Chapter Five
Ananias and Sapphira
5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
After reading about how some of the believers sold property and generously gave the proceeds of the sales to the apostles, this incident will likely startle some. First, we are introduced to a man named Ananias (he is the first of three men with the name Ananias that will appear in this book, in addition to this man, we will encounter a godly man in Damascus in Acts 9, and a high priest in Acts 23), who is married to Sapphira, who sold a piece of property, but in contrast with the previous chapter, he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and gave only a portion of the total money to the apostles.
5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
Peter knew that Ananias was lying, the text doesn’t explain how he learned that. Before asking Ananias why he lied, Peter tells him that it was Satan that filled heart with the idea of lying to the Holy Spirit. He then makes two cogent points: 1) Before selling the property it was his own to use however he wanted. 2) After it was sold he still retained control of the money received, he could give it away, keep all or part, buy something else, it was at his disposal. So why lie about it? When Peter was done talking Ananias died. Everyone who heard about this incident was terrified. Ananias’ body was removed and buried.
5:7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Luke tells us that approximately three hour later, Ananias’ wife Sapphira came in (to the same location where Peter spoke to Ananias earlier) and when Peter asked about the property sale, she repeated the same lie and she died on the spot as well. A great fear gripped the whole church and everyone else who heard about it. Many were undoubtedly (but rightfully) asking, “What did they do wrong?” As dying for lying would seem to most people excessive punishment. Let’s review a few of the facts:
Were they believers? Yes, they were included in the full number of those who believed (see Acts 4:32). Did they have to sell their property? No, that was strictly voluntary, they offered, with no requests or expectations from the church. Were they obligated to donate any money? No, salvation is a free gift from God. Were they expected to give the money to the church? No. Were they expected to give any of the money to the church? No, we read in the Bible that Paul made it clear that no one is to give under compulsion (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). Did they lie about the amount they received from the sale? Yes, but that is not what got them killed. With generous people like Barnabas giving large sums of money to the church that in some people’s eyes “sets the bar high” for someone who desires the attention or perhaps the perception of having a high spiritual status. The problem is two fold: 1) Thinking that God’s kingdom works like a kingdom here on earth, that there are some more important that others. There is no spiritual hierarchy among humans, nor is there any benefit or prestige for giving more money than someone else. 2) Misrepresenting themselves before God and man, being hypocritical. Jesus often spoke against hypocrisy (see Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; 15:7; 22:18; 23:13-36; 24:51; Luke 12:1). Lying in order to elevate your stature is unacceptable, especially lying to God, who can’t be fooled. Does God still punish in this way still today? Not that it is obvious, but we do know that He is Omniscient, which means He would know if a believer would be a future detriment, a bad influence to the spreading of the gospel, and therefore He may call them home to heaven.
Considerations
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Bible is truly a unique book as it is God’s Word. But it is also unique among other religious, theology, and philosophy books, as it is brutally honest in how it records history. Most books that instruct or teach about a religion or belief, present their prophets, or godly representatives as being perfect, or at least will only mention “the good.” The Bible, on the other hand, includes all of problems, faults, blemishes, and flaws of God’s people. We also hear them do wrong, say the wrong things, and act foolishly. This is reality! It also provides comfort in knowing that since none of God’s people in the Bible were perfect, He can use us!
Signs and Wonders Were Prolific
5:12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
Luke tells us that signs and wonders continued by the hands of the apostles and that the believers were staying together in Solomon’s Portico, the same location where Peter preached his second sermon (see Acts 3:11).
5:13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
At first glance these two verses seem to be contradictory, the first stating that “the rest” (unbelievers) even though respected, the unbelievers wanted nothing to do with the believers. And then the next verse tells us that more people were “added to the Lord.” The Greek term plēthē which refers to a fullness, was used by Luke to describe the great number. But those that dared not join them may have heard about what happened to Ananias and Sapphira and wanted nothing to do with the potential of having their sin judged.
5:15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
People responded to the signs and wonders, especially the healing, by bringing the sick out in the streets with the hope that when Peter walked by his shadow would fall on them. This verse has stimulated a lot of speculation, but the fact that they believed it could heal them doesn’t mean it did.
5:16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
This was beginning to attract attention outside of Jerusalem. People were bringing those who were sick and those with unclean spirits (demons) from towns all around Jerusalem and they were all healed.
If the healing of the lame man created a commotion so great to get the attention of Temple guards and the Sanhedrin, then with significantly larger numbers and miracles, this level of awareness will certainly get the attention of the Sanhedrin again.
Considerations
Signs and Wonders
The role of signs and wonders is to point to the provider of the signs and wonders, namely the one with supernatural abilities, God. Jesus performed these miracles to demonstrate that He is God, sent by His Father. Here these miracles were done to give credence to the gospel message, not to elevate the person offering the healing.
The Apostles Arrested Again and Released Again
5:17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
The high priest and his entourage came and arrested the apostles and had them sent to jail. Luke notes that they were filled with jealousy. What could the high priest or any of the other ‘holy’ men with him be jealous of the apostles? Since these holy Pharisees and Sadducees considered themselves as truly being holy and thus in their minds thought that they would be closer to God and then seeing ordinary people being used by God in such a powerful way, they become jealous instead of listening to what they have to say.
5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21a And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
God dispatched an angel to free the men from jail and gave them instructions to go to the Temple and tell the people all the words of this life (some versions add new or life in Christ, here the first letter is capitalized implying the same, see Acts 11:18).
5:21b Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
The comedy of errors reported here should not overshadow the serious nature of this event. God released the apostles from jail and no one notices. Then when they call for them to appear before them, they can’t be found. This “greatly perplexed” them and they wondered what the outcome would be. They should have considered that this was God in action. But then someone notices that they are back in the Temple and were arrested again, this time not by force because they were afraid of the people reacting violently.
5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they arrived the high priest scolded them by saying that the strictly charged them to not teach in the name of Jesus. But instead they have filled Jerusalem with their teaching about Jesus, and they desire to make them responsible for His death. Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:29-32, NLT)
These words, “We must obey God rather than men,” are still vital today. We are to know God through His Word, the Bible. People may interpret, comment on (like this commentary), teach, preach, or develop theologies about God, and these are all good as long as none of it speaks or teaches something contrary to the Bible. And the only way to know something is true is to know the Bible itself. May sounds like circular logic to some, but it’s not. Later in the book we will read, “The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night. When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11, NET, emphasis added) After being taught, the Bereans went home and diligently reviewed the Scriptures to see that what they were taught was true. Regarding God and salvation it is important to review the facts before accepting any message.
5:33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
Hearing their response they were enraged and wanted them dead. Some believe that the harsh response was due to the apostle’s ongoing reminder that they were responsible for Jesus’ death, which may be true. But here again these ordinary men are telling these ‘holy’ men that they want to obey God instead of man. That strongly sends the message that the apostles represent God and the men of the council do not. It does seem odd that as ‘holy’ men of God would so quickly embrace the idea of killing someone (which there is a commandment against doing) to solve their problem.
5:34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.
Finally a voice of reason, someone willing to think differently. Gamaliel was a prominent rabbi (one of very few that had the honored title of ’rabban’), the grandson of Hillel, his name is revered in the Jewish Mishnah and the Talmuds (click here to read more about ancient Jewish writings). We will see his name later as he was Paul’s teacher (see Acts 22:3). Here he asks that the apostles be temporarily removed from the room as he stands up and asks the council to be careful about what they are going to do with these men. He then uses two examples of people that lead revolts that changed nothing. The matters in both of those cases were resolved without intervention.
5:36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
Some believe that Luke got the facts wrong as Josephus reports a revolt by a Theudas that occurred approximately ten years later, but since Theudas was a common name, the event Gamaliel referenced was likely led by a different person with the same name, who led a revolt many years earlier, during a period when uprisings regularly occurred.
Now, at this time there were ten thousand other disorders in Judea, which were like tumults, because a great number put themselves into a warlike posture, either out of hopes of gain to themselves, or out of enmity to the Jews.[1]
This revolt ended after Theudas was killed.
5:37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
The second example Gamaliel refers to is better known, it was a revolt against the census ordered by Quirinius around 6-7 A.D. (believed to be a different census than the one recorded in Luke 2:1-2). Again the revolt ended at the death of its leader, Judas of Galilee.
5:38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
Gamaliel makes the case, if this undertaking is of man, it will fail, just like the two examples. But if it is from God they will not be able to overthrow or in any way stop these men. If they try they might find themselves opposing God. The council listened and took his advice to keep away from the apostles.
5:40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
When the apostles were brought back, the council had them flogged and ordered them once again to not speak in the name of Jesus. Then they released them. After they left the premises they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And they continued daily to teach in the Temple and in homes that Jesus is the Christ.
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[1] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 469) (269). Hendrickson.