Acts Chapter 5 Study Guide
Family Study Guide for September 28 - October 4, 2006
(Read Acts 5 Online)
Reflections on Acts 5 by Jim Brake, Head Coach
The story of Acts chapter 5 is a profound one in the history of the early church. It is also the background for one of my favorite CCM songs from the Resurrection Band, but I digress. In order to properly understand the events in chapter 5 we must have the proper context. In chapter 2:45 we see that after Pentecost some believers sold possessions and goods and then gave to those in need. This practice evidentially continued because at the end of chapter 4 we see similar actions. One man named Barnabas went so far as to sell a field and brought the money to the Apostles so they could give the proceeds to other believers in need.
Acts of charity were imperative in the early church. The Jewish nation had rejected Jesus the Messiah and therefore would not look favorably upon Jewish people who became followers of Jesus. Because the church, up until chapter 10, is exclusively Jewish those who chose to follow the apostles teaching would be persecuted and need to band together and share resources to survive.
This is the back story so to speak of what was surrounding the happenings when a husband and wife also sold some property. From Scripture we learn that Ananias and Sapphira sold some property, held back some of the profit, but portrayed it as the full price when they gave the money to the apostles. I don’t believe they had to give any money to the Apostles but from the context of chapter 4 they evidentially wanted whatever recognition Barnabas had received for what he had done without actually doing it. By misrepresenting what they had done in order to get human praise they became guilty of lying to God.
My impression, and it is only mine not from Scripture, is that Ananias had devised this plan and convinced his wife to go along with it. Unfortunately for Sapphira when she had the chance to tell the truth she didn’t and her fate was the same as her husband. This is a lesson for me as a husband, father, and leader. I should never allow other to become guilty with me because I am a leader. Leaders have a great responsibility to lead and others may benefit or suffer for our choices. I believe this lesson applies to all whether young or old. We all have people we influence and it is important that we do so wisely. We should always seek to please God and not ourselves and follow the example of Jesus who humbled himself to become sin for us and was willing to be separated from God the Father for our benefit Philippians 2:5-8.
The effect of the death of these two on the early church was that they were seized with great fear. Remember that the church was in its early development and the book of Acts is transitional. It was imperative that sin was dealt with quickly and dramatically so it was not repeated by others. I believe only the apostles were able to deal with sin this way and that is why we don’t see more people struck dead today for what might seem like a petty sin. The whole of Scripture teaches that God never changes but evidentially our impression of sin has. Most times we tend to look the other way when we know a fellow believer is living in sin. If we really want to see the power of God like was evident in the book of Acts I believe we must see sin for what it is and do everything we can to remove it from our lives and from the lives of other believers. Please church be the church and see sin for what it is. Sin is what separates us from God our Father and causes death both physically and spiritually.
Questions to Consider
- When have you been a leader? Have you ever worried about leading someone else wrong?
- Have you ever thought that you could deceive God for your own benefit?
- Have you ever looked the other way when you saw sin in yourself, your friends, or your family?
Bible.Org Outline for Acts 5
2. The Deception of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11)
C. Healings by the Apostles and their Consequences (5:12-42)
1. Healings of the Apostles, Responses of the Crowds (5:12-16)
2. The Arrest and Escape (5:17-24)
3. The Apostles before the Sanhedrin (5:25-40)
a. The Sanhedrin’s Rebuke (5:25-28)
b. The Apostles’ Defense (5:29-32)
c. The Debate in the Sanhedrin (5:33-39)
d. The Release of the Apostles (5:40)
4. The Rejoicing of the Apostles (5:41-42)
Finish the Verse Questions for Acts 5
Finish the Verse: No // one else dared join them,
even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. [Acts 5:13-14]
Finish the Verse: Peter and // the other apostles
replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" [Acts 5:29]
Finish the Verse: The God of our // fathers
raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. [Acts 5:30-32]
Finish the Verse: The apostles left // the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. [Acts 5:41]
Finish the Verse: Day // after day, in the
temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. [Acts 5:42]
Reference Questions for Acts 5
Q: According to Acts 5:05, who fell down and died?
A: He - Ananias
Q: According to Acts 5:06, the young men what?
A: Came FORWARD, WRAPPED up his body, and carried him out and buried him (him/Ananias)
Q: According to Acts 5:10, who fell down and died?
A: She - SAPPHIRA
Q: According to Acts 5:10, the young men what?
A: Came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband (her/SAPPHIRA)
Q: According to Acts 5:12, the apostles what?
A: The apostles PERFORMED many miraculous signs and wonders among the people
Q: According to Acts 5:12, all the believers what?
A: Used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade
Q: According to Acts 5:14, who believed in the Lord?
A: More and more men and women
Q: According to Acts 5:16, who were healed?
A: Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed
Q: According to Acts 5:19, during the night what?
A: An angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out (them/the apostles)
Q: According to Acts 5:30, the God of our fathers what?
A: Raised Jesus from the dead -- whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree
Q: According to Acts 5:35, men of Israel what?
A: Consider carefully what you INTEND to do to these men (these men/Peter &
the other apostles)
(Read Acts 5 Online)
Reflections on Acts 5 by Jim Brake, Head Coach
The story of Acts chapter 5 is a profound one in the history of the early church. It is also the background for one of my favorite CCM songs from the Resurrection Band, but I digress. In order to properly understand the events in chapter 5 we must have the proper context. In chapter 2:45 we see that after Pentecost some believers sold possessions and goods and then gave to those in need. This practice evidentially continued because at the end of chapter 4 we see similar actions. One man named Barnabas went so far as to sell a field and brought the money to the Apostles so they could give the proceeds to other believers in need.
Acts of charity were imperative in the early church. The Jewish nation had rejected Jesus the Messiah and therefore would not look favorably upon Jewish people who became followers of Jesus. Because the church, up until chapter 10, is exclusively Jewish those who chose to follow the apostles teaching would be persecuted and need to band together and share resources to survive.
This is the back story so to speak of what was surrounding the happenings when a husband and wife also sold some property. From Scripture we learn that Ananias and Sapphira sold some property, held back some of the profit, but portrayed it as the full price when they gave the money to the apostles. I don’t believe they had to give any money to the Apostles but from the context of chapter 4 they evidentially wanted whatever recognition Barnabas had received for what he had done without actually doing it. By misrepresenting what they had done in order to get human praise they became guilty of lying to God.
My impression, and it is only mine not from Scripture, is that Ananias had devised this plan and convinced his wife to go along with it. Unfortunately for Sapphira when she had the chance to tell the truth she didn’t and her fate was the same as her husband. This is a lesson for me as a husband, father, and leader. I should never allow other to become guilty with me because I am a leader. Leaders have a great responsibility to lead and others may benefit or suffer for our choices. I believe this lesson applies to all whether young or old. We all have people we influence and it is important that we do so wisely. We should always seek to please God and not ourselves and follow the example of Jesus who humbled himself to become sin for us and was willing to be separated from God the Father for our benefit Philippians 2:5-8.
The effect of the death of these two on the early church was that they were seized with great fear. Remember that the church was in its early development and the book of Acts is transitional. It was imperative that sin was dealt with quickly and dramatically so it was not repeated by others. I believe only the apostles were able to deal with sin this way and that is why we don’t see more people struck dead today for what might seem like a petty sin. The whole of Scripture teaches that God never changes but evidentially our impression of sin has. Most times we tend to look the other way when we know a fellow believer is living in sin. If we really want to see the power of God like was evident in the book of Acts I believe we must see sin for what it is and do everything we can to remove it from our lives and from the lives of other believers. Please church be the church and see sin for what it is. Sin is what separates us from God our Father and causes death both physically and spiritually.
Questions to Consider
- When have you been a leader? Have you ever worried about leading someone else wrong?
- Have you ever thought that you could deceive God for your own benefit?
- Have you ever looked the other way when you saw sin in yourself, your friends, or your family?
Bible.Org Outline for Acts 5
2. The Deception of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11)
C. Healings by the Apostles and their Consequences (5:12-42)
1. Healings of the Apostles, Responses of the Crowds (5:12-16)
2. The Arrest and Escape (5:17-24)
3. The Apostles before the Sanhedrin (5:25-40)
a. The Sanhedrin’s Rebuke (5:25-28)
b. The Apostles’ Defense (5:29-32)
c. The Debate in the Sanhedrin (5:33-39)
d. The Release of the Apostles (5:40)
4. The Rejoicing of the Apostles (5:41-42)
Finish the Verse Questions for Acts 5
Finish the Verse: No // one else dared join them,
even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. [Acts 5:13-14]
Finish the Verse: Peter and // the other apostles
replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" [Acts 5:29]
Finish the Verse: The God of our // fathers
raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. [Acts 5:30-32]
Finish the Verse: The apostles left // the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. [Acts 5:41]
Finish the Verse: Day // after day, in the
temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. [Acts 5:42]
Reference Questions for Acts 5
Q: According to Acts 5:05, who fell down and died?
A: He - Ananias
Q: According to Acts 5:06, the young men what?
A: Came FORWARD, WRAPPED up his body, and carried him out and buried him (him/Ananias)
Q: According to Acts 5:10, who fell down and died?
A: She - SAPPHIRA
Q: According to Acts 5:10, the young men what?
A: Came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband (her/SAPPHIRA)
Q: According to Acts 5:12, the apostles what?
A: The apostles PERFORMED many miraculous signs and wonders among the people
Q: According to Acts 5:12, all the believers what?
A: Used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade
Q: According to Acts 5:14, who believed in the Lord?
A: More and more men and women
Q: According to Acts 5:16, who were healed?
A: Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed
Q: According to Acts 5:19, during the night what?
A: An angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out (them/the apostles)
Q: According to Acts 5:30, the God of our fathers what?
A: Raised Jesus from the dead -- whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree
Q: According to Acts 5:35, men of Israel what?
A: Consider carefully what you INTEND to do to these men (these men/Peter &
the other apostles)
posted by Nomad | 5:40 AM
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