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Summary

Acts 5:1–11 – Ananias and Sapphira Fall Dead

What happens:
A man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira’s knowledge, sells a piece of property and brings part of the proceeds to the apostles while claiming to donate all. Peter confronts Ananias about lying to the Holy Spirit, and Ananias falls down and dies. Shortly after, Sapphira arrives, repeats the deceit, and also falls dead when challenged. Great fear seizes the entire church and all who hear of these events.

What it means:
Integrity before God is paramount. Pretending to serve God while hiding sin brings swift judgment. The unity and purity of the Spirit’s community depend on honest hearts and transparent obedience.


Acts 5:12–16 – Signs and Wonders by the Apostles

What happens:
The apostles perform many miraculous signs and wonders among the people, and believers gather in Solomon’s Colonnade. A crowd brings sick and oppressed individuals, and they are all healed by Peter’s shadow as he passes. People from the cities of Judea, Jerusalem, and beyond bring the infirm to be cured.

What it means:
God authenticates the apostles’ message through supernatural power. The Spirit continues Jesus’ healing ministry, drawing many to faith and demonstrating the kingdom’s present reality.


Acts 5:17–32 – Apostles Arrested and Freed

What happens:
The high priest and Sadducees, filled with jealousy, arrest the apostles and throw them into the public jail. During the night, an angel of the Lord opens the prison doors and commands them to stand in the temple courts to preach. At dawn, the religious leaders search for them and find them teaching. The apostles are seized and brought before the council, where Peter proclaims that they must obey God rather than human authorities, testifying to Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation.

What it means:
Obedience to God’s call overrides human prohibition. Divine intervention frees God’s messengers to continue their mission. The resurrection of Jesus remains the foundation for faithful witness in the face of persecution.


Acts 5:33–42 – Gamaliel’s Counsel and Apostles’ Release

What happens:
The council becomes enraged and wants to put the apostles to death. Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, advises caution, citing past movements whose leaders died and followers dispersed. The council is persuaded, releases the apostles after flogging them, and commands them not to speak in Jesus’ name. The apostles rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name and continue daily teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and from house to house.

What it means:
Wisdom and restraint in leadership can protect the church’s mission. Suffering for Christ is a cause for joy, affirming fellowship with his suffering and dedication to proclaiming the gospel regardless of opposition.


Application

  • Remain honest before God in all you do, avoiding hypocrisy that undermines community trust
  • Trust God’s power to work through ordinary means—including your obedience—to bring healing and hope
  • Obey God rather than fearing human authority when they conflict with divine commands
  • Rejoice in sharing Christ’s sufferings, knowing that honor in suffering reflects participation in his mission
  • Persist in teaching and living out the gospel daily, both publicly and in personal relationships

Bible

1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye 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.

10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12And 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.

13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21And when they heard that, they 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 the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

34Then stood there up one in the council, a 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;

35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40And 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 let them go.

41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

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