ACTS 5
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Ananias and Sapphira lie, and God kills them. The apostles heal many people. They are arrested, but an angel frees them. Again they are arrested and ordered not to speak about Jesus. But they keep preaching, and the church keeps growing.
I. The Purity in the Early Church(5:1–11): Ananias and Sapphira are judged for their sin.
I. The Purity in the Early Church(5:1–11): Ananias and Sapphira are judged for their sin.
A. The deception by Ananias and Sapphira: This couple lies about the amount of a gift they donate to the church. (Acts 5:1–2)
A. The deception by Ananias and Sapphira: This couple lies about the amount of a gift they donate to the church. (Acts 5:1–2)
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
B. The discovery of Ananias and Sapphira: Peter finds out what they did and severely rebukes them. (Acts 5:3–4)
B. The discovery of Ananias and Sapphira: Peter finds out what they did and severely rebukes them. (Acts 5:3–4)
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
C. The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (5:5–11)
C. The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (5:5–11)
1. Ananias’s death: He falls to the floor dead and is carried out. (Acts 5:5–6)
1. Ananias’s death: He falls to the floor dead and is carried out. (Acts 5:5–6)
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
2. Sapphira’s death: She dies the same way as her husband. (Acts 5:7–11)
2. Sapphira’s death: She dies the same way as her husband. (Acts 5:7–11)
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
II. ThePower by the Early Church(5:12–16)
II. ThePower by the Early Church(5:12–16)
A. As seen by the signs -- the apostles do: They do miraculous signs and wonders. (Acts 5:12–14)
A. As seen by the signs -- the apostles do: They do miraculous signs and wonders. (Acts 5:12–14)
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
B. As seen by the sick -- the apostles deliver: Many sick and demon-possessed people are healed. (Acts 5:15–16)
B. As seen by the sick -- the apostles deliver: Many sick and demon-possessed people are healed. (Acts 5:15–16)
15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
III. The Persecution against the Early Church (5:17–42)
III. The Persecution against the Early Church (5:17–42)
A. The anger of the Sadducees: Filled with envy, they order the arrest of the apostles. (Acts 5:17–18)
A. The anger of the Sadducees: Filled with envy, they order the arrest of the apostles. (Acts 5:17–18)
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
B. The angel of the Lord: A heavenly messenger appears and releases the apostles. (Acts 5:19–21)
B. The angel of the Lord: A heavenly messenger appears and releases the apostles. (Acts 5:19–21)
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
C. The astonishment of the jailers (5:22–26)
C. The astonishment of the jailers (5:22–26)
1. The prisoners are gone: The gates are still locked and guarded, but the prisoners are gone. (Acts 5:22–24)
1. The prisoners are gone: The gates are still locked and guarded, but the prisoners are gone. (Acts 5:22–24)
22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
2. The preachers are back: They find the apostles in the Temple courtyard proclaiming Jesus. (Acts 5:25–26)
2. The preachers are back: They find the apostles in the Temple courtyard proclaiming Jesus. (Acts 5:25–26)
25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
D. The accusation by the Sanhedrin: “Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” (Acts 5:27–28)
D. The accusation by the Sanhedrin: “Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” (Acts 5:27–28)
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
E. The answer by the apostles (5:29–32)
E. The answer by the apostles (5:29–32)
1. They explain their mission: “We must obey God rather than human authority.” (Acts 5:29, 32)
1. They explain their mission: “We must obey God rather than human authority.” (Acts 5:29, 32)
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
2. They explain their Messiah (5:30–31).
2. They explain their Messiah (5:30–31).
a) “You killed him” (Acts 5:30).
a) “You killed him” (Acts 5:30).
30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
b) “God … raised Jesus from the dead” (Acts 5:30, 31).
b) “God … raised Jesus from the dead” (Acts 5:30, 31).
30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
F. The advice of a lawyer (5:33–42)
F. The advice of a lawyer (5:33–42)
1. The counsel (5:33–37)
1. The counsel (5:33–37)
a) The identity of the lawyer: He is a highly respected Pharisee named Gamaliel. (Acts 5:33–34)
a) The identity of the lawyer: He is a highly respected Pharisee named Gamaliel. (Acts 5:33–34)
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.
b) The illustrations by this lawyer: He offers examples of two unsuccessful spiritual revolts in past days. (5:35–37)
b) The illustrations by this lawyer: He offers examples of two unsuccessful spiritual revolts in past days. (5:35–37)
(1) That of Theudas: Theudas pretended to be great, and 400 people followed him. After he was killed, his followers scattered. (Acts 5:35–36)
(1) That of Theudas: Theudas pretended to be great, and 400 people followed him. After he was killed, his followers scattered. (Acts 5:35–36)
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
(2) That of Judas of Galilee: He was killed, and his followers also scattered. (Acts 5:37)
(2) That of Judas of Galilee: He was killed, and his followers also scattered. (Acts 5:37)
37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
2. The conclusion (Acts 5:38–39)
2. The conclusion (Acts 5:38–39)
38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
3. The consensus: Gamaliel’s advice is accepted. The apostles are flogged, warned, and set free. (Acts 5:40)
3. The consensus: Gamaliel’s advice is accepted. The apostles are flogged, warned, and set free. (Acts 5:40)
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
4. The commitment: The apostles rejoice that God has counted them worthy to suffer for Jesus, and they continue their witness for him! (Acts 5:41–42)
4. The commitment: The apostles rejoice that God has counted them worthy to suffer for Jesus, and they continue their witness for him! (Acts 5:41–42)
41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.