Day 9 of our 31 Days in Acts brings us to ch. 5 v. 1-11
Another very well-known passage about the Apostles.
I think most people would say it is well-known about Ananias & Sapphira but here I would like to look at the role of the Apostles and the work of the Holy Spirit through them.
In the end of ch. 4 in verse 36 you can read about a man who sold some land and gave the money to the Apostles for the use of the believers
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
and in the start of ch. 5 we have another story about people selling something and giving the money to the Apostles.
But here in contrast to the end of ch 4 we have a completely different outcome.
A husband and wife bring money to the Apostles. We are not told that this couple were ordered to sell anything and give all of their money to the Apostles, we are simply told that they did sell a possession as did others which is obvious from the end of ch. 4.
At first Ananias & Sapphira may appear to have done the same thing as Joses until we see the story in detail.
Ananias comes to the Apostles and gives them some of the money v. 1-2
Peter does not ask him him why he has not brought all of the money.
Instead he asks him why he has lied to God v. 3-4
The important part being that he lied.
Here we see the Gift of Knowledge in Peter through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God and cannot look on sin. Habakkuk 1 v 13
The death of Ananias is the consequence of his sin.
Not a decision made and carried out by the Apostles but by God. v5-6
Then we have the words of his wife proving they had decided to lie and because she had been in on this agreement to lie to the Apostles she too suffered the same consequences. v 7-10
3 Things to Note:
- The couple lie to the Apostles
- The Holy Spirit brings the truth through Peter
- God punishes the couple
First there is a lie but God always knows the truth because God is truth
John 17 v 3
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Then there are the words brought by the Holy Spirit but spoken out by Peter & these are the truth because God's word is truth
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Then there are the words brought by the Holy Spirit but spoken out by Peter & these are the truth because God's word is truth
John 17 v 17
"Your word is truth."
"Your word is truth."
Then there are the consequences of the sin of untruth.
The role of Apostle was very important here
not to accept the money and deal with that
but to know the truth through God's Holy Spirit
and be a spokesperson for God.
