[:en]SCRIPTURE: ACTS 5
Bible Verses:
“Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” (Acts 5:9)
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For 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.” (Acts 5:38-39)
“Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ” (Acts 5:29)
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:41-42)
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (vs. 1-11)
Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property . With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept part of the money and brought the rest to the apostles. Peter rebuked him for lying to God. When Ananias heard this, he felt down and died. Then, his wife Sapphira came and Peter asked her if that was the price they got for the land. Sapphira also lied. Peter said to her: “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (v. 9). At that moment she also felt down and died. The whole church were seized with fear about that event.
THE APOSTLES HEAL MANY (vs. 12-16)
More people were added to their number. Many brought the sick and those tormented by evil spirits and the apostles healed all of them.
THE APOSTLES PERSECUTED (vs. 17-42)
The high priests and the Sadducees were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in public jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. The angels told them to preach the message of new life.
At day break, they entered the temple courts and began to teach the people. The jail officers went to the jail and could not find the apostles. Someone told them that they were in the temple. So they brought the apostles and told them not to teach in Jesus’ name. Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men” (v. 29). He told them that Jesus whom they killed by hanging on the tree has raised from the dead. He is the Prince and Savior to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. Now, they were witnesses with the Holy Spirit given to them.
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But Gamaliel, a Pharisee and teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people forbid them to do so. He addressed them the leave these men alone and let them go. He said: “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” (v. 38-39). His speech persuaded them to release the apostles. The apostles rejoiced for they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Lord. They continued to proclaim in the temple courts and from house to house that Jesus is the Christ.
THOUGHTS:
- The sins of Ananias and Sapphira were deception and greed. They wanted to gain the reputation and appear more spiritual than they actually were. They died as a result of hypocrisy and greed. We will destroy our testimony for Christ if we deceive God and his people with hypocrisy.
- The death of Ananias and Sapphira illustrated the divine judgment Christ will exercise during the coming kingdom. Trying to hide sin from God is dangerous.
- The early church attracted people by the experience of God’s power. God wants to add believers to his church not through progress, good speakers, size, beautiful sanctuary or fellowship but by generosity, sincerity, honesty, integrity of the leaders and character of the members.
- Due to jealousy, the Jewish leaders arrested Peter and the apostles and put them in jail. But an angel of the Lord delivered them and enabled them to preach the message of salvation. No man can thwart God’s plan to have the gospel proclaimed.
- The apostles were threatened and told to stop talking about God. But they preferred to obey God rather than men. May we also have the confidence to obey God and speak out for Christ no matter what the cost.
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