The Book of
Acts 5
42 verses≈ 7 min4 peopleBSB
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Ananias and Sapphira
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Peter
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”
On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died.
You have not lied to men, but to God!
Acts 5:4
And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.
Peter
“Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?”
Sapphira
“Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”
Peter
“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Acts 5:11
Reflect
What we hold back
Peter asks Ananias, “Did it not belong to you before it was sold?” Nobody forced him to give. The sin was the pretending: keeping part while wanting credit for giving it all. Is there a place where you want to look more devoted than you are? Tell God plainly. He already knows, and He would rather have the truth than a show.
The Apostles Heal Many
As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.
But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
0:30
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
The Apostles before the Sanhedrin
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.
Someone else
Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”
At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.
The high priest
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”
The apostles
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Peter’s answer
Whiteboard
On trial before the men who condemned Jesus, Peter preaches the whole gospel in a few sentences. The verdict was overturned by God, and the One they rejected now offers “repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”
Pray
Courage to obey
Ordered to be silent, the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” They did not shout, and they did not back down. Ask God for that same steady courage: to honor the people over you, and still to keep speaking of Jesus when you are told to stop.
Gamaliel’s Advice
When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.
if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them
Acts 5:39
At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Question
Quick question
The council was enraged and wanted the apostles dead. Then one member stood up and changed the room.
Who advised the council to leave the apostles alone?
You’ve experienced
Acts 5
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A verse to carry with you
We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29
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