Do you intend to bring this man's blood upon us... by charging us with the murder of Him, and representing us as guilty of shedding innocent blood, and so stirring up the people, and the Romans against us, to take vengeance on us for it?"

 

One thing can be said for certain... the apostles were very thorough and successful with their teaching... especially with the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon them. 

Signs, wonders and miracles followed the teaching, preaching... proving that the teaching, preaching was spot on.

 

I venture to say that the apostles accomplished more in a few days than what the Pharisees or Sadducees had in several years.

 

And as for... "... and intend to bring this man's (Jesus) blood upon us."... it already was.

The blood of Christ was already on their hands. 

They were responsible for Christ's death.

 

They did not like being reminded of it.

 

☆ Acts 5:29...

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, 'We ought to obey God rather than men.' "

 

Peter and the other apostles with him answered these religious leaders with a profound statement...

 

"We should obey God rather than man."

 

They had received their commission from GOD. They dare not lay it down at the desire or command of men."

 

How absolutely true that is... and should be so in every Christian's life for all time.

 

Even the Pharisees and Sadducees could not argue or disagree with that.

 

☆ Acts 5:30-31...

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom you slew and hanged on a tree.

Him has God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

 

The apostles went on to say...

"The very God of our fathers raised (caused to be born) up Jesus. This same Jesus you murdered and hanged on a tree.

Then, with mighty power, God exalted Him to be a Prince and Saviour, so that the people of Israel would have an opportunity for repentance, and for their sins to be forgiven."

 

But the unfortunate fact is... Israel rejected Jesus...

☆ John 1:11...

"He (Jesus) came unto His own (Jews), and His own received Him not."

 

And in the meantime God, is about to open the door of salvation to the Gentiles, as we will find out later in Acts.

 

☆ Acts 5:32...

"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him."

 

"And we are witnesses of these things..." 

This says that their Doctrine was not a mere philosophy, but rather eyewitness accounts.

 

"... and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to all who obey him."

The witness of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of Believers guarantees the truth of all that Christ has done at the Cross.

 

☆ 2 Corinthians 1:22...

"Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."

 

How can the apostles deny what they have seen and heard and touched? Experienced!

 

The apostle John, Peter's "side kick" wrote this later in his epistle...

 

☆ John 1:1-3...

"That which was from the beginning (referring to Jesus), which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life...

For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."

 

☆ Acts 5:33...

"When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."

 

"... they were cut to the heart..."

Peter’s words were said in such a way as to cause great conviction. What he said really rankled them.

Remember... the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness and judgement.

 

"... and took counsel to slay (kill) them."

This is the reaction which normally comes from the world of cold, heartless, dead religion.

"If we can't shut them up... then let's kill them."

 

Persecution of the early church is starting to ramp up some more.

 

☆ Acts 5:34...

"Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space."

 

But wait a minute... a breath of fresh air from within the ranks  of the Pharisees? 

 

One of their members, a Pharisee named Gamaliel (an expert on religious law and very popular with the people), stood up and requested that the apostles be sent outside the Council chamber while he talked.

 

Gamaliel was one of the most celebrated and honoured of Jewish Rabbis.

 

☆ Acts 5:35...

"And said unto them, you men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men."

 

Gamaliel warned them to be very careful about what they intended to do with these men. And he explains why.

 

☆ Acts 5:36...

"For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought."

 

"Some time ago there was a fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About four hundred others joined him, but he was killed, and his followers were harmlessly dispersed. What they stood for came to nothing."

 

☆ Acts 5:37...

"After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed."

 

"After him, at the time of the taxation, there was Judas of Galilee. He drew away many people as disciples, but he also died, and his followers scattered and came to nothing."

 

☆ Acts 5:38-39...

"And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God."

 

"And so my advice is, leave these men alone. 

If what they teach and do is merely of their own, it will soon be overthrown. It will amount to nothing.

 

But... if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them, and you will find yourselves fighting even against God."

 

In other words...

"If God be for them (and He is), who or what can be against them?"

 

☆ Acts 5:40...

"And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go."

 

The council agreed with Gamaliel. They called the apostles in, gave them a beating, and again commanded them not to speak, teach or preach in the Name of Jesus.

 

They were then released.

 

These Jewish religious leaders really lost the plot and their behaviour proved that they were no better than a mob of thugs.

Their credibility was growing less and less... at their own hand.

 

Little did they know that the Name they were trying to stamp out... one day... 

 

☆ Philippians 2:9-10...

"Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name:

That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth."

 

☆ Acts 5:41...

"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."

 

They left the Council chamber rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for His name.

 

What happened was bitter and painful to the flesh, but had caused rejoicing in the spirit. 

Shame is glory if suffered for the Name of Jesus.

 

☆ Acts 5:42...

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

 

And so the early church continued to grow stronger and stronger... even in the midst of persecution.

 

The apostles continued in their obedience to God by continuing to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 

Not every now and again... but daily in the temple and in every house. Hallelujah! 

They were unstoppable. 

 

Selah!