ActsSample

Acts 5

What’s Happening?

Acts 5 opens with a man and his wife, Ananias and Sapphira, selling property and laying it at the apostles’ feet, just as Barnabas did at the end of Acts 4 directly before. However, their gift differs drastically from that of Barnabas’. Ananias and Sapphira attempt to deceive the apostles into thinking they sacrificed all of the property selflessly, when in reality, they greedily kept part of the profit for themselves.

Despite the unfaithfulness of some like Ananias and Sapphira, Peter and John’s ministry continues successfully in Jerusalem, and we see clear, tangible examples of the Holy Spirit continuing to move in power through miracles and healings. During this time, the apostles are thrown in prison by the High Priest because of their ministry, which is now the second time John and Peter are put in prison. But, an angel of the Lord frees them from prison and commands the apostles to continue preaching in the temples and sharing Jesus’ name.

When instructed again not to preach about Jesus, the apostles respond to the senate by saying they will obey God rather than men (5:29). Of course, this angers the senators and High Priest even more, and they desire to kill the apostles. They have directly threatened their authority and religion. A Pharisee named Gamaliel convinces the senate to not kill the apostles in case they are actually of God, but the council still proceeds to beat and accuse them. Even so, the apostles leave praising the name of Jesus, “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (5:41).

What do we learn?

There is a significant contrast between Ananias and Sapphira’s story and the apostles’. Ananias and Sapphira are motivated by greed, pride, and outward appearance, whereas the apostles desire to obey the Lord and honor Him no matter the cost. Some might think that God was exceedingly harsh on Ananias and Sapphira; however, we are all deserving of God’s wrath. We presume that we have time to repent or be honest with God later, but any time given by God is an undeserved gift that He does not owe us.

What should we do?

This challenges each of us as followers of Jesus. The apostles pressed on where many of us may have stopped. They believed their time was precious and sought the Lord in the present despite opposition. The threat of social rejection often keeps us from sharing who Jesus is and what He has done for us. We need to have the apostles’ courage and determination to consistently stand firm for the Lord. Think about barriers in your life that often prevent you from doing this. How can you place the Lord above all else this week?