April 3, 2022
Evening Service

Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5:1  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 

Acts 5:2  And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

Acts 5:3  But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 

Acts 5:4  While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 

Acts 5:5  Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 

Acts 5:6  And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 

Acts 5:7  Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 

Acts 5:8  And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." 

Acts 5:9  Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 

Acts 5:10  Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 

Acts 5:11  So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 

The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was that they were enthusiastic in thinking to be distinguished disciples, when they were not disciples of the truth in their actions. Hypocrites or someone who proclaims one thing and acts differently than their proclamation can be unselfish in one area to attain a worldly advantage in another way. They gave of their wealth as if they gave their all, but held onto a portion as if they did not trust God and his Providence. This is a good example of trying to serve both God and mammon; Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount that you could not serve two masters. The problem here is that the intention was to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the truth of unbelief and distrust that was holding the heart of Ananias. Nevertheless, whatever Satan may propose to us, he was not able to fill the heart of Ananias with this sinfulness had he not been given in to it by making his own choice. The false representation of giving all they had was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of Truth, which the apostles now were an embodiment of the Spirit. The sin of Ananias was not his holding onto part of the price of the land; he could have kept it all, if he so desired. It was his attempt to take an unfair advantage of the apostles with an outright deception; the act was a desire to make a haughty showing while being contained by the greed of wealth. Stating this fact, if we think to put a cheat or fraud upon God, we will in fact put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. Acts of kindness and missions for the betterment of all should incite us to do what is good and right, it is sad when something of this nature is a medium to allow our sinful natures to be revealed. We allow Satan a win in the ways that condemn ourselves and do not glorify God. In addition to this, the punishment of Ananias and Sapphira was actually a great mercy to a great number of other people who may have followed in the way of sin. After seeing or hearing of their demise, it surely caused others to give a good look at their own selves and prayerfully dread any hypocrisy and it should still be the same for us today. Having the knowledge of their death, would prevent the increase of falsehoods being professed or acted upon from others in the community. We should learn here how lies, deception, and unbelief are to the God of Truth. We are not only to refrain from lying, but also in gaining any advantages from anything dealing with things not on the up and up. Talk straight and do not say one thing and believe something contradictory to our words. This was at one time, called talking out both sides of our mouths or double-talk.

Many Signs and Wonders Done

Acts 5:12  And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 

Acts 5:13  Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 

Acts 5:14  And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 

Acts 5:15  so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 

Acts 5:16  Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 

When we separate ourselves from hypocritical people by the sound judgments of God and the church, this should help us to be even more sincere in our faith and walk with the Lord our God. The gospel message of Jesus spoken by the apostles should encourage us to live a righteous life and cling to the Word of God, the Hope in Jesus, and His people. When we delve into things that are representative of the purity and reputation of the church, it will cause others to want to be a recipient of God’s Grace and Mercy. God adds to His church as we do what pleases Him, He will grow the church as He sees fit and this happens when we are obedient to His Word and are reverent in our hearts to Him.  The same power that the apostles used to perform miracles, can also rescue the unbelievers from destruction, from Satan and his tempting and deceitful ways. Christians ought to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus every time the Lord provides the way and He will add believers as His worshippers. Christ works by all His faithful believers and all who come to Him, shall be healed of their sin and will one day be a part of His kingdom in Heaven! God sent Jesus to us so that none should perish and we are the way this message gets to people who need to hear.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

Acts 5:17  Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 

Acts 5:18  and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 

Acts 5:19  But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 

Acts 5:20  "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." 

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

Acts 5:22  But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 

Acts 5:23  saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!" 

Acts 5:24  Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 

Acts 5:25  So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 

There is not a place of containment made by man that can hold any believer of God in that place if He desires to set them free! No place is strong enough, none dark and dingy enough, nor fearful enough that God cannot visit His beloved and release them from it if He so wishes to do! God can heal the sick and diseased, release anyone from bondage or troubles, perform great miracles of change in people and circumstances. God would not do these things for us so we can enjoy the comforts of this life, but so that God is honored with the services of our life once the great wonders have been done. It is not for the ministers of Christ's gospel to rest on their laurels, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching to a distinguished and numerous congregation. Spreading the gospel is to be completed to the lowest in society’s rank or the highest in rank, all these souls are very precious to Jesus. We claim the gospel to all who will hear for all are regarded as special in the eyes of Christ Jesus. Our words we use to speak of Jesus are to be bold as by the resolve given to us from Christ, we stand upon the Rock of Christ and we live by that commitment and will die by it as well. We are to claim all the words of this heavenly and godly life to come as in comparison with which our present earthly lives that do not give the proper respect to living for God. God will give the words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth to say at the proper time and moment. The scriptures even tells us not to ponder about what we will say, but at that given moment, the Holy Spirit will speak through us who are willing. The words of the gospel of Jesus are the words of life, words by which we must be saved. How miserable and unhappy are those who are in contention about the success of the gospel! Those who contend and dispute the Word of God cannot see that the Word and Power of the Lord are against them; and they are unsteady and unprepared for the consequences, still many of these continue unresolved.

Acts 5:26  Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 

Acts 5:27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 

Acts 5:28  saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 

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

Acts 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 

Acts 5:31  Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 

Acts 5:32  And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." 

Acts 5:33  When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

Lots of people do evil things and without a thought of the consequences at the time, but then are unable to bear hearing of it afterwards when they are told of the evil. If we are expecting Jesus to be our Redeemer and heal us of our evil ways, we must also give all of ourselves over to Him to be our God and ruler of our lives. Jesus our Savior did not come to save us in our sin, but to save us from our sins. He died for us while we were yet sinners, but His blood spilled was to be our redeeming quality from the sin that ruled our life. If Jesus Christ had come to earth and exalted to give dominance and superiority to Israel, the chief priests of the day would have welcomed him wholly and without prejudice. However, to be repentant and to ask God for the remission of sins are blessings they neither saw any value in or need of; therefore, they dismissed His doctrine. Whenever a sinner is repentant and honestly and earnestly seeks a relationship and spiritual communion with God, remission is given always; this is complete Truth God offers to repentant sinners. Sinners, who being freed from the power and dominion of sin; those who are turned from it are also turned against it. The Spirit of God working with the Word will wake up our conscience, our conscience will be sorrowful for the sin and this change has an effect in our heart and life. The gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell in us is makes it evident that the Will of God is obedience to Christ. In addition, He will surely destroy any who will not have Jesus to reign over them; our God is a solemn God in all ways. 

Acts 5:34  Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 

Acts 5:35  And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 

Acts 5:36  For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 

Acts 5:37  After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 

Acts 5:38  And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 

Acts 5:39  but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God." 

Acts 5:40  And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 

Acts 5:41  So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 

Acts 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. 

The Lord loves His own, He holds us and keeps us, and here he chose Gamaliel to use the wisdom of the worldly to bring reason to the priests persecuting the apostles. He counseled the elders to exercise caution concerning these men and how they plan to proceed. If there way were a way of man, it would come to nothing, but if the way was the way of God, they could not prevent it and would in fact be fighting with God. History has shown that individuals who are frauds when it comes to matters of the faith are short lived. If we suffer for Christ it is truly a betterment for ourselves, it makes us to be conformed to His control and willingness to serve His interest and to do what pleases our Lord. The apostles rejoiced in their suffering, they said if we suffer ill for doing well, it shows that we were worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Jesus, so they rejoiced in the grace, which enabled them to do it. The apostles never preached about themselves, but Christ only and in His Name only. This was the type of preaching that most offended the priests, they did not want the name of Jesus being preached as God’s son because they were unwilling to believe Him to be the Messiah. However, this is the very thing that should be the consistent lifestyle for gospel ministers is to preach Christ. Christ as the Son of God sent to redeem humanity; Christ crucified as the Holy Lamb of God; Christ glorified by our Father in Heaven; nothing beside this and what has significance to it. In addition, whatever our position or status in this life may be, we should seek to make Jesus known, and to glorify His Name.