Book of Acts - Ch. 5, Vs. 1-42 (02/02/2003)

We're at chapter 5 in the book of Acts, but a certain man

Named Ananias with Sapphira his wife sold a possession

Now of these unhappy people where we lose track of them when they buried them

This is the only account that we have of them to and kept back part of the price his wife also being privy to and To it and brought a certain part and laid it at the

Apostles feet They didn't trust

God totally they pretended to bring all of the money just As the others had

Perhaps thinking that since it all belonged to them. They could do whatever they desired and they could

Up to the point where they acted as though that was all of it They were under no obligation to sell any of their possessions

While they pretended to act under the influence of the Holy Spirit They were lying

And you can't fool the Holy Spirit but Peter Now he had no advanced advance information on this

This is the way the Lord Gives to his own the words to say

Peter was in a very responsible position But Peter said

Ananias Why has Satan filled thine heart to lie to the

Holy Ghost and To keep back part of the price of the land

Now at that time they believe that when a man Did evil he was excited to do it by the influence of an evil spirit

Do we still believe that today? No Then what excites you to do evil?

Well, he's right But it threw me off track

What about it David? That's right if there be no devil as some wish

Then Peter would not have expressed himself in this fashion Whilst it remained was it not thine own

And after it was sold was it not in thine own power? Why has thou conceived this thing in thine heart?

Thou has not lied unto men but lied unto God and notice in verse 3

He says you lied unto the Holy Ghost In verse 4 he says you lied unto

God What's the difference David? That's right

The verb used Here is by the Greek writers to signify Prolonging and that's a good word.

What's it mean Greg? All right

It's part of public money Prolonging So we find

That The sale here was made up of property belonging to the public Which makes it even worse?

Now was it wrong David to keep back part of the money? Good answer

Did Peter cause his death David? another good answer and Ananias hearing these words had a heart attack and died

Fell down dead And Great fear came upon them that heard these things.

Can't you imagine the fear? Now Greg why did

God do this? All right verge?

Why doesn't God do it today? David what would the local church be like if he did?

Well But that's right, this is the first appearance of sin in the local church

It's also a warning for us to not repeat it Six and the young men arose wound him up carried him out and buried him.

They wound him up tight Why young men

David? Don't you find it amazing the spirit of lying?

Could Abide in the first church And it was about the space about the space of three hours after when his wife not knowing

What was done came in now his wife comes? I don't know. She'd been to hairdressers,

I guess and Peter answered and said unto her tell me

Whether you sold the land for so much and she said yes, we sold it for so much

Now we find here Peter putting her

Mary Ann there's a package on the front pew for you. Don't forget it We find

Peter putting her in a position right quick or whether she was going to lie or not

Now Peter didn't know what was going to happen to her husband until after it happened Do you think that's right

Greg? But he now knows what's going to happen to his wife you see how this woman and Her husband had been preserved for this very end

Can you see that? I hope so Then Peter said unto her how is it that she 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 also

So the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of the Lord are one in the same thing

Then fell she down straightway at his feet and Yielded up the ghost and the young men came in and found her dead and carried her forth buried her beside her husband

What? No Now David was it by Peter's words that she died

Greg how about it? Virge how about it?

David did she did he pray So that she would die Was it because her remorse that she died?

It was by the immediate judgment of God the judgment of God Is he still in the judging business?

And great fear came upon all of the church and upon as many as heard these things

This judgment answered the end for which it was inflicted a deeply religious fear came into each mind all of a sudden

There was no more hypocrisy and deception If those who had lied to God in their churches were to drop down dead

Today there'd be a lot of funerals Twelve 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

That's a wonderful thing If we could be of one accord it'd be great and Of the rest there's no man joined himself to them, but the people magnified them

So These men seemed to have something special and they didn't attract very many joiners and believers

Were the more added to the Lord of multitudes both of men and women

In so much that they brought forth the sick into the streets and Laid them on beds and couches that at the

At the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them

Now it is my considered belief that they've slipped into what we have today

We find here the very same thinking that is present in our world today

No place does it say that Peter's shadow healed anyone So don't ever say that it did

But the puny mind of man has capitalized on this verse and are now worshiping

Relics. I saw a room At a convent enormous room

That was lined with relics And they worshiped the relics

At the far end was somebody in a glass enclosed

Well, I can't say coffin because you could see the body. I didn't go down to it

They think that just the shadow or the relic has magical powers to it, no

There Came also a multitude out of the cities roundabout into Jerusalem Bringing sick folks and them which were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one

But not just the shadow falling on them The so -called faith healers of today never

Never healed all of the sick Have you ever wondered why they're not in the hospitals healing sick?

Well, I could get into a long discussion of that Well, let's go for a little bit

Virge, what do you think of a faith healer? That sets up a tent attracts

Mostly the poor and heals I think you're right

I'm sure I've told you but I've got to repeat it again. Years ago in Tulsa We were living across the road and down one house from Bea's oldest sister

And she was a holy roller. I don't know how else to explain it But they were having a revival and she kept after me until I went

It was Oral Roberts is who it was And after he had wore himself out preaching he was going to heal everybody just line up The rest of you bow your heads and close your eyes and I didn't

He sat in a chair on the platform and they would come up one after another.

I never will forget a folding chair wooden chair That all of a sudden he grabbed his chair and hopped over he says there goes one

There goes another Bringing the devils out of these people It was almost comical and I didn't believe one bit of it, but he's grown quite quite rich Let's get back to our lesson

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 Now, what is a

Sadducee? Great. All right,

David, they're known for something else. They were

Sadducee They didn't believe in afterlife

But they were very powerful in the Jewish nation So never did any good work go on But it would meet with opposition even today

If the truth of the Bible ever Gets a firm hold on today's

Church membership, it would be over them Malice of most preachers

But the enemies of Christ and the gospel are a torment to themselves 18 and laid their hands on the

Apostles and put them in the common prison now The Sadducees Rose up voiced their opinion

Had the soldiers go out and take the Apostles and put them in a common prison

Greg what does it mean common prison and why why did they specify a common prison?

Alright, you're right except on one point They didn't put the rich political prisoners there when they had to arrest one.

They put them in an elite Setting these were the common ordinary

Hardcore prisoners but the angel an angel of the

Lord by night opened the prison doors and Thought I'd skipped the verse, but I guess

I haven't but the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and Brought them forth and said go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of life

Now we have here the first historical great jailbreak this act of God was

Well, why was it sent why why we know what's going to happen? Well, let's read it and we'll find out and when they heard that they were 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 of the space

All of the Senate of the children of Israel and sent them to the prison To have them brought forth now this act of God Was sent to confirm confirm the fact that they were acting in according to his will

And that they were under the continual care of him They were to return to the temple the most public place in the country

They were to speak to the people that came there to worship according to the law Many times he sends us back to the very place

In which we found trouble But never be tricked into thinking that Just because I'm having trouble that means

I'm in his will You're in his will all right, but your thinking is wrong and that alone puts you out of his will

This is according to thinking They were sent to tell those that desire to know the truth the people

Not the preachers Also known as they were set free to work not free to go home

And when they heard that they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught the high priest came and they that were with him and called the council together and All of the

Senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought

But when the officers came and found them in Not in the prison they returned and told so saying the prison truly found we shut with all safety and The keepers standing without before the doors but Opened and found no man

They found them gone They were just like it'll be on the rapture morning.

I won't be here People will be missing

Here on earth and there will be no explanation It appears that the officers alone had the keys to the prison

Now, what do you think? They found nothing wrong The guards were still at their appointed places the doors bolted, but nobody inside What would you think

David Yes, extremely

It appears that they alone had the keys to the prison now They found nothing wrong the guards were still at their appointed position the doors

Appointed position at the doors they have listened to their preacher and Believe he was telling them the truth

But they have never heard this Therefore they say what you say

Cannot be true, even if the Bible proves it is true the modern -day preacher

Then came one and told them saying behold the men whom you put in prison are

Standing in the temple and teaching the people But the

Lord is finished with his surprises Here comes someone telling them that these very men that you locked up You forbid to speak in his name anymore

At this very moment are in the temple speaking in the name of Jesus to all people.

What do you think? Then went the captain with the officers and Brought them without violence where they feared the people

Yes, they should have been stoned now They very carefully go and get

The disciples they don't march in and arrest them because of what?

The officer is very careful not stir up the people they feared their own life and When they had brought them they set them before the council and the high priest asked them saying did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name and Behold you have filled

Jerusalem With your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood upon this us

You speak in such a way of this man as to make the people think that we have killed him

Innocent man You'll bring his blood down on us 29 then

Peter and the other Apostles answered and said we ought to obey

God What do you think of that statement

I wonder how many of us could say that All sitting here we say sure

Well You may get the chance

Our command yes That's right

Our command came from a much higher source than you and we dare not disobey we cannot but speak the truth

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you slew and hanged on a tree

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a savior or to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins and we are his witnesses of these things and So is also the

Holy Ghost and God hath given to them that obey him that believe in him

Now even if your preacher Demands that you stop teaching from the

Bible And tells you that you must use the standard quarterly

You'll find that you have no choice except to teach the Holy Word directly from his

Holy Word Persecution of the Bible teacher has always been

It has always started from within the church body here on earth Trouble is to not

To keep for himself man Truth is not to be kept to yourself man is but the steward of the holy truth

Owen to him if he does not teach it completely 33 when they heard that they were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them

When they heard what Greg? What did he say?

Well, why didn't they kill these disciples? All right

What was the real reason behind it David? They were cut to the heart

Literally they were sawed through But not from remorse

But with spite malice and revenge They were being accused of murder

Their first impulse was to kill these men Then stood there up one in the

Council of 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 in other words you take them out the outer room

Because what I say I want to say to the people here now

Gamaliel Means the reward of God The son of a rabbi

Grandson of the famous rabbi Helia When the

Apostles were brought before the council charged with preaching the resurrection of Jesus as a zelious

Pharisee Gamaliel counseled moderation and calmness by reference to well -known events

He advised them to refrain from these men If their work or counsel was of man it would come to nothing

But if it was a word of God the council could not destroy it and Therefore ought to be on their guard lest they

Should be found fighting against God Now where was

Paul during all of this time? That we kind of lost sight of him

He was one of the Apostles 35 and said unto them ye men of Israel Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men

For before these days rose up Fetus Boasting himself to be somebody to whom a number of men about 400

Joined themselves who was he was slain and all as many as obeyed him

Were scattered and brought to not Theotis the name of the insurgent mentioned in Gamaliel's speech

Luke's account at the head of About 400 men. He was probably one of the

Insurrectionary chiefs or fanatics Whom the hand the land was overthrown

At the last in year of Herod's reign To get back to our lesson

After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the day of taxing and drew away much people

After him he also perished and all even as many as obeyed him were dispersed

Judas the father of the Essenes a man who claimed to be the king of the

Jews surnamed the

Galilean Who at the time of the census of Quanerius?

Excited the revolt in Galilee That's all part of secular history and now

I say unto you Refrain from these men and let them alone or if this council

Or this work be of men It'll come to naught now

David Here's a man one of them What do you think about his speech?

Well, let's hear a little more of it But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it

Best happily you be found even to fight against God 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 they let them go

They had to beat them a little bit and they departed from the presence of the council rejoicing and they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name and daily in the temple and in every house they cease not to teach and Preach Jesus Christ They considered it their duty

To attend to public worship No one who claims to be a

Christian Can do so as they do not attend to their public worship

Their creator, I'm sorry That's all the chapter 5 is there anything we've got about five or ten minutes

Fill us in David Well, I figure you'll do that at church on this passage

I've often wondered What would happen to me if I was faced with something like this

I Don't think I will ever be but you know, and none of us really know what we would do

Hope that we would do as Peter did To stand up for the truth, but it may come to this country

That your wife is Taken from you your children taken from you

They'll let you live, but we'll put your eyes out The last thing you see will be your children being killed

That's an awful thing Never happens here. I'm afraid it will