Strange Stories of the Apostles

Acts 5

            Acts 5 demonstrates the powerful witness the church was giving in Jerusalem and the increasing persecution that accompanied it.

            The first story is the strange story of Ananias and Sapphira. Maybe strange isn’t the right word. How about disturbing? From our perspective, the punishment seems all out of proportion to the crime. Yes, they lied, but they still made a generous gift to the church. That they were both struck dead seems wrong. I’d suggest two things. First, the main point of the story is exactly to demonstrate the power the apostles were exuding. More on that in a minute. Second, I think it demonstrates that our ways of thinking are not always in line with God’s. We think, “What’s the big deal? They were a little dishonest, but they gave most of the money…” I’m reminded, though, of Jesus observing the widow in the temple and declaring that her small gift of two cents was more than all the others because she gave out of her poverty. The Lord is not so interested in the size of the gift so much as the condition of the heart, and Ananias and Sapphira’s hearts weren’t in great condition. They were more interested in the praise that came with their gift than with making an honest gift. The problem is not that they kept some back but that they showed the true state of their hearts by lying about it.

            The power of the apostles shines through in the next section, too. There, people lay their sick out so that Peter’s shadow can cross over them. In Jerusalem at least, the apostles are perceived as more powerful than Jesus had been! No wonder the leaders of Israel wanted to silence them.

            In the story of the apostles’ arrest, notice three things. First, Peter’s assertion, “We must obey God rather than men.” It bears thinking about. Sometimes we act as if that gives us permission to defy all sorts of rules. But the thing is that the rulers had specifically forbidden something the Lord had explicitly commanded. In that case, we’d have no choice but to disobey. But there are many other cases where we submit to the government. A lot more could be said…

            Second, Gamaliel shows exceptional wisdom. If it’s from men, it will fail; if it’s from God, you can’t do anything about it.

            Third, one of the most remarkable statements in the whole book is at the end of the chapter. Having been arrested and beaten, the apostles rejoiced “because they had been counted worthy of suffering for the Name” (5:41). I daresay that’s a pretty remarkable sentiment, and one that we would be hard pressed to emulate! But they loved Jesus so much that to be abused in some small way as he had been—and that because they were testifying of Him—was counted a joy! (See James 1:2-4.)