As he tells of these events, it is like an unwinding story in which one event leads into the next.
For example, after Pentecost, he leads into chapter 3, and tells of Peter and John going into the temple. He tells of the man who had been crippled from birth, asking them for alms.
Luke related how Peter and John stopped, and God gave that poor man much more than what he anticipated; God miraculously healed him.
Luke then tells how this healing, along with Peter's message, got Peter and John into trouble with the Sanhedrin.
After being detained a while, Peter and John then went and immediately assembled with the rest of God's people, and told them what had happened to them.
The persecution did not discourage them in the slightest, but made them strong in the Lord.
In fact, God's Word tells us they began to exemplify such dedication to the Lord, that many sold their possessions, and shared the money with other believers. Those Christians were willing to sacrifice, so the Lord's name would be glorified.
However, any time people are working for the Lord, there will be others who do things in the church, but for the praise of man.
People like this, may hear others talking about the dedication of those who are sacrificing, and feel they are not receiving enough recognition.
There were two people like this in that New Testament church.
In Acts 5, Luke relates the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who sought the praise of man.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
They pretended to be doing something for the Lord, but they had other motivation. They tried to copy the deeds of people they knew who really loved the Lord.
Illus: In one church, an example of that took place when one woman represented herself as being the only one who cared about those who were sick.
The pastor found out about this, when he and another man from the church, visited a lady who had been sick and out of church for several services.
The pastor asked why she didn’t called anyone. She told them she had not called anyone, because she did not think anyone really cared.
When asked why she thought that, she said, "Mrs. ------- calls me all the time, and she tells me that no one cares about me.”
She said, “That is why she calls all the time to check on me, because she cares."
The pastor assured this elderly lady that he did care very much, and they had missed her, that was why they were there.
Also, he assured her that they would be praying for the lady who had been talking to her. No one who really cared about a brother or sister in the Lord, would be trying to convince them that no one cared about what happened to him or her.
After that visit, they began to check with at least a dozen more, and found out she had told all of them the same thing.
You have to be careful when you have an Ananias or a Saphira in your church. They will DO ANYTHING or SAY ANYTHING for the praise of man.
Listen, hypocrites do not do things because they love the Lord, they do things to try to fool people into thinking they love the Lord.
They use religion as a means of getting attention.
Let’s see an example of this in Acts, chapter five:
I. SINFULNESS PREVAILS
In Verses 1-2, we read, “But 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.”
Until chapter 5, we read nothing but good things about this glorious church. Now we run into a problem every church deals with - HYPOCRITES!
No matter how blessed most churches are with fine Christian people who love the Lord, there will be some present who do not love the Lord. They simply want to deceive people, and make them believe they love the Lord.
It is impossible for a church to purge itself of members like Ananias and Sapphira. This is something only God can do.
Observe a couple of characteristics of their deed:
• SINFULNESS BY CHICANERY (trickery).
Look at verses 1-2 again, we read, “But 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.”
These two conspired together to commit their deceptive act.
When we hear the names "Ananias and Sapphira", we generally think of them as being two of the worst people that ever lived on earth.
They sinned, by claiming to have done something they had not done.
God took advantage of the situation to teach His people how He felt about hypocrisy.
If He did that same thing today, many churches would be burying more than two or three of their members.
They chose to sin by using trickery, but it did not work.
Let’s look at something else -
• SINFULNESS BY CHOICE
They lied. They did not have to lie, but they chose to lie. They thought it would make them look good, like those who loved the Lord enough to sell their lands, and give the money to the Lord.
Illus: There was nothing wrong with their agreeing to keep back any amount of money they wished. They did not have to give anything.
Their sin was in leading others to believe they were giving the full amount of the sale of their property to the church, and wanting the recognition that others were getting for their love offerings.
They had seen other Christians who loved the Lord, and recognized that all they possessed had been entrusted to them by God. Those who loved the Lord, were willingly to give their possessions back, to be used for the Lord's work. Ananias and Saphira wanted everyone to think that was the way they were also.
SIN always prevails, when people, by CHOICE, want to DECEIVE others.
We looked at how SINFULNESS PREVAILS, now let us look at -
II. SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION
Look at verses 3-4. “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.”
Look at how Peter dealt with Ananias.
In verse 3, we read, “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?”
Many times, people have asked how Peter knew about the scam they were trying to pull off. Peter knew because: He knew them. Everyone has a reputation, and that reputation precedes them.
We are told that our ego is what we think we are, but our reputation is what others think we are.
It is possible, that even though they claimed to be Christians, Peter had observed some things that made him think otherwise.
He knew what the Holy Spirit had revealed to Him. The Holy Spirit reveals many things to a praying pastor.
That is how a pastor knows what to preach, in order to meet the needs of God's people. God reveals things to him, so he might know how to help, and deal with people.
Look at verse 4. We read, “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.”
It is clear that this man and his wife loved things more than they loved the Lord.
PETER ASKED WHY THEY HAD DONE SUCH A EVIL THING.
Generally, when someone gets caught doing something he should not be doing, he comes up with some kind of an excuse.
Illus: This reminds me of the story of the fellow who asked his neighbor if he could borrow his axe. The man said, "I am sorry, I cannot loan you my axe because I have to shave tomorrow." After the fellow left, the neighbor's wife said, "You do not shave with your axe!" The neighbor said, "I know that, but when you do not want to do something, one excuse is as good as an other."
However, when Peter stated Ananias' sin, Peter gave no time for that man to make any excuse, or to place the blame on anyone else. He simply continued his sentence "...why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?"
Because of what he had done, now God is getting ready to send judgment. Look at the-
III. SPEEDY PUNISHMENT
Look at Verses 5-6. We read, “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.”
Ananias lied. The last thing he heard before he died, were the words of verse 4, “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”
As we stated already, God sent speedy punishment upon Ananias and Sapphira, to reveal what He thinks of hypocrisy.
God hates sin. Don't be fooled by the liberals, who would have you think that God no longer looks upon sin as He once did.
Illus: Look at Sodom and Gomorrah. God, in judgement, sent “Fire and brimstone” down on them.
He may not rain fire and brimstone upon us,... but you can mark it down, He will judge all sin, and punishment will be issued out.
IV. SOUR PLOT
In verse 7-10, we read, “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.”
This little plot was cooked up before they ever arrived at church.
We do not know which one of them came up with this PLOT, but we do know this, God held them both accountable.
Once they cooked up this evil plot, they conspired to carry it out. God will hold everyone responsible for taking part in such an EVIL PLOT.
Let’s say that Ananias was the one who came up with this plan. If this is the case, his wife is not very smart for going along with it. Let’s look at-
A. HER IGNORANCE
God had already slain her husband for his hypocrisy. Now she walks in to carry out her part of the plot. But she does this in ignorance. The Bible says, “…not knowing what was done…”
Without a doubt, if she had known that God had already killed Ananias for lying, she would not have participated in the plot. SHE WAS IGNORANT.
Peter gave her a chance to be honest. She could have told the truth. Instead, she proved that she was as evil as he was, and she told the same lie. She was as guilty as he was.
She made her choice to be as evil as he was. She, like every individual that God has created, had the privilege of making her own choice.
B. HER INSISTENCE
Peter said, “…Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.”
Now listen, if a Christian woman has a Christian husband, she is to submit to him.
But if she has a husband that is evil, and he wants her to participate in his evil plans, she should not submit to those plans.
God's Word does teach submission. But it also teaches we are not to sin.
Illus: A lady who claimed to be saved, does not tithe one cent a week. She says she is submitting to her husband, because he does not want her to tithe.
Listen, neither she nor her husband, has the right to steal the tithes that belong to God.
Peter said to 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.”
V. SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
Look at verses 11-16. We read, “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And 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.”
In Acts 5, God had to stop everything, and purge the church of this sin, before spiritual progress could continue. It would have been great, if everything could have stayed the way it had been previous to this, but Satan will see to it that hypocrites will invade the church. God has to weed them out every now and then.
Conclusion:
I. SINFULNESS PREVAILS
II. SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION
III. SPEEDY PUNISHMENT
IV. SOUR PLOT
V. SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
