ACTS

Acts 5

• Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 
• 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

I have always dreaded reading this chapter in Acts but it needs to be read. To study this can keep us from taking what we do for God lightly and never should we do things to be seen of men or to receive the praise of men. It is one thing to do good works in front of our children as an example but it is quite another to do works just so people will think we are good and deserve praise. 

This couple mentioned in Acts 5 did more than just give to impress the apostles, they purposely deceived. This was not a random impulsive act but a planned out deception to appear to be great merciful givers but they were not. They sold land to purposely deceive the apostles into thinking that they sold and gave all the price of their property to the work of the Lord. They held back part of the price for themselves though but allowed the apostles to think that they gave the whole amount to the Lord's work. Peter by the spirit saw through their deception and the consequences were very harsh. 

• Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 
• 4 While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 

They were not compelled or forced to give any money to this work so Peter asked them why they had not kept all of it instead of pretending to give all of it as they did. 

• Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 
• 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 

We have to understand fully that the judgment upon these people came from God. Peter did not kill them and did not lay a hand upon them. The church has no authority to ever harm one person for if that authority was given to us, we would abuse it just like the church in the Middle ages and some (not all) during the Protestant Reformation abused its authority. If we do things ourselves instead of waiting and trusting in God to send His judgment, we will harm innocent people. Many religions have killed and tortured innocent people who deserved no harm throughout the ages. Satan causes this type of thing to destroy the influence of the gospel and cause many souls to be lost forever. If he can't destroy the church by sending persecution, he will try to get the church to do the persecution and destroy them in that way. The gospel is hindered more from the church doing the evil than suffering evil from others.

I only said that to point out that God judged these people as an example to us who read to understand that we give from our hearts not to be seen of men and we never pretend to give great offerings to be seen of men when in reality, we give very little. This was a deliberate plan to deceive and look big in the eyes of the apostles. They could have said to Peter, that, "We sold the land and decided to give a tenth to the Lord's work." All they would have had to do was be honest before God. At that time Peter was so full of the Holy Ghost that to lie to him was to lie to God. 

• Acts 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 
• 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 

Peter checked for sure to see if she would lie also. If she would have told the truth at this point and repented, she could have been spared. 

If we find ourselves guilty of any deception, we can repent before judgment falls upon us. If we continue in sin without ever repenting, God will send judgment in time. 

• Acts 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 
• 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 
• 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 

This type of fear was one of respect for the power of God. This was done to show us that God is still a holy God. He has not changed since the day of grace came through Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ cancels out all previous sin but we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and keep us pure from the things that Christ has saved us from. We should never go back into open sin and think we are saved by grace. There are some that believe this husband and wife was still saved but just lost their lives here on earth because of their sin.  I have no opinion on that because I just don't know.

Paul said:

• Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 
• 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 
• 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 
• 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 
• 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 
• 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Another attempt at taking the things of the spirit wrongly is when Simon the sorcerer wanted to buy the ability to lay hands of people so that they could receive the Holy Spirit. 

• Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 
• 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 
• 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 
• 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 
• 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 
• 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 
• 24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 

We see here that Simon was given a chance to repent. He had not actually did the act but was prevented from sinning in this way. 

Wanting to do signs and wonders by the laying on of hands can become a temptation even today to do so in order to gain financially. It is a temptation we need to avoid. Eventually God will judge this. Our desire to do signs and wonders should be for only two reasons. To prove the truth of the gospel thereby exalting the name of Jesus Christ and the other reason is out of compassion for hurting people. Never is it to be done with a motive to gain either money or popularity. Wanting to be seen of men as a good person was the downfall of the two mentioned at the beginning of this chapter. 

Even if some are allowed to continue in their deception for a season does not mean that they are getting by with their folly. God is a holy God and the things of the spirit are freely given to those that believe and obey Him. They are not to be taken lightly or to be bought and sold. Freely we have been given, freely we must give to others. This modern day prosperity gospel scares me. Something about it is all wrong. 

• Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 
• 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 
• 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 
• 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 

Imagine being so full of the Holy Spirit that our very shadow could heal the sick. There is no reason why this cannot happen again but we must remember to bring glory only to Jesus, bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus and never use this power for gain or popularity. We are only vessels, we do not heal by our own holiness or goodness. Perhaps the reason we do not see as much of this as we use to is because we have robbed God of the glory and have been overly concerned with wealth and comfort. This kind of power comes with people fasting and praying seeking only the will of God and not their own glory. 

• Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 
• 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 

As fear and jealousy rises at the influence of Satan, the apostles are again arrested and put in jail. Notice it is always the religious crowd and those that are established as the state religion or mainline state accepted religion.  

• Acts 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
• 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 
• 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 

They really couldn't kill the apostles until God decides to allow them to end their ministry and go home to be with Him. 

• Acts 5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 

Unless we unfairly accuse all the Jewish people, we must remember that all the believers were Jews also. The church actually started with all Jews. Jews started the gospel. The first church was not a Gentile church but it was in Jerusalem. All the apostles and Jesus Himself was a Jew. It was some (not all) of the Jewish religious leaders who brought the apostles before the magistrates. It was not every single one of them. 

Even today we have believers and we have unbelievers among the same nations or countries. We can't blame all Jews for the sins of a few. We can't blame all Muslims for 9/11 and we can't blame all the people from a certain racial background when one of them commits a crime. The black race is not cursed, the Jews have not been forsaken by God and the white race or any other race is not superior or inferior to anyone else. Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel. This means every tribe, kindred and race. He came to save all. If some tribe rejects the gospel we are to move on to another tribe. We are never to bad mouth, condemn and bring judgment ahead of God's timing. The gospel is never and I repeat, never to be forced. What good is that anyway? How can one be forced to be "born again" by God's spirit when it is only something God Himself can do within the inner person. We can't change one person by our own persuasive measures. We are to preach, they are to accept or reject. If they reject, we move on. 

• Acts 5:22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
• 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 
• 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 
• 25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 
• 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 
• 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 
• 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 

They didn't like being blamed for the death of anyone innocent. They wanted the people to think that Jesus was put to death because He was guilty of a crime. Their preaching threatened to expose their guilt in the death of Jesus.

• Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

As I said in previous writings, we are always to obey the civil government in which we live. We are to strive to be the best citizens we can so that we do not bring reproach upon the gospel we believe and live by. In saying that though there comes times when we have to disobey the civil laws if that law clashes with the higher law of God. God says go, God says spread the gospel of Jesus, so we have to obey God rather than man in some situations. 

Hitler once used the writings of Paul which told us to obey the law, but if the people (some did by the way) would have studied the word thoroughly, they would have known not to lift up a hand against the Jewish people. Starting with the words to Abraham and all through the scriptures, they should have known a curse would come upon those that harm the Jewish people, born again true believers in Jesus and innocent people who do not deserve to be harmed. 

God told Abraham, "I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you." 

Jesus also told His apostles that a time would come when some would kill them thinking they were doing God a service. All through the middle ages Jews were killed by those that thought they had God's approval. Jews died during the holocaust by those that thought they were doing God a favor. 

He also said to them that they would be hated of all nations for His name sake. 

Hating the Jews does fulfill the words of Jesus but woe to them that do the hating and persecuting because harsh judgment will fall upon them. 

Those that claim the name of Christ and the religion of Christianity must avoid hate, racism, vengeance and violence at any cost. We will suffer the curses and judgment of God if we partake of those things. Jesus also said that those that do those things do not know the Father nor Him (Jesus). We may claim to be a Christian but if we lift up one hand against another person like those people did to the Jews during the holocaust, we do not know Jesus Christ and we are not true born again Christians. We may have a religion called Christianity but we do not know God if we persecute any person thinking we are doing God a service. I didn't say it, Jesus did. We are to be thankful for God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are to be thankful, not high-minded and exalted in ourselves. 

We are not superior to the Jews or the Muslims. Humility and thankfulness should be our attitude. We should be thankful to have had the privilege to have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ that is able to give us eternal life. We are to freely give that gospel to all others but in humility and thankfulness. We are not better than anyone else. If we teach the right gospel and live by the word of God walking in love, we will never spread any gospel of hate. That doesn't mean that we do not preach against sin nor warn of God's coming judgment upon sin, but we preach it in love wanting to save, not destroy those that reject our message. Sin will still destroy all that reject Jesus; for Jesus is the only way to be made free from the condemnation of sin. We must warn, teach and preach all the word, not just the good scriptures, but it must be done with compassion, never hate or with the use of force.  

• Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
• 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 

The gospel was first given to Israel before going to the Gentiles. The Gentiles didn't receive the gospel until the time of the apostle Paul except for a few isolated cases like the household of Cornelius. 

• Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 

The Holy Ghost baptism is given to those that obey the words of God. It is not given to half-hearted pretenders or those that claim Christ in name only having no change of heart or a repentant spirit. 

• Acts 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 

There are different reactions to the message of the gospel. Some hear and repent, some hear and get angry and others hear and ignore. 

• Acts 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 
• 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 
• 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to naught. 
• 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 

This man was one that was more reasonable, not believing in Christ himself but trying to be reasonable and not be hasty by acting in anger. His reasoning was: "This stuff is probably nonsense and if we ignore it, it will come to nothing," He was probably thinking also that, in case it is of God we wouldn't want to be guilty of stopping it. 

This same attitude should cause us in these latter days to beware of false accusation against another believer unless we know for sure what we are talking about. 

• Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 
• 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 
• 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 
• 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 

I wish we could have this attitude. If we in the United States, suffer persecution, we run to the nearest lawyer and demand our constitutional rights. This might not be wrong if we are battling to save the country from being taken over by evil but whether right or wrong, some do not have the financial means to defend themselves in this manner. Their trust has to be in the Lord alone. 

• Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 

Usually persecution done to the faithful believers in Jesus Christ will cause the gospel to go further and faster. It does not stop the gospel. Let the word go forth and not return empty. DC

Acts 6