Acts Bible Study: Day 8
Today’s passage: Acts 4:32 to Acts 5:11
Focus verse: Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9)
In Acts 2:42–47, we read about a biblical model for church. Remember that this is a description of what happened and not a command for what to do, yet it can still guide us in our pursuit of spiritual community today.
Acts chapter 4 wraps up with another description of what the early church did. We will do well to figure out how to apply this today too.
The church is united. They all get along. Luke writes that they have a singular focus. They don’t claim ownership of anything, but instead they share what they have with the other believers.
As a result of their unity, focus, and willingness to share, the church of Jesus moves forward with great power, and they tell others about Jesus.
Everyone in the church has their needs met. (Notice that the people cover the needs of others, but not their wants.) Some people even sell property and give the proceeds to the church, to help those in need.
Barnabas, a man from the tribe of Levi, sells a field he owns and gives all the money to the church leaders.
Inspired by his selfless act, and no doubt enamored by the attention it receives, Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also sell a piece of property.
They keep some of the money for themselves—something they have every right to do—but they pretend that the part they give to the church is 100 percent of the sale.
They’re posers. They pretend to be generous when they’re not. They seek to earn praise for their charity, but they selfishly scheme to keep some of the money for themselves.
Peter’s not pleased with their duplicity and neither is God.
With supernatural insight into what they did, Peter confronts Ananias. Peter boldly accuses him of having his heart controlled by Satan and lying to the Holy Spirit. These are serious charges.
What they did in secret—withholding some of their money while pretending to give it all—is known by God and Peter. Soon the whole church will know too.
“You didn’t just lie to the church but to God,” Peter says. “How could you have done such a thing?”
When Ananias hears Peter’s rebuff, he drops dead.
That gets everyone’s attention. Fear overcomes the believers. Some men carry off Ananias’s body and bury him.
Three hours later, Sapphira walks in, not knowing the fate of her husband. Peter gives her a chance to come clean. She doesn’t. Peter accuses her of conspiring against the Holy Spirit.
Just then the men who buried her husband return from their task. She, too, drops dead. The men carry her out and bury her next to her husband.
A holy fear of God’s power grips the church.
For Ananias and Sapphira, judgment is instant. They tried to cheat God and didn’t get a second chance to make things right.
Questions:
- What can we do to balance our love for God with a healthy fear of his omnipotent sovereignty?
- What adjustments do we need to make in our perceptions?
[Discover more about giving in 2 Corinthians 9:6–8.]
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Read more about the book of Acts in Acts Bible Study: Discover How the Early Church Can Inform What We Do Today, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
Revitalize your faith with Acts Bible Study by Peter DeHaan. This 40-day journey through the early church reveals timeless lessons on community, perseverance, and Holy Spirit power.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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