The Acts of The Apostles

Acts was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Five
(5:1-42)

Vs. 1-11

Ananias and Sapphira are spiritual pretenders. Their big sin worthy of death in this transitional period, was not the keeping part of what they sold, for it was their own, their sin was in pretending they "gave their all like the others (Acts 4:37) had.

Ananias means "Jehovah is gracious." Sapphira means "beautiful."

The crime was premeditated (vs. 2). The passage is not a passage on either eternal security or eternal insecurity, The people dropped dead for lying. Stiff Punishment. I wonder how many christians would be left today if they died upon "lying to the Holy Ghost?"

There are some truths to be learned hereabout offerings:

[1]. He could give what he wanted to.

[2]. It could have been nothing.

[3]. The possession and money were both his.

[4]. He wasn't asked or compelled to give.

[5]. No amount was required.

[6]. Anything would have been accepted.

Vs. 3

The Holy Ghost is a person; he was lied to, and Satan had filled the heart of a believer and his wife to make pretend they were committed to the cause and they weren't.

Vs. 4

The-Holy Ghost is called God.. The sin is also called tempting the Spirit of the Lord (vs. 9).

Vs. 9

"Death's door" Great fear (vs. 5,11) fell upon the believers. God had shown that this was serious business and the dead wood would be weeded out.

Vs. 12-16

"By the hands of the apostles" (Acts 2:43). "With one accord" (Acts 1.14; 2:1,46; Acts 4:24)

Vs. 13

There were some people afraid to join the group for they saw the persecution just beginning and the fact that it was difficult to join a church where the members died for lying!

The signs continue. The healings continue. The ministry of the apostles spreads and hospital beds are being pushed down the streets to the apostle from every direction. And they all get healed. (Acts 9:34, 40; Acts 3:6; Mk. 16:18; Acts 14:10) (Compare with Phil. 2:27; 2 Tim. 4:20)

Vs. 17-29

The Sadducees had had enough. The apostles are thrown in the slammer. In the middle of the night the angel of the Lord releases the apostles from prison and directs them to pour salt in the wounds of religious liberal by going right back into the temple and preaching the next day.

Vs. 21

The officials don't even realize they are gone. The soldiers don't realize they are gone. The locks are locked on the jail doors and all seems to be in order.

Vs. 24,25

The leaders were concerned that the story of the escape would be spread, but to add insult to injury they were preaching publicly in the temple that very next day, not attempting to hide from anyone.

Vs. 26

The captain of the guard, as though nothing had happened, goes down to the temple and asks the disciples if they wouldn't want to discuss this with his superiors.

Vs. 27,28

The high priest completely ignores the escape as though it never took place. He then asks them if they didn't understand stand his requests, starting that the apostles had evangelized, in that short time, the whole city with their doctrine. In (vs. 28) an ironic statement is made The high priest says, "One way or another you are going to try to convince us that we are guilty in murdering this man, aren't you?" (Matt. 27:25) says, "His blood be on us and our children," and it is.

Vs. 29-32

Their boldness comes out again. They refuse to shut up. (Jn. 12:43; 1 Sam. 15:24; Matt. 15:9; Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4; Rom. 2:29). Peter isn't very tactful in (vs. 30), "Ye slew..."Ye hanged."

Vs. 31

Prince - King - political - (Dan. 9:26)
Saviour - Messiah - spiritual - (Isa. 43:3)

The message is still directed at Israel!

Vs. 32

"We are Jesus witnesses" (Acts 1:8) God hath given them the Holy Ghost and forgiveness of sins to them that obey him. (Acts 2:38)

Vs. 33-42

The word is a cutting instrument (Heb. 4:12). Gamaliel thinks he has the answer. He's a Pharisee and a lawyer. He addresses Israel. Gamaliel gives a short history of some recent frauds. His advice is if this organization or movement is of God, we won't stop it, if it isn't, it will come to naught. This isn't such good advice for it isn't entirely true, e.g., Nazi Germany, Communist Russia, Mohammedism, Roman Catholicism. Although Gamaliel is right in the long run much damage can be done sitting around watching what happens next.

The leaders are between a rock and a hard place. Their authority is eroding away moment by moment and their position are threatened, but they fear stoning if they take too drastic a measure against the apostles (vs. 26). So the leaders threaten them, beat them Up a little bit and hope for the best. The apostles leave rejoicing and praising God. The priest and Sadducees are pulling their hair out trying to figure them out. (2 Cor. 1:7; 11:20; Phil 1:29)

Vs. 41,42

The threats don't seem to concern the apostles too much for they were daily in the temple and preached and teached Jesus in every house (4:28) and filled Jerusalem with their doctrine. They have successfully evangelized all of Jerusalem. Jerusalem waits as the final offer to accept the Messiah approaches.

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