Acts 5

Acts

Part 5

"Lying to the Holy Spirit"

Last time we ended with an emboldened church that refused to bow to the demands of the Sanhedrin that they no longer "teach or preach" in the name of Jesus. They are filled with power and generosity.

Now, thus far the church triumphant has been marching forward in victory. Satan was unable to conquer it, so now we will see in chapter 5 he will try to corrupt it.

Chapter 5 opens with two names--Ananias and Sapphira.

5:1 "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession."

No doubt this married couple wanted to bask in some of the glow that surrounded a man named Barnabas at the close of chapter 4, who sold his land and gave 100 percent of the proceeds to the church.

Ananias and Sapphira also had property and sold it. But then they held a fateful family conference. They decided to keep back part of the price. They could never have imagined the cost of that decision!

First, we see what the culprits did:

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."

At this point they still had a chance to tell Peter they were holding back a percentage of the price. But they chose to lie. As we will see, it was a Satan-inspired DECEPTION.

Next we see the Spirit-inspired DETECTION of the wickedness:

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?'"

Peter's words fell like a thunderbolt. The Holy Spirit knew all about the trick. He was there in their home when the scheme was hatched. And He was there at the church when the scheme was dispatched. And He is the one who flashed the truth through Peter's unsuspecting mind.

Notice that Peter discerns and exposes the SOURCE of the deception: "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie...?"

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Next we see the SUBSTANCE of the wickedness:

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?...”

Ananias was under no pressure, no coercion to sell the land. He was a free agent. God covets no man's money. Ananias could give whatever he wanted, but chose instead to act deceptively.

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Now comes the SERIOUSNESS of the wickedness:

4b "You have not lied to men but to God."

Sin is always serious. But its seriousness is always in proportion to the status of the person against whom the sin is committed. It is a serious thing to tell a lie. It is more serious to tell a lie to a judge. But it is serious beyond words to tell a lie to God.

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And so we next the seriousness DEMONSTRATED:

5-6 "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."

"You have lied to God" are the last words Ananias ever heard spoken on earth! Not a penny of his money did he ever get to spend.

This harsh judgment brought a wholesome fear on the church. Heart-searching commenced and motives were examined. God had given a warning.

As with Sodom and Gomorrah and the flood of Noah's day, this was one of those occasions when God makes an example out of a case to fully reveal what He thinks of a matter.

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But the judgment isn't finished:

There is FURTHER EXPOSURE:

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?”

Sapphira had no clue as to what has just gone down. The young men have just finished burying her husband. Perhaps she passed the time of day with others as she entered, not knowing she was now widowed.

8b "She said, 'Yes, for so much.'"

Notice how her words came out so easily. Didn't she wonder as to why Peter would ask such a question? The ease of her lying reminds of so many people in the political arena today that lie as easily as they breathe.

Sapphira immediately meets her husband's fate:

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.'"

Sapphira stood there, heard the news that her husband was already dead and buried, collapsed on the spot, and died.

No wonder it was Peter who later wrote in one of his epistles, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Pet 4:17)

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The church now EXPLODES:

11-16 "So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among 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. 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."

We see here the fear of the Lord IN the church, power flowing THROUGH the church, unity marking the ONENESS of the church, multitudes added TO the church, and miracles following the FAITH of the church.

God was on the loose and it was an AMAZING OUTPOURING!

But Satan wasn't sitting idly nearby considering all this a lost cause. He moved upon the typical culprits to bring persecution:

17-18 "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."

The gloves are off. The High Priest, supposedly the spiritual leader of Israel, is furious over sick people being healed. As I've said, there is no hatred like religious hatred.

This was organized, deliberate opposition to the truth and grace of God! The Apostles are treated like common felons and thrown into jail.

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But God had a surprise for them by way of a MIRACLE OF DELIVERANCE:

19-21a "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. 21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught."

This is the kind of thing every prisoner dreams of. An angel opened the prison door and instructed them, not to flee, but to preach.

Imagine the shock of the Sanhedrin when they had gathered for the trial, sent their officers to retrieve the prisoners, and the prison was empty!

"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. 22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

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A clear and stunning miracle of deliverance notwithstanding, the Apostles are arrested again:

26-28 "Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

Notice, the high priest doesn't ask them how they got free. He wants only to double down on his insistence they preach not in Jesus's name. He is also very upset that the Apostles are blaming him and the religious leaders for murdering Jesus!

Peter in turn also doubles down:

29-30 "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.'"

No greater crime could be imagined than that which the Sanhedrin had committed in killing the Son of God. The Sanhedrin had taken sick satisfaction with the MODE of Jesus's death on a Cross.

The law said, "He that is hanged on a tree is accursed of God" (Deut. 21:23). They did not know that Jesus was deliberately bearing in His body the curse so that blessings might flow.

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Peter doubles down even more to declare Christ's resurrection:

31-32 "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Peter says, "Christ has been raised from the dead, and we are His eyewitnesses, and the Holy Spirit has also been poured out to testify of Him."

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The clash between the new, exploding church and the old religious system with its leaders has now reached fever pitch.

33 "When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them."

Rather than falling under conviction, the Sanhedrin begins plotting the Apostle's murders, just like they had Jesus. Their philosophy was, if you can't beat them, kill them!

At this key juncture a Pharisee named Gamaliel stands to speak, who also had mentored none other than Saul who became Paul the Apostle. He speaks great wisdom to this seething court:

34-39 "Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

His final words were a sane and sobering reminder of the possibility this new movement was of God. And if so, easier to stop the wind from blowing than to stop God!

The reluctant Sanhedrin agreed, but wouldn't let the Apostles go without venting some of their fury by beating them:

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

The beating they received was from the law of Moses consisting of "forty lashes save one," the same that Jesus received, and that Paul would experience five times.

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The apostles responded with PRAISE AND PROCLAMATION:

41-42 "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

NEXT TIME: Stephen: the First Martyr