ACTS SERIES: MADE AN EXAMPLE – CHAPTER 5

Chapter five of Acts shares several serious events in the life of the apostles and early church, but the most striking is the death of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit.

Believers in the early church were selling their property and bringing the remains to the apostles to meet the needs of fellow believers. However, Ananias and Sapphira decided jointly to keep some of it for themselves. Ananias, without Sapphira, came to the apostles and gave them the money. Upon receiving it, Peter said, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.’ Immediately, Ananias dropped dead, and the men prepared him for burial and buried him.

Three hours later, unbeknownst to Sapphira, what had occurred to her husband, she came to the meeting place, and Peter confronted her, and she responded untruthfully. Then Peter asked her,” How is it that ye have agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.” Like her husband Sapphira dropped dead, and the men buried her by Ananias. Upon hearing what happened to Ananias and Sapphira, great fear came on all the believers, and the townspeople respected them. For the early church, the death of Ananias and Sapphira became an example of what could happen when you carry out falsehood, and they learned not to do so.   

Nevertheless, the apostles continued ministering the word, healing the sick, and performing miracles. The demand for healing and deliverance was so great that people were laid in the streets, and they were healed as Peter walked by them.

As they did in chapter four, the Sadducees were distraught with the continued teaching and popularity of the apostles, so they once again had them arrested. Since it was night, they were imprisoned, but an angel sent from God opened the prison doors, freed them, led them out, and sent them back to the temple to minister.

When the religious leaders sent to the prison to have the apostles brought to them, they found the cells empty, which was hard for them to believe. Shortly after that, it was reported the missing apostles were back in the temple teaching, so the captain and his men went and got the men and brought them to the council.

The high priest questioned the apostles about disobeying the orders not to teach about Jesus and causing violence in Jerusalem over the death of Jesus. The spokesman, Peter, responded, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Also, he continued sharing the message of the resurrection of Jesus and Him being honored by God and made a Prince and a Savior, to which the apostles were witnesses.

This message made the council uneasy, and they discussed how to kill the apostles. Howbeit, the well-known , had the apostles removed. Then he reminded the council about Theudas and Judas of Galilee, who started an uprising, yet they and their followers did not last. He cautioned them to leave the apostles alone just in case the apostle’s ministry was of God and not of men. It would grow if it were of God; if it were of men, it would eventually come to nothing. Heeding Gamaliel’s advice, the council had the apostles beaten. Commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus and then released. Chapter Five ends by revealing that despite the council’s command, the apostles were undaunted by them. Happily, they suffered for Christ and daily taught and preached on the Lord Jesus in the temple and houses.

I close this blog with nuggets I gleaned from this chapter:

God sees and knows what you do in secret.

The heart must be kept pure lest Satan fill it with evil intent.

When you give to God, give willingly and without deception.

God will expose that which is done in secret.

Lying to God can be detrimental to your well-being.

Some judgments from God are immediate.

Don’t join your mate in sinning.

Sick people desire to be healed.

People will be found where miracles happen.

Healings can manifest through various methods.

Everyone is not in favor of the move of God.

When people see miracles happening around them, their faith builds up.

God does not want us to stop preaching and teaching about Jesus despite the opposition that may arise.

Respect and obey the Word of God above the words of men.

When given the opportunity share the gospel with men in authority.

Those in authority recognize when you have favor with the masses.

You can not fight God and win.