Acts 5:1-21
Recap
Peter and John get arrested and ordered not to preach in Jesus name anymore
So they pray for boldness in the midst of opposition
And they’re filled with the Spirit and begin to preach boldly
After this they no longer see their possessions as they’re own
Many sell their things and place to proceeds at the apostles feet to be distributed to the church (people not the institution) as there was need
Scripture
Reread the end of 4 for context:
Acts 4:33-37 (NKJV) 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid [them] at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold [it,] and brought the money and laid [it] at the apostles’ feet.
Picking up in chapter 5:
Acts 5:1-21 (NKJV) 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back [part] of the proceeds, his wife also being aware [of it,] and brought a certain part and laid [it] at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back [part] of the price of the land for yourself? 4 “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
In each instance prior to this the people sold their goods and placed the money at the apostles feet
Ananias and Sapphira do the same — at least they want to appear to be doing the same
This is the real deception
Peter says:
The land was yours to do with as you pleased
After you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you pleased
Then he tells them they have lied to the Holy Spirit — how? hint the Holy Spirit is not in them, they have not completely surrendered (as evidenced by their holding back of the money)
They lied to the Holy Spirit in that they lied to all those present who watched them place the money at the apostles feet
They are trying to appear as pious and spiritual as all the others while still holding onto some of the proceeds of the sale
They are playing church
Jesus’s greatest rebuke was hypocrisy
The word hypocrisy in the Greek is the word “hypocrates” — which literally means “an actor, one who plays a part”
They want to have the appearance of being surrendered, without actually surrendering
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried [him] out, and buried [him.]
God does not take too kindly to them using His name… His Son’s name… the death of His Son — as a platform to elevate oneself
If you’re struggling to fully commit…
Just be honest — where you are is where you are…
This is one of the powerful reasons we confess our sins one to another… it keeps us from just playing church
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband [are] at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying [her] out, buried [her] by her husband.
Now his wife continues the lie
Was she loyal and obedient to her husband? Yes
This passage presents an important dynamic
Doesn’t the Bible say “wives submit to your husbands”? Yes
But the why is crucial:
To submit to one’s husband in reverence to the Lord is faithfulness
To submit to one’s husband in reverence to your husband is a path that leads to idolatry
Are we commanded to obey government? Yes
Romans 13:1 (NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
But Peter has willfully chosen to disobey government —
Acts 4:19-20 (NKJV) 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:29 (NKJV) But Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
submission to government in the fear of the Lord shows faith
Submission to government in the fear of government shows fear
All such commands in scripture fall under this principle:
Honor our father and mother
But Jesus said if you love father or mother more than Me you’re not worthy of Me
So the wife died because she sought to play church in obedience to her husband
11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
And this was the purpose — to instill the principle that playing church to feed one’s own self righteousness at Jesus expense has a severe cost
This is why taking the Lords Supper in an unworthy manner warns of sickness and death
Because to partake in the Lords Supper while walking in willful rebellion for the sake of appearances is the same sin
Does that mean we shouldn’t take the Lords Supper? No, we’re commanded to do so. It just means that we look honestly at ourselves first.
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were doneamong the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid [them] on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
One thing we see is that it always seems to be the apostles who are working these signs and wonders
We see also that many of the Jews look on them with reverence for the works they’re doing, but don’t join them out of fear
Despite this, the church is still growing and more are added to them
16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
So now the message is growing beyond Jerusalem
People are being brought from neighboring cities
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who [were] with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
Notice: God did not spare them from difficulty
These men are being obedient to Gods will but the result is that their punishments keep getting gradually worse
Do you ever question why you suffer difficulty and hardship when you’re walking faithfully? It’s to test our motives
Will you walk in obedience because your life will turn out better? Then your obedience is rooted in pragmatism and self interest
Will you walk in obedience EVEN IF things get harder and more difficult? Then my motives are something other than self interest.
Faithfulness
Love
Trust in an eternal promise and a life of eternity that causes the trials of this life to pale in comparison
These are motives that reach beyond my own earthly self interest
19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”
But the Angel of the Lord frees them
God doesn’t spare them from difficulty
But He goes limit how much they go through
Then the Angel commands them to go right back to where they got arrested and do it again
You’ve just experienced hardship, fear and suffering
And now you’re set free
The question is: will you return your hand to the plow once you’ve been released from suffering KNOWING that your obedience will likely bring about more or greater hardship
21 And when they heard [that,] they entered the temple early in the morning and taught.
But they return and are faithful
But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But now the high priest and the religious rulers send people to the prison to go investigate if these guys in the temple are the same ones whom they just arrested
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