Acts 5: Ananias and Sapphira

Alongside our Sunday teachings, we’re keeping things simple. We’ll be reading through the book of Acts, featuring the many unique voices of the ClearView Church congregation. Each week, we’ll release two chapters, followed by a few reflection questions.

In this  episode, you’ll hear a brief introduction from Pastor Phil, followed by a reading of Acts 5 and some reflection questions from a member of our congregation.

Read along with our reflection questions:

As you listen, where might God be speaking to you through His Word?
Is there a word or phrase you feel drawn to - something worth sitting with a little longer?

What do you think the account of Ananias and Sapphira meant for the early church?

Across the centuries, the Church has often faced persecution. What do you think followers of Jesus have learned through those experiences?

Peter and the apostles said, “We must obey God rather than human beings." What stands out to you in that statement? How do you find yourself responding to it?

As you carry this passage with you, how might it shape your prayers in the days ahead?

Faith Matters is a ministry of Clearview Church, Oakville, On.
https://clearviewchurch.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:11

You are listening to the Faith Matters Podcast from Clearview Church, where we explore everyday faith in a complex world. Our goal is to strengthen and equip followers of Jesus just like you through practical and theological discussions and resources. In this season of the podcast, we're diving deeper into the practices of prayer and study. Each week, we'll release two episodes featuring voices from our congregation reading a chapter from the book of Acts, along with a few reflection questions. Each episode will begin with a short introduction to help set the context of the passage. As you listen, we encourage you to go slow. There will be built-in pauses with gentle background music, giving you space to reflect and wonder about what you're hearing. You might choose to follow along in your Bible or use a Bible app as the passage is read aloud. Above all, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and reveal what you need from the text. Our hope is that this practice would nurture and deepen your faith as you continue to grow your life with Christ. Now, on to the book of Acts and the passage of the day.

SPEAKER_00 1:30

Acts chapter 4 showed what happens when the gospel starts making the religious authorities nervous. Peter and John get dragged before the leaders, they're questioned about the healing and their preaching, but they refuse to back down. And so instead of shrinking, the believers begin to pray for boldness. And God answers in dramatic fashion, and the church grows stronger and more generous and more united than ever before. And so here we are now in chapter five.

SPEAKER_02 2:01

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sephira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostle's feet.

SPEAKER_03 2:15

Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings, but to God.

SPEAKER_02 2:43

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died, and great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

SPEAKER_03 3:03

And Peter asked her, Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land? Yes, that is the price. Peter said to her, How could you conspire to test the spirit of the Lord? Listen, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.

SPEAKER_03 4:46

Go stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about this new life.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

At daybreak they entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin, the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported. On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

SPEAKER_03 5:34

Then someone came and said, Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.

SPEAKER_02 5:42

At that the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.

SPEAKER_03 5:58

We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, he said. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood. Peter and the other apostles replied, We must obey God rather than human beings. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead, whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as prince and savior, that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

SPEAKER_02 6:42

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamalael, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin.

SPEAKER_03 7:01

Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do about these men. Some time ago, Theodas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed. All of his followers were dispersed, and it came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all of his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case, I advise you, leave these men alone, let them go. For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name. And day after day in the temple courts and from house to house they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah? As you listen, where might God be speaking to you through His Word? Is there a word or phrase you feel drawn to? Something worth sitting with a little longer?

SPEAKER_03 8:49

What do you think the account of Ananias and Sapphira meant for the early church?

SPEAKER_02 9:05

Across the centuries, the church has often faced persecution. What do you think followers of Jesus have learned through those experiences?

SPEAKER_03 9:25

Peter and the apostles said, we must obey God rather than human beings. What stands out to you in that statement? How do you find yourself responding to it?

SPEAKER_02 9:48

As you carry this passage with you, how might it shape your prayers in the days ahead?

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Thank you for listening to the Faith Matters podcast. We hope this time has helped you slow down and create space to hear from God. Join us again for our next episode as we continue through the book of Acts together. Go in peace and may you continue to grow your life with Christ.