At the end of Chapter 4, we see that Barnabas, recognizing the needs in the community, realized he had a way to meet some of those needs; if he sold some valuable land he owned, he could bless people in Jerusalem, so he did. He sold the land and brought the money to the leadership, which was then used to bless the people. It was not done for any other reason than love. Love for God and love for the people.
Remember, chapters and verses were added about the 13th century. What we are about to read was simply a continuation of chapter 4
Acts 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
This passage begins with the word “But” to contrast Barnabas’ generosity with that of the hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira.
You’ll notice throughout the gospels that Jesus was kind and gentle with people in their sin; however, the one thing that made him angry was the sin of hypocrisy.
James put it this way James 4:17 (NASB)
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
They have the right to do with their own money whatever they want to do. It wasn’t a sin to sell the land and hold back some of the money. The sin was being a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another. God judges that very strictly, so the people would walk a path of clarity.
Remember, people were freely giving; Barnabas had just donated money from the sale of his large portion of land. They sought recognition, knowing they were lying but forgetting that they were lying to God—not just men. Just as Satan had filled Peter’s heart to prevent Christ from going to the cross, these individuals would try to fake kindness, Christian love, and compassion to build themselves up in the eyes of others rather than simply trusting the Lord. This doesn’t mean they didn’t make it to heaven; they just lost their reward and the additional blessings they could have received on earth.
The blessing – a raising up of integrity and more signs and wonders
The cost – the challenge to hypocrisy
Acts 5:12-16
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
A reverence for the Lord swept over the crowd, and they were no longer taking their relationship for granted. As a direct result of the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira, a sense of unity and belief grew among the people. More signs and wonders occurred, but everyone kept their distance, not wanting to be next. It doesn’t say people were actually healed by Peter’s shadow, only that there was hope. I’m not saying people weren’t healed that way, but it does say they brought the people out, and all who were brought to them were healed or delivered… CAN WE BELIEVE FOR THIS TOO? I believe God is still in the business of healing and deliverance.
The blessing – lives were being changed daily, the Holy Spirit was moving through people with boldness and power
The cost – their time was no longer their own the people were open to seeing and hearing more
Acts 5:17-21a
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
The Sadducees didn’t believe in healing, angels, deliverance, or the resurrection, so they were getting bent out of shape. All it takes to mess up their theology is for one of these things to happen. All of them were happening! God will not be placed in a box. This was not the angel of the Lord, as in an appearance of Jesus Christ. This was simply an angel from the Lord, but he gave them the instructions to go and preach.
Acts 5: 21b-26
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
How perplexing is that? The entire group of religious leaders was shown up by God. The soldiers had to be especially afraid because if someone escaped, they would have to fulfill their sentence. Think of the idea “PAID IN FULL.” As we move forward, keep in mind the whole Sanhedrin experience, from the miracle to their denial, because they can’t handle the truth. God is about to change what some people believe is truth.
The blessing – angels showing up to literally open prisons to set them free and seeing God move through them so even their enemies began to respect and fear them
The cost – rejection and imprisonment
Acts 5:27-32
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
After healing the lame man, they were instructed not to teach about Jesus anymore. It became far worse than the Sanhedrin could have imagined… all of Jerusalem had heard them and was coming to faith because of their teaching. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have that said about you?
They proclaim that Jesus, whom they killed, is the Messiah, and even worse, they say He is God! They would have known this scripture.
Isaiah 43:11
I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.
The angels proclaimed it at his birth, John the Baptist declared it at his baptism, and Jesus made it clear through his 3 ½ years of ministry (especially John 8:23,24)
The second thing that upset them was in verse 32, when Peter states that, like the prophets of old—Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Elijah, and Daniel—Peter, John, and the rest have been empowered by the Holy Spirit. God has filled them with power that the ruling council now lacks…..except maybe one man on the council….
The blessing – they were given the opportunity to proclaim the truth to the leadership of their nation
The cost – persecution and abuse at the hands of those who should have understood most
Acts 5: 33-39
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
God has a way of always making a way for us…God’s plans and ways are higher than our ways
Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The safest place for us is exactly where the Lord has called us. We may not always understand why we go through what we do, but we must realize that if God is for us, who can be against us? God is always working for our good, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
Acts 5:40-42
and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
They were beaten….the church only grows in strength when persecuted….the rulers couldn’t stop them. The result of their imprisonment, rejection, accusations and even their beating was
– more people coming to Christ
– more miracles taking place
– the Gospel being preached in greater ways
-a boldness among the Christ-followers
-a fear among the enemies of the Christ followers
The cost – they were physically beaten
The blessing – (other than what I just said) God was honored, the leadership was given one last opportunity to repent. The power of God spread