ACTS — LESSON 5

Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Acts 4:32-27 and 5:1-42.

In our last lesson, the disciples and apostles were in Jerusalem. Peter and John had healed the lame man by the power of the Holy Spirit causing a lot of excitement among the people. This is the beginning of persecution against Jesus’ followers. The religious leaders threatened Peter and John and warned them not to be preaching and healing people in the name of the resurrected Jesus. Peter and John went to the place where the disciples were staying and they all prayed for boldness to continue to preach and heal in Jesus’ name in spite of the danger. God answered by shaking the house where they were and filling them with the boldness that they had requested. In this lesson we will find examples of generosity and hypocrisy.

[Acts 4:32-35] (32) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. (33) With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all (34) that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales (35) and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

In these early days following the resurrection, the disciples and apostles worshiped together a lot. The reason was that it was dangerous for them to preaching and teaching in Jesus’s name. The Jewish religious leaders had Jesus crucified in order to stop His movement among the people and they wanted to keep that movement stopped. But Jesus’ followers were so filled with love for Him that they continued without fear. The Lord would protect them. They had a oneness of heart and purpose so that they stuck together and provided for one another. Those who had property and financial means gave to the Apostles so that all could eat and the work would continue.

[Acts 4:36-37] (36) Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), (37) sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

We are introduced to Barnabas here whose name was Joseph but he was called Barnabas,which means, “son of encouragement.” This tells us that Barnabas was a kindly man who was concerned about others. Barnabas was a Jew born of the priest tribe of the Levites. He may have worked as a priest, we don’t know. That could have been why he was in Jerusalem. He owned some property on the Island of Cyprus which he sold and gave the money to the apostles which they used to provide for the needs of their disciples. The Jewish religious leaders where not the only problem that the early disciples had. When a Jew at that time accepted Jesus, they were often disowned by their families. No one would do business with them. They were ostracized in the Jewish community. Later as Christianity moved into the more Greek communities this was not such a problem.

[Acts 5:1-11] (1) Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. (2) With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. (3) Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (4) Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (5) When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (6) Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. (7) About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. (8) Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” (9) Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” (10) At that moment 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. (11) Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The generosity and giving of Barnabas probably prompted Ananias and Sapphira to sell their property and give the money to the Apostles.The fact that they held back some of the money indicates they did not trust God to provide for them and seeking the praise of their fellow disciples was a primary motive. Their lie was in pretending to give all, when they had given only a part. Their death was an act of God, not Peter. It was evidently intended to be an example for all time of God’s displeasure at the sin of covetousness and religious hypocrisy. After Ananias had lied, died and been carried out, his wife, Sapphira, came in. Peter gave her a chance to tell the truth about the money. When she lied too, then she received the same punishment by God as her husband. Verse 11 tells us that the whole church was seized with fear because of this event. If God struck someone down today for greed and hypocrisy in your church, what effect do you think it would have on the rest of the congregation?

[Acts 5:12-16] (12) The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. (13) No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. (14) Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. (15) As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. (16) Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

Signs and wonders are miracles and healing, both physical and spiritual. The believers would meet and what was called Solomon’s colonnade or Solomon’s porch. It was a covered porch around the outside of the temple. It was covered and out of the hot sun. The people would gather there when they came to worship. After the death of Ananias and Sapphira, some people were afraid to get involved in the Christian movement. In spite of that multitudes continued to believe both men and women. Peter’s reputation had spread to the extent that people came from surrounding towns bringing their sick to be healed. They believed that just putting them in Peter’s shadow would heal them.

[Acts 5:17-20] (17) Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. (18) They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. (19) But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. (20) “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.

The family of the High Priest and many of the members of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees who did not believe in a resurrection after death. Other members of the Sanhedrin were Pharisees who did believe in a resurrection of the dead. When the High Priest and others who were with him heard the Apostles preaching to the people, they had the temple guard to put them in jail. They had threatened Peter and John earlier not to preach in the name of Jesus. Now there were many more of them preaching about Jesus and great numbers of people were believing and being healed. These apostles were becoming a much bigger threat to the religious leaders.

[Acts 5:21-28] (21) At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin — the full assembly of the elders of Israel — and sent to the jail for the apostles. (22) But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, (23) “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” (24) On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. (25) Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” (26) At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. (27) The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. (28) “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 guilty of this man’s blood.”

During that night an angel was sent to open the jail doors and let them out. They were told to go back to the temple at daybreak and begin to teach the people again about Jesus. From verse 28 we are told that they were teaching that the Priests and the Sanhedrin had been responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion. They had killed Him. The next morning the High Priest had called for a meeting of the entire Sanhedrin, 71 in number, to decide what to do about these Apostles. The Priests told the disciples that they had been warned not to be teaching in the name of Jesus and yet they were telling everyone that the Priests were guilty of having Jesus killed.

[Acts 5:29-32] (29) Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (30) The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. (31) God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. (32) We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The apostles boldly told these religious leaders that they must obey God rather than man. The religious leaders had killed Jesus but God had raised Him from the dead, taken Him to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God. The apostles went on to say that they were witnesses of all these things. God had sent His Holy Spirit to dwell with all who believed.

[Acts 5:33] (33) When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

The members of the Sanhedrin were so enraged by the apostles bold condemning statement that they decided to kill them, too.

[Acts 5:34-39] (34) 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 little while. (35) Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. (36) Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. (37) After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. (38) Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. (39) But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Gamaliel was a Rabbi and the most prominent and respected teacher of the law in his day. He was either the son or grandson of Hillel who was one of the best loved and most famous teachers of the Jewish law in all times. He loved God and his fellowman. Hillel came from Babylon about 30BC to Jerusalem and he lived and taught there until about 10 AD.. During the time that Hillel’s time in Jerusalem the wise men came from Babylon to King Herod looking for the new born king of the Jews. There were many Jews in Babylon who knew the Old Testament scriptures that prophesied the birth of the Messiah. The learned Gamaliel wisely told the members of the Sanhedrin to be careful how they handled this situation. He reminded them that there had been a man called Theudas who had appeared earlier with a large following claiming to be the Messiah. He had been killed and it all came to an end. There had been another that was killed and his followers scattered and that turned out to be nothing. Gamaliel advised the Sanhedrin to leave Jesus’ followers alone. If His followers are truly led by God then they would not be able to stop them and they would be working against God Himself. If Jesus’ followers were not from God then they too would go away.

[Acts 5:40-42] (40) His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (42) Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

The Sanhedrin accepted Gamaliel’s advice, had the apostles flogged and warned them again not to teach in the name of Jesus. The apostles ignored their threats and went daily to the temple and door to door in Jerusalem teaching the people that Jesus Christ was the Messiah.

LESSONS FROM ACTS 4 & 5:

1. Serving God does not mean that He eliminates problems. The disciples were arrested for obeying God and disobeying the ruling body of the Jews. God expects us to be obedient to Him.
2. Christians today should be willing to share of their abundance with those who are needy.
3. God does not forget us when we are persecuted or suffering. He is always there for us.
4. In our churches today we should have a proper balance between preaching and teaching.
5. The most important lesson is for us to Love God and obey His commandments!

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