[:en]SCRIPTURE: ACTS 5
“We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (vs. 1-11)
Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. They kept back part of the money and brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Peter knew that Ananias lied, so he rebuked him and he fell down dead. After three hours, Sapphira came in. Peter asked her: “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land? “Yes, that is the price” she said. Peter then said to her: “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out also” (v. 9). At that moment, she fell down and died. Great fear seized the whole church with this event.
THE APOSTLES HEAL MANY (vs. 12-16)
The apostles performed many miraculous signs and healed many people who were sick and tormented by evil spirits. Many men and women believed in the Lord and their number increased tremendously.
THE APOSTLES PERSECUTED (vs. 17-42)
The high priest and the Sadducees were jealous and they arrested the apostles and put them in public jail. But an angel of the Lord came at night and brought them out of the jail. The angel told them to go to the temple courts and tell the people the full meaning of this new life (v. 20). As they entered the temple courts, they began to teach the people.
The high priest and his associates were puzzled how the apostles got out from the jail. They brought them before the Sanhedrin and told them not to teach. Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men” (v. 29). Then they preach repentance and forgiveness of sins. When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law said: “I advice you. Leave these men alone. Let them go! If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God” (vs. 38-39). His speeches persuaded them, so they let them go.
The apostles were happy to be counted worthy of suffering for the Lord. They continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ. (v. 42)
SUMMARY:
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Spirit, to the church and to Peter. So, they ended up death. Do not pretend to be spiritual than what you really are. Beware of the sin of hypocrisy.
When Peter discovered Ananias and Sapphira were not telling the truth, he had to purge their sins. Satan always work inside the church to divide and destroy it. We should beware of men from inside harming the church with their hypocrisy. A local church that is led by the Spirit must have good standard and best testimony.
The Jewish leader were jealous of the popularity of the apostles. They tried to hinder them from teaching and preaching. But Peter refused to give in saying: “We must obey God rather than men” (v. 29). Peter taught us to obey God, not men.
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