A STUDY GUIDE ACTS 5:1-16
1. A Study Guide
a) A study guide of Acts of the Apostles. It is intended to be expository — to explain and bring out the meaning of the original text. You may use this for your personal bible study or even group bible study.
2. Acts 5:1-16
a) The verses describe the lie told by Ananias and Sapphira, and the miracles done through the apostles’ hands.
#1) Acts 5:1-2
5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
i) Kept back part. Here is another example of the benevolence being practised by the church in Jerusalem. In the previous example, Barnabas gave the apostles the whole proceeds from the sale of his land (Acts 4:36-37). Unlike Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira donated a portion from their sale, and kept some for themselves. Had they been open and honest about this, they'd have done no wrong. They weren't obliged to donate the whole proceeds if they didn't wish to. Peter makes that clear as we read on.
#2) Acts 5:3-6
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
i) To lie to the Holy Spirit. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not keeping money for themselves. The sin was making out they hadn't. They hoped to appear more generous and self-sacrificing than they really were. Their pretence was a lie to the apostles and to the congregation —or so they thought. But Peter calls it a lie to the Holy Spirit of God. We might think we can fool people. But we can't fool God. "All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).
ii) Fell down and died. We don't know whether Peter intended that Ananias and Sapphira should die, or whether God independently caused the deaths —there's no value in speculating on this morbid subject. As we read on, Peter did expect Sapphira to be killed like her husband. But that doesn't necessarily mean that he was her executioner.
#3) Acts 5:7-10
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
i) Sapphira’s ignorance of events. It seems a little strange that Sapphira wasn't warned of her husband’s demise. Perhaps Peter had instructed everyone to keep the secret until Sapphira went through the same test as her husband without any advantage over him.
ii) No,funerals. It was customary to bury the dead without delay (Acts 8:2, Acts 9:36-39). However in "the burial custom of the Jews" care was given to laying out the body, embalming it, and wrapping it in clean linen (John 19:38-42).. Also there would usually be a mournful procession to the burial grounds outside the city. The niceties of burial custom seem to have been cut to a minimum in the case of Ananias and Sapphira.
#4) Acts 5:11-14
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,
i) Hands of the apostles. The phrase "by the hands of the apostles" may not be just a manner of speaking. Later in Acts we learn that "by the laying on of the apostles’s hands the Holy Spirit was given" (Acts 8:14-19). Everyone baptized in the name of Christ received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39), but not such that they received miraculous powers. To receive the power to work miracles by the Spirit, it was necessary to receive the laying on of hands by an apostle. The apostles in Jerusalem were likely, by their hands, already passing on to others the ability to work signs and wonders.
ii) Solomon’s Porch. One of the grand courtyards in the temple was the main gathering place for the church.
iii) The others. Usually the church meetings would include people interested in the gospel but not yet added to the church. These are probably the "others" who didn't at this time dare to visit the meetings. They would have been frightened not only by hearing of the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, but also being aware of the Sanhedrin’s growing opposition to the church. However this soon blew over. The church maintained flavor with the people, and new believers were added.
#5) Acts 5:15-16
15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
i) Crowds in the streets. The news of miracles performed by the apostles, especially Peter, spread through Jerusalem and the surrounding towns of Judea. Crowds of people brought their afflicted into the streets to be healed. This of course made the populace happy but not the Sanhedrin.
ii) Unclean spirits. Luke does not say that some of the sick were thought to be suffering from unclean spirits. He says they were. Not only is he inspired by the Holy Spirit in that statement, but he speaks as a physician (Colossians 4:14). How Luke knew the difference between sickness from some physical cause and suffering from evil spirits, we cannot say. This skill would have to be rediscovered through research. Nor therefore can we say how much illness today might be caused by demonic spirits. These foul spirits that infected human beings were sentient as demonstrated by cases where they spoke through their victims (Luke 8:27-30, Acts 19:14-16).
iii) Peter’s shadow. The power of God imparted to Peter was very convincing because even "at the least his shadow" could impart healing (Acts 5:15).
iv) They were all cured. It would not have been convincing, however, if only a portion of the sick brought for healing were cured. "They were all cured" (Acts 5:16).
a) A study guide of Acts of the Apostles. It is intended to be expository — to explain and bring out the meaning of the original text. You may use this for your personal bible study or even group bible study.
2. Acts 5:1-16
a) The verses describe the lie told by Ananias and Sapphira, and the miracles done through the apostles’ hands.
#1) Acts 5:1-2
5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
i) Kept back part. Here is another example of the benevolence being practised by the church in Jerusalem. In the previous example, Barnabas gave the apostles the whole proceeds from the sale of his land (Acts 4:36-37). Unlike Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira donated a portion from their sale, and kept some for themselves. Had they been open and honest about this, they'd have done no wrong. They weren't obliged to donate the whole proceeds if they didn't wish to. Peter makes that clear as we read on.
#2) Acts 5:3-63 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
i) To lie to the Holy Spirit. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not keeping money for themselves. The sin was making out they hadn't. They hoped to appear more generous and self-sacrificing than they really were. Their pretence was a lie to the apostles and to the congregation —or so they thought. But Peter calls it a lie to the Holy Spirit of God. We might think we can fool people. But we can't fool God. "All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).
ii) Fell down and died. We don't know whether Peter intended that Ananias and Sapphira should die, or whether God independently caused the deaths —there's no value in speculating on this morbid subject. As we read on, Peter did expect Sapphira to be killed like her husband. But that doesn't necessarily mean that he was her executioner.
#3) Acts 5:7-107 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
i) Sapphira’s ignorance of events. It seems a little strange that Sapphira wasn't warned of her husband’s demise. Perhaps Peter had instructed everyone to keep the secret until Sapphira went through the same test as her husband without any advantage over him.
ii) No,funerals. It was customary to bury the dead without delay (Acts 8:2, Acts 9:36-39). However in "the burial custom of the Jews" care was given to laying out the body, embalming it, and wrapping it in clean linen (John 19:38-42).. Also there would usually be a mournful procession to the burial grounds outside the city. The niceties of burial custom seem to have been cut to a minimum in the case of Ananias and Sapphira.
#4) Acts 5:11-14
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,
i) Hands of the apostles. The phrase "by the hands of the apostles" may not be just a manner of speaking. Later in Acts we learn that "by the laying on of the apostles’s hands the Holy Spirit was given" (Acts 8:14-19). Everyone baptized in the name of Christ received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39), but not such that they received miraculous powers. To receive the power to work miracles by the Spirit, it was necessary to receive the laying on of hands by an apostle. The apostles in Jerusalem were likely, by their hands, already passing on to others the ability to work signs and wonders.
ii) Solomon’s Porch. One of the grand courtyards in the temple was the main gathering place for the church.
iii) The others. Usually the church meetings would include people interested in the gospel but not yet added to the church. These are probably the "others" who didn't at this time dare to visit the meetings. They would have been frightened not only by hearing of the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, but also being aware of the Sanhedrin’s growing opposition to the church. However this soon blew over. The church maintained flavor with the people, and new believers were added.
#5) Acts 5:15-1615 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
i) Crowds in the streets. The news of miracles performed by the apostles, especially Peter, spread through Jerusalem and the surrounding towns of Judea. Crowds of people brought their afflicted into the streets to be healed. This of course made the populace happy but not the Sanhedrin.
ii) Unclean spirits. Luke does not say that some of the sick were thought to be suffering from unclean spirits. He says they were. Not only is he inspired by the Holy Spirit in that statement, but he speaks as a physician (Colossians 4:14). How Luke knew the difference between sickness from some physical cause and suffering from evil spirits, we cannot say. This skill would have to be rediscovered through research. Nor therefore can we say how much illness today might be caused by demonic spirits. These foul spirits that infected human beings were sentient as demonstrated by cases where they spoke through their victims (Luke 8:27-30, Acts 19:14-16).
iii) Peter’s shadow. The power of God imparted to Peter was very convincing because even "at the least his shadow" could impart healing (Acts 5:15).
iv) They were all cured. It would not have been convincing, however, if only a portion of the sick brought for healing were cured. "They were all cured" (Acts 5:16).
Comments
Post a Comment