Essentials

Acts 5

What do Ananias and Sapphira do? Sell land. 

What about their actions was sinful? Attempted to state that it was all the money.  They lied.  Keeping some was not the problem.  Not acknowledging it and being dishonest was the sin.

½ in this community and ½ in the worldly security.

Their hypocrisy was not just an offense to Peter and other church members but to the Holy Spirit.  The early church quickly learned that God’s Spirit could not be deceived. 

 “Once we are more concerned with our reputation than our character, there is no end to the things we will do just to make ourselves look good.” -Warren Wiersbe     INTEGRITY!

V 11- First time the word “church” (ekklēsia) occurs in Acts, which denotes the people of God gathered as a religious community. Congregation!  The church is the people together!

READ vv. 12-16

Luke transitions to what actions by the apostles?  Many signs and wonders.

Where are they spending time?  Solomon’s Portico.  The raised outermost part of Herod’s temple with columns that went all the way around the outer court.

What is the result of the signs and wonders? Vv. 14 – more than ever, believers were added.

How is Peter able to heal? His shadow heals?  Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit in these times FOR kingdom growth.

Vv. 17-26

Jealousy by religious elite of losing influence and power.  Apostles are arrested and imprisoned.

How do the apostles escape prison? Angel

What are the angels instructions? Vs 20 - Back to preaching in the TEMPLE.  “Life” capitalized as “the Way” is also…possible Christians were called ‘the life’ as well.  (Jesus spoke "I am the way, the truth, and the life")

How are the apostles collected? Not by force (due to fear of the crowd).

vv. 27-42

*Not just Peter and John.  ALL The apostles before the Council.

Summarize Gamaliel’s speech: (Pharisee in the council, cautions persecution in hopes movement will die out)

   “Other leaders have come and gone.  Let’s not overreact and have hopes that it will die down.”

Vs 40 – How are the apostles treated?  Beaten and told to stop talking about Jesus.

Vs 41 - What is startling about their reaction?  Rejoiced as being worthy to suffer!

  42- What did the disciples continue doing?  Preaching in temple and houses.