Acts 5
A Church That Would Not Be Silenced
Acts 5 shows both the danger of dishonesty within the church and the pressure of enemies outside it. God guards His people, shows His power through the apostles, and keeps the good news about Jesus moving forward.
Walking Through Acts 5
A Gift Built on a Lie (Acts 5:1-11)
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 2 He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? 4 Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!” 5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. 6 So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said, “Yes, that much.” 9 Peter then told her, “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” 10 At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.Acts 5:1-11 · NET Bible
Ananias and Sapphira sell property, keep some money, and present the rest as though it were the full amount. Peter makes clear that they were free to keep the land or the money. Their sin is not giving too little. It is agreeing to deceive the church and lie to the Holy Spirit. Peter describes this as lying to God. Ananias dies after Peter confronts him. Later, Sapphira repeats the lie and also dies. Great fear spreads through the church and beyond it. This is a severe act of God's judgment, not a pattern for church leaders to copy. I don't want us to miss the warning: belonging to God's people does not make dishonesty harmless. God's grace welcomes sinners, but it never makes peace with sin.
Mercy in the Open (Acts 5:12-16)
12 Now many miraculous signs and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. 14 More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women. 15 Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. 16 A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed.Acts 5:12-16 · NET Bible
The apostles perform many signs and wonders, and the believers meet together in Solomon's Porch, a covered area of the temple. People respect them, yet some are afraid to join them openly. Even so, more men and women believe in the Lord. The judgment we just read about does not stop God's saving work. People bring the sick into the streets, hoping that even Peter's shadow might fall on them. Luke reports that hope; he does not teach that a shadow has power of its own. Crowds also come from nearby towns, bringing sick people and those troubled by evil spirits. All are healed. These works show God's mercy and support the apostles' witness about Jesus. The power belongs to God, not to the messengers.
Open Doors, Steady Obedience (Acts 5:17-26)
17 Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.” 21 When they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began teaching. Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin—that is, the whole high council of the Israelites—and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought before them. 22 But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!” 26 Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).Acts 5:17-26 · NET Bible
The high priest and his supporters, who belong to the Sadducees, become jealous and put the apostles in the public jail. During the night, an angel of the Lord opens the doors and sends them back to the temple to tell people about the new life found in Jesus. At daybreak, they obey. Meanwhile, the council gathers and sends for prisoners who are no longer there. The doors are locked and the guards are standing in place, but the cells are empty. The apostles are then found teaching in the temple. Officers bring them back without force because they fear the crowd. Notice that freedom here is not permission to hide. God opens the prison so His servants can return to the work He gave them.
The Higher Authority (Acts 5:27-32)
27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”Acts 5:27-32 · NET Bible
Before the council, the high priest accuses the apostles of ignoring orders and filling Jerusalem with their teaching. He also objects to being held responsible for Jesus' death. Peter and the other apostles answer that obedience to God must come before obedience to people. This is not an excuse to reject every rule we dislike. The council has directly forbidden work that God commanded. Peter then speaks plainly: they killed Jesus, but God raised Him and lifted Him to His right hand as Leader and Savior. Through Jesus, God offers Israel repentance—a turn from sin toward Him—and forgiveness. I see remarkable grace here. The message names their guilt while still holding out forgiveness. The apostles bear witness to these events, and so does the Holy Spirit.
Advice That Slows the Anger (Acts 5:33-39)
33 Now when they heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute them. 34 But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to the council, “Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you are about to do to these men. 36 For sometime ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it. 37 After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and incited people to follow him in revolt. He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing, 39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God.” He convinced them,Acts 5:33-39 · NET Bible
The council becomes furious and wants to kill the apostles. Gamaliel, a respected teacher of God's law and a Pharisee, asks that the apostles be taken outside. He recalls Theudas and Judas the Galilean, leaders whose followers scattered after they died. He advises the council to leave the apostles alone. If their work is merely human, it will fail; if it comes from God, the council cannot stop it and may find itself fighting God. His warning restrains their anger. Luke does not say that Gamaliel becomes a believer. Nor should we turn his advice into a rule that every lasting movement must be true. Here, God uses a cautious voice within the council to protect the apostles from death.
Wounded but Still Speaking (Acts 5:40-42)
40 and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. 42 And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Christ.Acts 5:40-42 · NET Bible
The council accepts Gamaliel's advice against killing the apostles, but still has them beaten. The leaders again order them not to speak in Jesus' name and then release them. The apostles leave rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Him. They are not calling cruelty good or pretending that pain does not hurt. Their joy rests in belonging to Jesus, even when that brings disgrace in other people's eyes. Every day, in the temple and from house to house, they keep teaching that Jesus is the Messiah, God's promised King. I find their steady faith striking. Neither a warning nor a beating changes the message or ends their work.
- Holy Spirit — God present and at work among His people, who cannot be deceived.
- Witness — Someone who tells what they know to be true; the apostles spoke about Jesus' death and resurrection.
Where are you most tempted to protect your image instead of telling the truth?
Father, thank You for the forgiveness You offer through Jesus. Help us live honestly before You and one another. Give us courage to obey You and love people even when following Jesus is costly.