Acts 5:1-16
In the first four chapters of Acts, we have seen Jesus' Spectacular Departure through His Ascension into heaven. Jesus tells the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and wait. No easy task for fearful Galileans. However, we see the 120 disciples waiting together in homothumadon. Homothumadon is that one of a kind Greek word that occurs in Acts eleven times. Often translated "in one accord," it means everyone is on fire for God as one body in unison. Peoples lives harmonize together. Prior to the arrival of the Holy Spirit, we see this special oneness that can only be explained by Jesus' prayer for them and us. John 17:20-23. "I have given them the glory that you gave Me that they may be one as We are one." We see that prayer answered in Acts 1.
Then, we see the spectacular arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The disciples are able to speak in more than 15 languages that they did not know. Then, they boldly declare the way of salvation. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." Acts 2:38. This growing group of disciples devote themselves to the apostles teaching, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All of them were together and had everything in common. They had true fellowship, koinonia.
God is adding to their number every day. There are more than 3000 believers now. We also see the miraculous healing of the crippled man at the Beautiful gate. As a result, Peter again boldly tells people the way of salvation. This time, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees come up and seize Peter and John. As are result of the healing, Peter's testimony, and the arrest of Peter and John, the body of believers grows from 3000 to 5000. After being brought before the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law, Peter and John are commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter answers, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen or heard." Acts 4:20
Because the authorities cannot decide how to punish Peter and John, they are released "because all the people were praising God for what had happened." Upon their release, Peter and John report all that had been said to them. The entire body of believers joined together and raised their voices in prayer to God. They prayed that God would see the threats against them, that they would speak God's word with great boldness, that God would continue the testimony of healing, and that He would perform miraculous signs and wonders. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Another physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit, just like Acts 2.
Following this time of prayer, the believers continue in exceedingly abundant unity, exceedingly abundant sharing, and exceedingly abundant witness.
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
That brings us through the first four chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. What amazing works of God have occurred! When we read those chapters, or we hear someone teaching about them, we are filled with awe and wonder. We say, "Do it again Lord, do it again!" We pray that his Holy Spirit would move, we ask for boldness like Peter. It stirs us up. We're excited.
Suddenly, as if from nowhere, here comes Chapter 5. It blindsides us. I'm not expecting anything bad to happen. I'm expecting the answer to the Believer's Prayer. More miracles, more people repenting and being saved. Instead, we get the first recorded sin of the new church. The chapter actually begins mid-sentence. "But ..." That's a small word, but. With that one word, the Big Show begins.
Here enter Ananias and Sapphira. Husband and wife. The stars of the show. Our back story begins with the last two verses of chapter 4.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
How did Joseph get the name Barnabas? We don't really know, but maybe it came from this time when he sold a field he owned to meet the believers' needs. Surely, it brought some notoriety to Joseph. Because of his actions, he even got a new name. Now he is Barnabas. The Son of Encouragement. What a blessing.
Now, Act I
But a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 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.--Acts 5:1-2
Here they are, Ananias and Sapphira. They've concocted a little scheme. We don't really know what they were thinking. Maybe they saw the recognition that people get for sacrificial giving. And they saw an opportunity to get recognition, too. Or, perhaps they were moved by emotion and not the Spirit and they told everyone that they were going to give the gift of a field, but then instead decided they couldn't really afford it. Even still, they could have been moved by the Spirit to give the field, but then hardened their hearts and set out to keep some of the proceeds of the sale.
Regardless, Ananias and Sapphira are willing to lie and be recognized as sacrificial givers. They are going to put on a little act. In Greek, the word for actor is hupocrites. It is the same word as that we get the English word hypocrite from. A hypocrite is one who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion or a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. A hypocrisy is the pretense of being something you are not.
They are probably believers. They may have belonged to the 120 disciples. They may have even seen Jesus after the Resurrection. And yet, we see Ananias set out with a smile on his face and a bag of coins in his hand, and deception in his heart. What is he thinking? I can't wait to see the look on Peter's face. This is going to be great. I wonder if I'm going to get a new name like Barnabas. What name would I like to have ... The Lord shows Favor, Son of Generosity. Well, whatever it is, it's going to be great. And all the other believers are going to be impressed, too. And no one will ever know about the money we kept for ourselves.
Ananias steps into the room where the apostles are and sets the money down. We have no record of the proclamation that Ananias makes, but he gives the money and makes it clear that he has given all the money from the sale of the field.
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? 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 to men but to God."--Acts 5:3-4
Rather than a blessing, Ananias is confronted. Peter knows. Peter is given a word of knowledge by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8). Peter asks 4 questions.
1. How is it that Satan has so filled your heart ...
2. Didn't it belong to you before it was sold ...
3. After the sale, wasn't the money yours ...
4. What made you think of doing such a thing ...
From this, we can take away a couple of lessons. The deception began with Satan's lies. I Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Also, in Genesis 4:6 when God addresses Cain, He warns, "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you." In some way, Ananias has opened his heart to Satan’s lies.
Peter also makes it clear through the second and third questions, it's not about the money. The field clearly belonged to Ananias. After he decided to sell the field, the money belonged to Ananias. The decision of what to do with the field was Ananias' decision. The believers were living in koinonia. They had everything in common. They were not living in communism. Ananias was under no compulsion to give the field or 100% of its proceeds to the apostles. Ananias is not confronted that keeping his own money is wrong. He kept back some of the money, but the sin is much more than keeping some money. The Greek word translated "to keep back" literally means to steal or misappropriate funds. He is confronted because he lied to the Holy Spirit and stole from Him.
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.--Acts 5:5-6
Ananias has committed a sin that leads unto death. (I John 5:16). Peter calls no curse on Ananias. Peter may even have been surprised at Ananias' death. Peter was asking questions. I imagine that Peter was expecting to get an answer. Righteous judgment falls on Ananias, and he cannot stand. He is struck down instantly.
This all seems so harsh and sudden. Seeing such a sudden outpouring of God's wrath struck fear into the hearts of everyone who heard what had happened. It strikes fear into my heart. I know that if God were to judge me for my sin, I could not stand either.
Because every believer has been saved by grace, we are tempted to ask, “Shouldn't Ananias have gotten a chance to repent?” We all were “dead in our transgressions,” but we were allowed the chance to repent and be saved. In Ananias’ case, there is no separation between his sin and the judgment. It is immediate.
Based on the questions that Peter asks, Ananias conceived this sin in his heart. He allowed Satan to fill his heart with lies. Ananias then lied to the Holy Spirit. He lied to God not to men. In the same way, Paul talks to the drunken revelers at the Lord’s Supper in Corinth.
For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.--I Corinthians 11:29-30
The sin of hypocrisy always received the harshest responses from Jesus during his ministry. The “Woes” of Matthew 23 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites … you are like whitewashed tombs. Luke 18 and The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Whoever exalts himself will be humbled.
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:1-5
We must fear God. Honor him and obey his commands. To obey is better than sacrifice. God does not need our money. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He desires a fellowship, a relationship where he is our Lord. Like John the Baptist said, “He must become greater, I must become less.” It is our choice. He has made a way for us. We need only to accept the gift.
Act II of The Big Show features Sapphira.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes," she said, "that is the price."--Acts 5:7-8
Ananias and Sapphira had an agreement about this deception. Both of them were “in on it.” They decided that this was what they wanted to do. God designed marriage to put husband and wife together to help one another. At a physical level, a healthy marriage relationship prevents sexual sin. On a spiritual level, a healthy marriage includes God and he becomes the focus for the couple. The husband and wife can encourage one another in love and good deeds.
In this case, Ananias and Sapphira encouraged each other to carry out evil desires. They were in agreement, but not in a righteous way. This event is a kind of inverse of Adam and Eve. Here Ananias carries out the act. Where Eve at the fruit, Ananias laid the money at the apostles’ feet. And Sapphira partakes of the lie when she is confronted by Peter. And where Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, Ananias and Sapphira face judgment in death.
Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
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. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.--Acts 5:9-11
Again, believers and unbelievers are struck not by fear, but great fear. Megaphobos. Who is the God that can strike down those who deceive him? The Jews are no doubt reminded of God’s judgment against those who rebelled during the forty years in the desert. Those who worshipped the golden calf … Those who gathered sticks on the Sabbath … The offering of strange fire … and the mutiny of Korah. All these were met by swift judgment.
A display of God’s power draws to mind the line from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When talking about the Great Lion, Aslan, Lucy says, “He’s not a tame lion.” The Lion of Judah is not tame either. He is not a paper tiger. He has power to spin worlds into orbit. He can create stars. He can overcome death. We would do well to be in awe of him.
As suddenly as Acts 5:1-11 appeared, it is gone. Upon the burial of Sapphira, this story is over and it is not mentioned again. Verse 12 picks up right where we left off at the end of chapter 4.
The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 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. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.--Acts 5:12-16
Amazing. Rather than being turned away, more and more are being added to their number. More healing miracles are occurring. Even Peter’s shadow is a point of contact where the people’s faith can tap God’s healing power. Now people from the surrounding towns are coming and bringing the sick and demon-possessed. All of them were healed. All. Amazing.
Luke must have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to include the tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira when he was writing the book of Acts. Otherwise, it just seems out of place. There are reasons why it is included in the Word of God. Partly, it serves as a warning to us. Also, it reveals how a cancer can grow in the church. Remember Jesus’ warning, “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy.” By ridding the body of this hypocrisy immediately, the believers are free to trust in the Holy Spirit and to trust one another. Preventing hypocrisy was very critical to the growth of the early church, but hypocrisy is just as damaging today. More than one unbeliever has used hypocrisy as an argument to avoid the church and ultimately Christ. What an unfortunate testimony.
Satan and the world are clamoring for a chance to get at our eternal souls. When I told Carl I would like to do a message on Acts 5:1-11, I thought I would spend a lot of time talking about all the ways that the world and Satan try to deceive us. Maybe one day, I will get the chance to give that message. But we know that Satan and the world are after us.
Sin is crouching at our door. Our Great God has taken everything away from the Accuser. Satan has no power left except his lies. We must not open up our hearts to be filled with lies as Ananias did. We must make the effort that Peter talked about in I Peter 5:8-9.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
We must be self-controlled and alert. Resist Satan and stand firm in the faith.
How can we stand firm in the faith?
Standing firm in the faith, I think of Ephesians 6:16 where Paul is telling us how to put on the full armor of God.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
The shield that Paul uses in this verse is not a small buckler worn on the arm. It is not some cute little round wooden shield with a pattern on it. It is a shield large enough for a man to stand behind it. The Greek word for this type of shield is thureos. This word is taken from the word thura which means door. Typically, this shield was covered with leather and then it could be soaked in water before combat. That way, it could extinguish flame-tipped arrows. So, Paul is telling us to pick up our water soaked door shaped shield to fend off the flaming arrows of the evil one. I’m feeling safer already.
So you say, great word picture. Now give me some idea of where I get one of those.
Going back to Romans 10. We have the promise in verse 17. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. How can we build our faith? One way is by hearing the word.
At this point everyone was asked to bow their heads and close their eyes. We then listened to the following promises and blessings from the Bible, and were asked to meditate on them and internalize them. Here are the Scriptures we read:
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. I John 2:17
Now this is eternal life: that we may know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8
Christ died for our sins … He was buried … He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures … He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred … I Corinthians 15:3-6
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. John 1:12
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession–to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter 5:10
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. I Thessalonians 5:23-24
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Then, we see the spectacular arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The disciples are able to speak in more than 15 languages that they did not know. Then, they boldly declare the way of salvation. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." Acts 2:38. This growing group of disciples devote themselves to the apostles teaching, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All of them were together and had everything in common. They had true fellowship, koinonia.
God is adding to their number every day. There are more than 3000 believers now. We also see the miraculous healing of the crippled man at the Beautiful gate. As a result, Peter again boldly tells people the way of salvation. This time, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees come up and seize Peter and John. As are result of the healing, Peter's testimony, and the arrest of Peter and John, the body of believers grows from 3000 to 5000. After being brought before the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law, Peter and John are commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Peter answers, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen or heard." Acts 4:20
Because the authorities cannot decide how to punish Peter and John, they are released "because all the people were praising God for what had happened." Upon their release, Peter and John report all that had been said to them. The entire body of believers joined together and raised their voices in prayer to God. They prayed that God would see the threats against them, that they would speak God's word with great boldness, that God would continue the testimony of healing, and that He would perform miraculous signs and wonders. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Another physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit, just like Acts 2.
Following this time of prayer, the believers continue in exceedingly abundant unity, exceedingly abundant sharing, and exceedingly abundant witness.
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
That brings us through the first four chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. What amazing works of God have occurred! When we read those chapters, or we hear someone teaching about them, we are filled with awe and wonder. We say, "Do it again Lord, do it again!" We pray that his Holy Spirit would move, we ask for boldness like Peter. It stirs us up. We're excited.
Suddenly, as if from nowhere, here comes Chapter 5. It blindsides us. I'm not expecting anything bad to happen. I'm expecting the answer to the Believer's Prayer. More miracles, more people repenting and being saved. Instead, we get the first recorded sin of the new church. The chapter actually begins mid-sentence. "But ..." That's a small word, but. With that one word, the Big Show begins.
Here enter Ananias and Sapphira. Husband and wife. The stars of the show. Our back story begins with the last two verses of chapter 4.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
How did Joseph get the name Barnabas? We don't really know, but maybe it came from this time when he sold a field he owned to meet the believers' needs. Surely, it brought some notoriety to Joseph. Because of his actions, he even got a new name. Now he is Barnabas. The Son of Encouragement. What a blessing.
Now, Act I
But a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 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.--Acts 5:1-2
Here they are, Ananias and Sapphira. They've concocted a little scheme. We don't really know what they were thinking. Maybe they saw the recognition that people get for sacrificial giving. And they saw an opportunity to get recognition, too. Or, perhaps they were moved by emotion and not the Spirit and they told everyone that they were going to give the gift of a field, but then instead decided they couldn't really afford it. Even still, they could have been moved by the Spirit to give the field, but then hardened their hearts and set out to keep some of the proceeds of the sale.
Regardless, Ananias and Sapphira are willing to lie and be recognized as sacrificial givers. They are going to put on a little act. In Greek, the word for actor is hupocrites. It is the same word as that we get the English word hypocrite from. A hypocrite is one who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion or a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. A hypocrisy is the pretense of being something you are not.
They are probably believers. They may have belonged to the 120 disciples. They may have even seen Jesus after the Resurrection. And yet, we see Ananias set out with a smile on his face and a bag of coins in his hand, and deception in his heart. What is he thinking? I can't wait to see the look on Peter's face. This is going to be great. I wonder if I'm going to get a new name like Barnabas. What name would I like to have ... The Lord shows Favor, Son of Generosity. Well, whatever it is, it's going to be great. And all the other believers are going to be impressed, too. And no one will ever know about the money we kept for ourselves.
Ananias steps into the room where the apostles are and sets the money down. We have no record of the proclamation that Ananias makes, but he gives the money and makes it clear that he has given all the money from the sale of the field.
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? 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 to men but to God."--Acts 5:3-4
Rather than a blessing, Ananias is confronted. Peter knows. Peter is given a word of knowledge by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8). Peter asks 4 questions.
1. How is it that Satan has so filled your heart ...
2. Didn't it belong to you before it was sold ...
3. After the sale, wasn't the money yours ...
4. What made you think of doing such a thing ...
From this, we can take away a couple of lessons. The deception began with Satan's lies. I Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Also, in Genesis 4:6 when God addresses Cain, He warns, "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you." In some way, Ananias has opened his heart to Satan’s lies.
Peter also makes it clear through the second and third questions, it's not about the money. The field clearly belonged to Ananias. After he decided to sell the field, the money belonged to Ananias. The decision of what to do with the field was Ananias' decision. The believers were living in koinonia. They had everything in common. They were not living in communism. Ananias was under no compulsion to give the field or 100% of its proceeds to the apostles. Ananias is not confronted that keeping his own money is wrong. He kept back some of the money, but the sin is much more than keeping some money. The Greek word translated "to keep back" literally means to steal or misappropriate funds. He is confronted because he lied to the Holy Spirit and stole from Him.
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.--Acts 5:5-6
Ananias has committed a sin that leads unto death. (I John 5:16). Peter calls no curse on Ananias. Peter may even have been surprised at Ananias' death. Peter was asking questions. I imagine that Peter was expecting to get an answer. Righteous judgment falls on Ananias, and he cannot stand. He is struck down instantly.
This all seems so harsh and sudden. Seeing such a sudden outpouring of God's wrath struck fear into the hearts of everyone who heard what had happened. It strikes fear into my heart. I know that if God were to judge me for my sin, I could not stand either.
Because every believer has been saved by grace, we are tempted to ask, “Shouldn't Ananias have gotten a chance to repent?” We all were “dead in our transgressions,” but we were allowed the chance to repent and be saved. In Ananias’ case, there is no separation between his sin and the judgment. It is immediate.
Based on the questions that Peter asks, Ananias conceived this sin in his heart. He allowed Satan to fill his heart with lies. Ananias then lied to the Holy Spirit. He lied to God not to men. In the same way, Paul talks to the drunken revelers at the Lord’s Supper in Corinth.
For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.--I Corinthians 11:29-30
The sin of hypocrisy always received the harshest responses from Jesus during his ministry. The “Woes” of Matthew 23 - Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites … you are like whitewashed tombs. Luke 18 and The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Whoever exalts himself will be humbled.
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:1-5
We must fear God. Honor him and obey his commands. To obey is better than sacrifice. God does not need our money. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He desires a fellowship, a relationship where he is our Lord. Like John the Baptist said, “He must become greater, I must become less.” It is our choice. He has made a way for us. We need only to accept the gift.
Act II of The Big Show features Sapphira.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes," she said, "that is the price."--Acts 5:7-8
Ananias and Sapphira had an agreement about this deception. Both of them were “in on it.” They decided that this was what they wanted to do. God designed marriage to put husband and wife together to help one another. At a physical level, a healthy marriage relationship prevents sexual sin. On a spiritual level, a healthy marriage includes God and he becomes the focus for the couple. The husband and wife can encourage one another in love and good deeds.
In this case, Ananias and Sapphira encouraged each other to carry out evil desires. They were in agreement, but not in a righteous way. This event is a kind of inverse of Adam and Eve. Here Ananias carries out the act. Where Eve at the fruit, Ananias laid the money at the apostles’ feet. And Sapphira partakes of the lie when she is confronted by Peter. And where Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, Ananias and Sapphira face judgment in death.
Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
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. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.--Acts 5:9-11
Again, believers and unbelievers are struck not by fear, but great fear. Megaphobos. Who is the God that can strike down those who deceive him? The Jews are no doubt reminded of God’s judgment against those who rebelled during the forty years in the desert. Those who worshipped the golden calf … Those who gathered sticks on the Sabbath … The offering of strange fire … and the mutiny of Korah. All these were met by swift judgment.
A display of God’s power draws to mind the line from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When talking about the Great Lion, Aslan, Lucy says, “He’s not a tame lion.” The Lion of Judah is not tame either. He is not a paper tiger. He has power to spin worlds into orbit. He can create stars. He can overcome death. We would do well to be in awe of him.
As suddenly as Acts 5:1-11 appeared, it is gone. Upon the burial of Sapphira, this story is over and it is not mentioned again. Verse 12 picks up right where we left off at the end of chapter 4.
The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 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. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.--Acts 5:12-16
Amazing. Rather than being turned away, more and more are being added to their number. More healing miracles are occurring. Even Peter’s shadow is a point of contact where the people’s faith can tap God’s healing power. Now people from the surrounding towns are coming and bringing the sick and demon-possessed. All of them were healed. All. Amazing.
Luke must have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to include the tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira when he was writing the book of Acts. Otherwise, it just seems out of place. There are reasons why it is included in the Word of God. Partly, it serves as a warning to us. Also, it reveals how a cancer can grow in the church. Remember Jesus’ warning, “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy.” By ridding the body of this hypocrisy immediately, the believers are free to trust in the Holy Spirit and to trust one another. Preventing hypocrisy was very critical to the growth of the early church, but hypocrisy is just as damaging today. More than one unbeliever has used hypocrisy as an argument to avoid the church and ultimately Christ. What an unfortunate testimony.
Satan and the world are clamoring for a chance to get at our eternal souls. When I told Carl I would like to do a message on Acts 5:1-11, I thought I would spend a lot of time talking about all the ways that the world and Satan try to deceive us. Maybe one day, I will get the chance to give that message. But we know that Satan and the world are after us.
Sin is crouching at our door. Our Great God has taken everything away from the Accuser. Satan has no power left except his lies. We must not open up our hearts to be filled with lies as Ananias did. We must make the effort that Peter talked about in I Peter 5:8-9.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
We must be self-controlled and alert. Resist Satan and stand firm in the faith.
How can we stand firm in the faith?
Standing firm in the faith, I think of Ephesians 6:16 where Paul is telling us how to put on the full armor of God.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
The shield that Paul uses in this verse is not a small buckler worn on the arm. It is not some cute little round wooden shield with a pattern on it. It is a shield large enough for a man to stand behind it. The Greek word for this type of shield is thureos. This word is taken from the word thura which means door. Typically, this shield was covered with leather and then it could be soaked in water before combat. That way, it could extinguish flame-tipped arrows. So, Paul is telling us to pick up our water soaked door shaped shield to fend off the flaming arrows of the evil one. I’m feeling safer already.
So you say, great word picture. Now give me some idea of where I get one of those.
Going back to Romans 10. We have the promise in verse 17. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. How can we build our faith? One way is by hearing the word.
At this point everyone was asked to bow their heads and close their eyes. We then listened to the following promises and blessings from the Bible, and were asked to meditate on them and internalize them. Here are the Scriptures we read:
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. I John 2:17
Now this is eternal life: that we may know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8
Christ died for our sins … He was buried … He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures … He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred … I Corinthians 15:3-6
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. John 1:12
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession–to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I Peter 5:10
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. I Thessalonians 5:23-24
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
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