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Acts 5

42 verses

TL;DR

Acts 5 recounts the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostles’ miracles and healing, and their subsequent arrest, release by an angel, and the council’s debate over how to handle the new movement.

Summary

The chapter opens with Ananias and his wife Sapphira secretly withholding part of the proceeds from a sale, lying to the Holy Ghost. Peter confronts them, and both die, shocking the early church. Following this, the apostles perform many signs and wonders, healing the sick and drawing large crowds. The high priest and the Sadducees, angered, arrest the apostles and lock them in prison. An angel frees them, and they resume teaching in the temple, prompting the council to order them to stop speaking in Jesus’ name. Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, advises caution, warning that if the movement is from God it cannot be stopped. The council complies, releasing the apostles to continue preaching, while the crowd grows. The narrative illustrates the conflict between divine authority and human opposition, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the early Christians’ perseverance.

Outline
  1. Ananias & Sapphira’s deceit leads to their death;
  2. Apostles perform miracles, heal, and attract crowds, then are arrested;
  3. Council debates, Gamaliel counsels, apostles released and continue preaching.
Themes
Obedience to God versus human authorityThe power and presence of the Holy SpiritPersecution and steadfast faith
Keywords
AnaniasSapphiraPeterapostlesHoly GhostprisoncouncilGamalielTheudasJudas of GalileeJerusalemTemplehealingsignsfaithobedience
People
AnaniasSapphiraPeterApostlesHigh PriestSadduceesGamalielTheudasJudas of Galilee
Places
JerusalemTempleSolomon's porchPrison
Things
Holy Ghostprison doorssigns and wondershealingblood of Jesusapostles’ feetshadow of Peter
Key Verses
  • Acts 5:3: Peter’s confrontation with Ananias reveals the seriousness of lying to the Holy Spirit.
  • Acts 5:30: Apostles’ statement, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” highlights the central conflict.
  • Acts 5:38: Gamaliel’s counsel shows a measured approach to confronting the new movement.
Questions
  • Why did Ananias and Sapphira consider their lie to be acceptable?
  • What does the apostles’ willingness to die for obedience to God reveal about early Christian values?
  • How does Gamaliel’s counsel reflect Jewish legal tradition and influence the council’s decision?
  • In what ways does the narrative illustrate the conflict between ecclesiastical authority and civil authority?
  • How can the early church’s response to persecution inform contemporary faith communities?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter contains both fear and awe, death and miracles, conflict and steadfastness.