Acts 5
42 verses
The story of Ananias and Sapphira represents the Spirit-filled community's first internal crisis: their lie about the sale price of their property is fundamentally a lie against the Holy Spirit (not against apostles or a human system), and their sudden deaths function as the community's visceral recognition that the Spirit is not deceived and that the line between the kingdom and the flesh remains absolute. The apostles continue healing and working wonders, and the Sanhedrin's second wave of arrests and flogging cannot suppress their joy—they rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name, inverting worldly values and establishing persecution as a badge of apostolic authenticity. Gamaliel's counsel to the Sanhedrin—if this plan or work is of human origin it will fail, but if it is from God you will not be able to stop these men—introduces a wise voice within Judaism that respects divine providence while doubting the human capacity to discern it. The apostles' refusal to obey the prohibition and their continued preaching in the temple and from house to house establish the pattern that will recur throughout Acts: human opposition cannot silence the Spirit-filled witness.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
0 0Open verse page →
2
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
0 0Open verse page →
3
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
0 0Open verse page →
4
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
0 0Open verse page →
God is faithful in every circumstance.. Today it speaks comfort; a year ago it spoke conviction.. Following God is costl...
5
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
1 1Open verse page →
6
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
0 0Open verse page →
7
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
0 0Open verse page →
8
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
0 0Open verse page →
9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
0 0Open verse page →
10
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
0 0Open verse page →
11
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
0 0Open verse page →
12
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
0 0Open verse page →
13
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
0 0Open verse page →
14
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
0 0Open verse page →
15
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
0 0Open verse page →
16
There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
0 0Open verse page →
17
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
0 0Open verse page →
18
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
0 1Open verse page →
19
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
0 0Open verse page →
20
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
0 1Open verse page →
21
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
0 0Open verse page →
22
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
0 0Open verse page →
23
Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
0 0Open verse page →
24
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
0 0Open verse page →
His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. Today it speaks comfort; a ye...
25
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
1 0Open verse page →
26
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
0 0Open verse page →
27
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
0 0Open verse page →
28
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
0 0Open verse page →
29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
0 0Open verse page →
30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
0 0Open verse page →
31
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
0 0Open verse page →
32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
0 0Open verse page →
33
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
0 0Open verse page →
34
Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
0 0Open verse page →
35
And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
0 0Open verse page →
36
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
0 0Open verse page →
37
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
0 0Open verse page →
38
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
0 0Open verse page →
39
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
0 0Open verse page →
40
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
0 0Open verse page →
41
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
0 0Open verse page →
42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!