Podcast 140, Acts, “Pt 5, Ch 5”

Podcast 140, Acts, “Pt 5, Ch 5”Probably many would agree that the story of Ananias and Saphhira recorded in Acts Chapter 5 is emotionally very difficult. After all, they gave part of the profit of the Land to the Lord; therefore, what is it that we must carry away from that story? First, let’s read the story together unbroken:Acts 5:1-11But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And 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. But 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? Whiles 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. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then 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. Then 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. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.To help us understand the sad story of Ananias and Sapphira, let’s consider the Widow’s Mite.Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.In modern money perhaps it is hard to calculate how much a farthing is. The copper mite was the smallest coin minted. Until a short time ago that would be equivalent to our penny, but that may not be accurate. Our penny has now gone the way of the Russian kopek. It is no longer minted. In addition, though the mite was an insignificant amount to someone who earned a denarius, which was equal to 128 mites which was a day’s wage, for the widow it was all she had. The Savior said, Mark 12:43–44:Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.Therefore, the amount that Ananias and Sapphira paid, regardless of how large, was not relevant. It is not about money. It is about violating covenants and lying to the Holy Ghost. Luke records Peter’s words, “why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” The land was their own. Even the price of the land was their own. It would have been better if they had declared the value of the land and kept the entire value for themselves. They, of course, would have lost the blessings of sacrifice, but it would not have been at the cost of their lives. They could have repented or not repented, and the apostles would have done nothing, In Peter’s words.  Acts 5:4Whiles 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.The point is that Peter did not kill Anania and Sapphira. It was an act of God. They had entered a covenant with God who promised them eternal life with him. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is the story of the Children of Israel. In Isaiah 25, we read of the destruction of the wicked in the last days. The prophecy in Isaiah is about death of millions of people. Isaiah gives the reason for their destruction. Isaiah 24:5-6The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.It was no different with Ananias and Sapphira than with the millions who shall be slain prior to the Millennium. The Old Testament is about the rise and fall of civilizations. Because of righteousness they rose. Because of wickedness they fell. The House of Israel is at the center. How does that differ from the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Acts 5 quickly moves from the story of Ananias to the story of the level of faith and miracles of the early saints and the rapid growth of the church.Acts 3:12-16And 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. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch 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. There 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.But to further illustrate that only by the power of the Holy Ghost can one receive revelation and only by the power of the Holy Ghost can one recognize a miracle, the priests and Sadducees witnessed the miracles but rejected them as not being from God and thus fought against the apostles, falsely imprisoning them. This, however, only increased the membership of the church and also gave immortality to one Gamaliel, a Pharisee and doctor of the law, who became the only voice of reason among the Pharisees and Sadducees. The first response of the Pharisees and Sadducees to the miracles they witnessed was anger. Acts 5:17-8Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.The prison couldn’t hold the apostles. Acts 5:19-25But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And 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. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, 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. Now 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. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.First, this is one of the many references to angels in the Holy Bible. Angels from the beginning have been part of the Lord’s plan. They were on earth from the beginning, and we have every reason to believe that they are as active today as they ever were. A belief in the ministry of angels is inherent in Christianity.  Next, rather than recognizing the miracle, the Pharisees and Sadducees remained intent on stopping the Christian movement. However, the apostles are fearless in the face of the officers. Acts 5:26-33Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, 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. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.Why did people act so differently when witnessing miracles? Some accepted the words of the apostles. Some rejected the words of the apostles. The answer is the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Those who had the Holy Ghost in their hearts responded to the miracles with faith. Those who did not have the Holy Ghost in their hearts respondedwith anger. To even hear of the Holy Ghost cut them to the heart causing them to want to murder the innocent apostles. Satan is behind all contention.James 3:14–16But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.