CHAPTER 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.
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 Whiles 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.
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.

At the end of Chapter 4 (vs 36), we saw where a man named Joses Barnabas sold some land and brought the proceeds, giving the money to the church.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira wanted to do something too.
So, they sold a "possession" (we don't know what), and decided to keep part of the money for themselves.
Then, they came and turned the remainder of the money over to the church.
There's nothing wrong with that, as Peter said, it was theirs to do with as they pleased. (see verse 4).
HOWEVER, they claimed to be giving the WHOLE of the amount for which they sold the possession.

Peter KNEW!
HOW he knew, we are not told.
Peter may have known Ananias and Sapphira.
AND, he might have known just what "possession" they sold - and the market price for it.
OR, Peter may have been told by God's Holy Spirit.

Look carefully at Peter's statement in verse 3.
The lie told, was certainly invented by Ananias.
However, it was invented as a result of his yielding to temptation from the devil!!

At this point we should remember that Jesus called Satan "the father of" the lie! ( John 8:44)
Ananias "conceived" the lie in his heart (vs 4 above); but it was Satan who tempted (vs 3 above) him to do so.
The word "filled" in verse 3 is translated from the Greek pleroo (play ro' o), which means to furnish, or influence.

When Christians sin, we cannot do like Eve and blame the devil.
Remember, Adam and Eve played the "blame game" with God and it didn't work!
Adam said it was Eve's fault, Eve said it was the "serpent's" fault.
But the consequences of the sin was upon THEM!!

The devil tempts!
We do NOT have to respond by accepting the temptation!!

In fact, Peter makes a point about this in 1 Peter 5:8-9,
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
James also made a point about this in James 4:7,
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

We DO have the power to RESIST Satan's influences if we TURN TO GOD!

When we sin, the guiltiness and consequences of that sin are upon US!
We cannot glibly say, "the devil made me do it."

Now, I firmly believe that the reason God took such drastic measures upon Ananias and Sapphira was because He wanted
ALL Christians to know we are individually responsible for our sins, and sometimes there are physical consequences which may be suffered immediately.

1 Tim 5:24-25 says,
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

It is important that the church (Christians) understand we are to "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1Thess. 5:22)
It is so important, God followed this first instance with a second!

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.
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.

I must confess, this part has always been enigmatic to me.
In those days, they didn't have telephones, cell phones and facebook.
But their news usually traveled just about as fast as NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX all COMBINED!

Just HOW it was that Sapphira didn't know her husband was dead and buried, I don't know.
I must only say it was because God wanted to exemplify her complicity in the sin.

When Sapphira came to the meeting place, she confirmed the lie, and not the truth.
Therefore, she met the same demise as her husband before her.

Complicity in a lie is just as much a lie.
For instance, suppose someone tells you some "juicy" gossip about someone else.
You didn't ask if the "news" was substantiated in fact or corroborated by witnesses.
But you SHARED that "news" with someone else anyway.
Gossip is a rumor spread without substantiated facts.
Therefore, if you shared that "news" - you participated in a LIE!

Someone might well ask, "So, if I lie, will I die?"
Truth is I don't know!
And, NEITHER do YOU!
It's up to GOD!!
Just remember, the Scripture says, "Ye shall not tempt the Lord thy God..." (Deuteronomy 6:16).

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
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.)

The Greek word from which "fear" is translated here is phobo, and is the root of the English word phobia.
As you probably know, a phobia is an exagerrated fear of something.

The church had an exaggerated fear of not properly exempliying a changed heart in their behavior.
WHAT A WONDERFUL THING THAT WOULD BE IN THE CHURCH TODAY!!

This "fear" produced godly living.
God blessed the godly living, and demonstrated POWER through the apostles (see vs 12 above).
God also added MORE "believers" to the church (see vs 14 above).

TWO things happened to non-believers.
They were AFRAID to "join themselves" to the new church.
AND, they "magnified" the people who were in the church.

WHEN Christians exemplify purity in their lifestyle,
1) God displays great power in and through the church,
2) God adds more believers to the church,
3) Those who do NOT believe are afraid to join the church, and
4) The WHOLE community excitedly talks about "those" people in the church.

Stop and ask yourself this question:
"Is THIS what's happening in MY church?"
And, if it is not, perhaps another question is in order:
"Would people be more excited about my church if I lived a more exemplory life as a Christian?"

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.
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,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

The excitement was so infectuous that people, for miles around, brought the ill and the demon-possessed to be healed.
The people even thought that Peter's "shadow" passing over and affected person might bring healing.
There is no Biblical evidence that ever happened.

However, people were certainly being healed!
The power of God was working "signs and wonders" among His people!
God was drawing everyone's attention to faith in Christ as LORD of ALL!!

And, THAT brought the ire of "the high priest" (of the Jews).
He was so upset about Jesus being called God, that he brought a group of people and they arrested some of the apostles!

THIS is recurring in our world today.
Actually, it has ALWAYS been happening.
Those who DON'T believe in God, or those who believe in some OTHER god, get upset when they see God's people standing up, speaking out, and drawing attention to Jesus Christ!

Recently in our own USA, students have been told they cannot read their Bibles during lunch hour at school;
a teacher was fired for giving his Bible to a student who didn't have one and was questioning about God;
another teacher was censored, and all visible references to Jesus were removed from her classroom.
Indeed, the "high priest" of worldliness has risen and is rising up against Christians today!!

And why should we think it would NOT happen?
It HAS BEEN happening around the world since Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave and ascended into glory!
Jesus Himself warned His disciples this would happen! (See Matthew 10:22-25)

Let us be AWARE of it, and let us CONTINUE ANYWAY! (See Matthew 10:26-28and 1Corinthians 15:58 )

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

PRAISE GOD!
UNTIL Jesus deems it right for me to die, He WILL DELIVER me to preach again!!

My friends, let us not consider what the world may do to us; let us praise Him DAILY "in the gates!"

An angel, sent from Jesus, came to let the apostles out of the prison.
He also gave them a message from the Lord: "GO! STAND and SPEAK in the temple to the people ALL the words of this life!"

Their response?
They went EARLY in the morning to the temple and began to preach!! ((Vs 21 above))

The high priest called the council, and sent guards to bring the prisoners.
But the prisoners were NOT THERE!!
Then, somebody came running in and told the council, "Those guys! They're out there PREACHING AGAIN!"

So, the guards went and CAREFULLY collected the apostles and brought them to the council.
The high priest asked, "Didn't we tell you NOT to preach in "this name?" (the name of JESUS)"
But look what Peter and the other apostles told him!!

"We ought to obey GOD rather than men!"

My friends, I pray that this will never happen in your life.
But if you are faced with a command NOT to speak in Jesus' Name --
DO IT ANYWAY!!

He who commands us NOT to speak is not as great as He Who commands us TO speak!

Not only did these apostles SPEAK, they gave critical TESTIMONY!!

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 Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
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.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

They declared that God brought Jesus in the world, and that the beligerant "council" HANGED Him on a tree!!
They declared that Jesus is the "Messiah" (Saviour) who brought the message of repentance and the offer of forgiveness!
They declared they had seen and witnessed this, and that God's Holy Spirit was ALSO witness to it!
And, they declared that God's Holy Spirit is GIVEN to "them that obey Him" (Jesus)!

Now, look carefully at verse 33.
They (the council) were "cut to the heart."
One would think that would bring them SHAME!
But, instead, it brought tremendous ANGER!!

So, they began to talk among themselves how they could KILL the apostles!

Well. I guess if ya don't like the message, just KILL THE MESSENGER!!

But, again, God intervenes on their behalf and saves His people.
And, God did that with one of the "council's" OWN people!

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 nought.
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.
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.

Gamaliel, "a doctor of the law," was very well known.
He told the council that if what the apostles were doing was AGAINST God, it wouldn't last.
Therefore, there was no need to go to the extreme of murder and risk the uprising of the people.

He also warned them, if what the apostles were doing were OF God, they could not stop it!!
My friends, THAT is precisely why Christianity is so strong today!
It IS "OF 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.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

AGAIN, the council called the apostles close to them, and said, "DON'T preach in 'this name' anymore!"
And, they let the apostles go.

What happened then is what should happen to EVERY Christian who is told to refrain from teaching and preaching Jesus ANYWHERE!!
They went RIGHT BACK to preaching again!!

They "ceased not" to preach Jesus "DAILY"!!

Oh, how I pray that Christians everwhere will follow this example!
Preach, teach, testify of Jesus EVERYWHERE EVERY DAY!!