Acts 5

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Acts 5:1: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts 5:2: 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.
Acts 5:3: 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?
Acts 5:4:
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.
Acts 5:5: And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

It troubles men when they read this passage of the scriptures and, it is well, that it should! The Christian is being sold a bill of rotten goods today about God. The trouble enter in with the truth that Jesus is God! The lie begins with God changed from the Old Testament, the Bible, to the New Testament, the God inspired Life Application Commentary on proper application of thde Bible.

There are truths that must be grasped here before any understanding will ever occur. Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity of God. (Matt. 18, 20) This does not represent that there are three gods but that there is one God, represent in, not by, three persons. I cannot explain this mystery but, because God has seen fit to teach it of Himself, I can hold firmly to that truth.

God is a Holy and a Just God and He is not to be trifled with. This entire collection of writings, inspired by, a.k.a. authored by, God is for our instruction. (1Cor. 10:11) The death depicted here is the first death, the temporary death, that leads to the eternal death. This and the soon following are food for thought.

Acts 5:6: And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Acts 5:7: And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not
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knowing what was done, came in.
Acts 5:8:And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Acts 5:9: 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.
Acts 5:10: 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.
Acts 5:11: And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

The Ear Ticklers, liars, will tell you that this was for then and is not for now and I will tell you to read your Bible, prayerfully, to learn the truth. God loves every single one of us but if we choose to disobey Him, we are choosing to go to Hell and He has and He will permit it.

Acts 5:12: 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.
Acts 5:13: And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Acts 5:14: And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

We must learn to pay attention and to get over ourselves to enter into revival. Having a guest speaker come preach in the rented tent after the special music is not a revival! Having fifteen people come forward for salvation that are never heard from again is not a revival. The root is revive and for that to happen is for something to die! That's all I'm going to say, now think on it.

Acts 5:15: 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.
Acts 5:16: There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto
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Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

When we determine to obey and to follow God, people notice, because God pours out His blessings like the waters over Niagara Falls. You don't believe me? Look at the under developed countries where our Missionaries are at work.

Acts 5:17: Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Acts 5:18: And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Acts 5:19: But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Acts 5:20: Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Acts 5:21: 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.
Acts 5:22: But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
Acts 5:23: 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.
Acts 5:24: 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.
Acts 5:25: Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

These men and their wives and children had devoted their very moment to living for God. This brings up the central focus for us today, we, as a people, go to serve God on Sunday Morning. The problem is that we, again, as a people, drive to the restaurant, eat, go home, take our Sunday Best off and
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forget God until next Sunday.

be God does not just want our every moment, He demands it. 1Pet. 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.))

Throughout history it has been recorded that when people have lived a devoted life to God, they have lived miraculous lives and the fact is that this is the case today. The most notable cases might be in the nations where the Missionaries work with, not so educated, people but examples live in our midst today, I have such a testimony and people are often astonished by the truth that my helicopter had been shot more than three hundred times on one mission without a single injury. The truly miraculous point is that there were six aircraft on the ground in that flight and we were all shot up that bad... without an injury.

Acts 5:26: Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
Acts 5:27: And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Acts 5:28: 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.
Acts 5:29:Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:30:
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Acts 5:31: 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.
Acts 5:32:And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:33: When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

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Serving God has never been a task for cowards and it has never been acceptable to the Lost Man, most of the people of this world. These men did just as God has instructed them and because they did not stop to consider the instructions of their jailers, they were covered by the protecting hand of the Father. So it is with us when we choose to submit and obey.

 

Acts 5:34: Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
Acts 5:35: And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
Acts 5:36: For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
Acts 5:37: After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
Acts 5:38:And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
Acts 5:39:But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:40: And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Never allow men to lie to you. When you set off to perform any extreme mission, there is a cost. Peter and John were beaten like worthless dogs, that the Rulers might save face. God protected them from the first death, only. When I was involved in combat, my battalions mission was to serve the Infantryman and to keep him as safe as we possibly could. In spite of our faithful execution of our mission there are tens of thousands of name on the Wall in D.C. Likewise there are tens of thousands of martyrs have died for Christ. If you choose to live bravely, you might be killed for it.

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Acts 5:41: And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Acts 5:42: And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

So it is that you are instructed to make your decision, what will it be?