Tuesday, April 20
Read Acts 5
Think About It:
Ananias means “God is gracious,” but he learned that God is also holy, and Sapphira means “beautiful,” but her heart was ugly with sin. No doubt some people are shocked when they read that God killed two people just because they lied about a business transaction and about their church giving. But when you consider the features connected with this sin, you have to agree that God did the right thing by judging them.
Jesus made it very clear that we must be careful how we give, lest the Glory that belongs to God should be given to us (Matthew 6:1-4, 19-30). The Pharisees were adept at calling attention to their gifts, and they received the praise of men – but that’s all they received! Whenever we possess what God has given to us; we’re stewards, not owners. We must use what He gives us for His Glory alone (John 5:44).
What is described in this chapter is not the case of church discipline. Rather it is an example of God’s personal judgment. “The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:30-31). Had Ananias and Sapphira judged their own sin, God would not have judged them (1Corinthians 11:31), but they agreed to lie, and God had to deal with them.
Ananias was dead and buried, and Sapphira didn’t even know it! Satan always keeps his servants in the dark, while God guides his servants in the light (John 15:15). Peter accused her of tempting God’s Spirit, that is, deliberately disobeying God and seeing how far God would go (Exodus 17:2; Deuteronomy 6:16). They were actually defying God in daring Him to act – and He acted, with swiftness and finality. “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:7).
We must keep in mind that their sin was not robbing God of money, but in lying to Him and robbing Him of Glory. They were not required to sell the property, and, having sold it, they were not required to give any of the money to the church (Acts 5:4). Their lust for recognition conceived sin in their hearts (Acts 5:4, 9), and that sin eventually produced death (James 1:15).
The result was a wave of Godly fear that swept over the church and overall those who heard the story. We have moved from “great power” and “great grace” to “great fear”, and all of these ought to be present in the church. “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Truth and consequences. Not everybody was happy with the success of the church. The “religious establishment” that had opposed the ministry of Jesus, and then crucified Him, took the same hostile approach towards the apostles. “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you”, said Jesus. “They will put you out of the synagogue’s; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 15:20; 16:2).
It was the age-old conflict between living truth and dead tradition. The new wine could not be put into the old wine skins, nor could the new cloth be sewn on worn-out garments (Matthew 9:14-17).
The Council: Attacking the truth (5:17-28) The high priest and his associates have three reasons for arresting the apostles. First, Peter and John had not obeyed the official orders to stop preaching in the name of Jesus Christ. They were guilty of defying the law of the nation. Second, the witness of the church was refusing the doctrines held by the Sadducees, giving every evidence that Jesus Christ was alive. Third, the religious leaders were filled with envy at the great success of these untrained and unauthorized men.
The Apostles: Affirming the truth (5:29-32) The apostles did not change their convictions, they obeyed God and entrusted Him to take care of the consequences. They could not serve two masters, and they had already declared whose side they were on. Had they been diplomats instead of ambassadors, they could have escaped a beating. But they stood firmly for the Lord, and He honored their courage and faith.
Gamaliel: Avoiding the truth (5:33-39) Gamaliel had the mistaken idea that if something is not of God, it must fail. But this idea does not take into consideration the simple nature of man and the presence of Satan in the world. Mark Twain said that a lie runs around the world while truth is still putting on her shoes.
The Church: Announcing the truth (5:40-42) Their ministry went on without ceasing. The authorities had told them to stop witnessing, but they only witnessed all the more! Their motive was not defiance to the law but rather obedience to the Lord. It was not something they turned on and off, depending on the situation. They’re always at it, and they kept at it as long as God gave them opportunities.
Family Time:
- What happens in verses 1-11? What do you learn about God through this example?
- What do you think God thinks about lying?
- Proverbs 12:22 says, “ Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight”. *Definition of abomination: something regarded with disgust and hatred. Extreme disgust and hatred.
- Do you think about lying the same way the Lord does? Do you hate lying and love the truth? Have you ever thought that it’s okay to tell “just a little lie”? After reading these verses, does it make you think more seriously about what you say? We may be able to fool others for a time, but we can never fool God. He sees everything! If there is any area you have lied about or are living in sin, confess it to the Lord, turn from it, and He will forgive you. Then ask the Holy Spirit to guard your heart and to help you always speak truthfully.
