Acts Chapter 5.

Acts Chapter 5.

Ananias and Sapphira. 5:  1-1.    The sin unto death. (1.Jn.5:16).

The Apostles grow in power. 5:12-16.  Power - unity - distinctiveness.

A new attack by the Sadducees.  5:17-42.  Jealousy provokes violence. 

The chapter exhibits the Divine character and power of the apostle's ministry.

Theological Assessment.

           

Christology. 

*   The tree. 5:30.  See Vine's Dictionary for 'xulon', which was used of the pole upon which Moses raised the serpent of brass. (Nu.21:8).  It is used for the Cross of Christ in Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29  Gal.3:13; and 1.Pet.2:24.  Such a manner of death exposed one to ignominy and shame, (see Deut.21:22). 

*   The Exaltation.  5:30-31.  The apostles defended their preaching by declaring the sovereign action and appointment of  God in exalting Jesus to be a Prince and Saviour.

           

Holy Spirit.    Verses 1-11 suggest :-

*   The Personality of the Holy Spirit.  They lied to Him, v.3.  Tested Him, v.9.

*   The Holy Spirit's equivalence with God.  To lie to Him, is to lie to God.

                 (Compare verses 3-4).

           

Church Ministry

*   The first internal threat to the unity of the Church.  The previous chapter had                      shown the vigour of this unity.

*   The story forms a marked contrast to the generosity of Barnabas.  4:36-37.

*   It can be compared with the story of Achan in Joshua 7.

*   The lie to the Holy Spirit, was the sin that constituted the capital offence.5:3,4,9.

*   This lie was the culmination of pride that sought distinguished praise.

*   This pride was allied with covetousness, expressed in hypocrisy and deceit.

*   This couple would have credit for sacrificial giving without making sacrifices.

*   The story, emphasizes the need of reality among those who claim to be fully committed disciples.

           

Evangelism and Preaching.

*   The selection of opportunities.

The temple 5:42.  They made use of the existing religious institution and the opportunity it gave them to reach the crowds.  The angel bid them to speak in the Temple "all the words of this life." 5:20.  The word "all" means nothing was to be kept back, even though it offended the Sadducees.  The message of eternal life through the Risen Lord, was an offence to them.

           

The Home.  5:42.   They grasped the importance of the role of the home and the value of house meetings as a means of evangelism.  The home or family remains an important sphere for evangelism.

*   Suffering for the Name.   5:41.

The Name of Jesus, that he is Lord, is to the Church what the Name of Jehovah was to Israel.  The N.E.B. and the R.V. rightly use capital letters.  It is a clear recognition of the Deity of our Saviour.  He who evangelizes, must be ready to suffer shame for the Name.

           

*   Summary of the Message.  5:30-32.  

The 'kerygma' in a nutshell.  The Holy Spirit is God's gift to those who obey Him.  This is the obedience of repentance that brings the remission of sins.  (See 2:38).

           

Worthy of note:

*   The Church.  5:11.   This is the first occasion the word occurs in Acts.  (See a good text or translation).  Mc.Grossan shows lack of scholarship in retaining this word in 2:47.

           

*   An important principle.  5:29.

*   Gamaliel.  B-D. 451.

Note:  In the story of Ananias and Sapphira the responsibility not only lay upon the husband, a man.  Here a woman, the wife of Ananias, also has the same responsibility to God.  Previously women were thought less responsible to God.  Both as a couple were in their individual actions answerable to God for their co-operation in deceit.   (Extra written note).