Daily Reading – Acts 5
Read Acts 5 on your own
Ananias and Sapphira – At first glance this story is a little puzzling. Honestly, more than puzzling, it is downright disturbing. These two freely sold a piece of property and instead of giving nothing to God’s people, they gave a very large portion. But, they didn’t give it all and acted like they did. And then when they were questioned about it they still either hinted at or outright claimed that they gave it all. Then they both instantly dropped dead! Wow, were I comedian I would think this would be a great way to improve giving in the church! J Imagine if you cheated the offering for a week or two and didn’t pay the amount that you promised, but didn’t tell anyone that you had withheld a portion. Imagine if God revealed to your pastor and the elders that you had deceived us. Then you were struck dead. Wow, this is really something. In all seriousness this is a very good reminder of our need for transparent honesty with each other and God. These two weren’t penalized because they held back funds, the passage is clear on that, they were penalized because they deceived their brothers and sisters.
11”Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”
Healing – The apostles through the power of Jesus were able to change the world. They were able to heal in Jesus’ name. Does God still heal? Does He bring healing through the church? Through the pastor? Through the really Spiritual people? I don’t know the answer to these difficult questions. But, I do know that God’s Spirit is still alive and real in the church and though no one is healed by my shadow.
Arrested and Persecuted – The Apostles were not persecuted because they were Christians they were persecuted because they lived their faith. They wouldn’t stop telling people about the new life that was offered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. “the love of Christ compelled them.” They went where God told them to go and did what God told them to do.
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.”
I will be the first to admit that their style was more than a little invasive and condemning… Wouldn’t last too long in our PC world. To remind people over and over again that they had killed Jesus, but that God brought Him back to life puts people on the defensive… see verse 28.
Gamaliel’s advice – If it is from God nothing you can do will stop it. Sometimes all of us are too quick to condemn or dismiss something we don’t want to hear. David had a similar circumstance In 2 Samuel 16 where Shimei was cursing him and throwing dirt at him! David didn’t do anything because he thought it could be from the Lord. I try hard when I receive criticism to prayerfully discern if it is from the Lord or from someone who is throwing dirt. There are people who are prone to disagree with you and want things there way and will throw dirt if even you try to listen to them. But, sometimes it is the Lord speaking and discerning which is which is important. One of the tools I use to help me is knowing the person, do they have a life-giving relationship with the God of the universe, are they hearing His voice and sharing out of concern or do they seem to be people who are always negative and seem to only listen to their own voice or other “negative” type of people? Though it is hard to know anyone’s heart one has took look at the source.
Joyful amidst persecution – The apostles saw persecution as a wonderful cross they could bear. They saw it as a mark that proved their faithfulness. I don’t know what it would look like in the modern American church, but it certainly is interesting to think about.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
