Acts 5 | Holy Spirit Unity and Civil Disobedience for the Gospel
The book of Acts is about the proclamation of the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit is the Star. The recurring pattern of this book is that the Holy Spirit does something, and the gospel is preached. Chapter five is no exception. In the first section, we see the account of Ananias and Sapphire lying about their donation to the Church. Pastor Dan clarifies some misconceptions about why these two faced such a severe punishment. Along the way, we learn that the voluntary donation of resources in the church, which provides for the poor, is nothing like Marxism/Communism. The last part of the chapter addresses the apostles’ civil disobedience against the apostate religious leaders of Jerusalem and the magisterial authority of the Roman government, which they welded.
When should we disobey governing authorities? When should we defy religious authorities? Acts 5 provides a clear example of when to obey God rather than men. Praise God that the gospel remains as its enemies are converted, destroyed, or forgotten.
Notes On Acts Chapter 5
Note: The main character of the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit. He is working particularly profoundly as the Church is becoming established. When something miraculous happens in Acts, we should ask: What does this say about the Holy Spirit? And how does this advance the gospel?
1-11
Ananias and Sapphira seem to be copying Joseph (Barnabas). They have not been told to sell their land and give it to the church. They do it voluntarily, but they are deceptive about the amount. They seem to be seeking some attention.
Note that they are accused of lying to the Holy Spirit specifically. While they have deceived the apostles and the church, their lie to the Holy Spirit is the biggest problem.
Peter confirms that they could do anything they wanted with the land (4). Yet they chose to lie.
The Holy Spirit strikes Ananias down dead.
When Sapphira enders and is asked about the price of the land, the detail of the lie is clarified. They indicated that they sold the land for a certain amount and gave all of it to the church. However, they sold it for more and kept the difference. Saphira is struck down dead as well.
The result of the event is fear…the good kind that makes people want to obey God rather than lie.
12-16
Just like Jesus’ ministry, many signs and wonders (especially healings) are being done through the apostles.
This indicates that the apostles are sent from God, declaring a faithful message of Jesus.
Note that the signs and wonders are done through the apostles. This confirms their teaching, much like prophets were confirmed with signs. Christians should not expect to do the same signs and wonders as we are not functioning in the office of apostles or priests.
17-21
Note that the party backing the high priest is the Sadducees. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, angels, etc. They also placed a high value on human volition and denied that God had determined events ahead of time. Thus, statements by the apostles about predestination and the definite plan of God would upset them.
The high priest and Sadducees are jealous of the apostles, probably because they are gaining popularity among the people.
The essential item here: The apostles were arrested on the orders of the high priest, but the high priest does not have magisterial authority. The apostles are held in a public prison. This is important later on because the persecution is being driven by religious authorities, but it is the roman state doing the enforcement.
As with all the miracles in Acts, the apostles are freed from prison to preach the gospel.
22-26
The high priest’s meeting with his council to discuss the apostles while the apostles are already preaching in the temple seems specifically designed to show that they don’t have any power. They look foolish, and that is by God’s design.
This is reiterated by the fact that the captain does not use force to bring them back to the high priest. The high priest is no longer in charge because the High Priest is interceding for the saints! (Hebrews 4:14-5:10)
27-32
This passage should be read in harmony with Romans 13 and Hebrews 13. Scripture teaches that civil and religious authorities are servants of God. Civil authorities are tasked explicitly with applying God’s law, being a terror to evil, and as they affirm what is good. However, all authority comes from God. He is the Authority! Thus, when one of His servant authorities begins to operate against His law, God’s people must obey God rather than human authorities (Daniel 1,3,6, Exodus 1, Joshua 2, and other passages provide examples of how to do this right). Acts 5:29 provides the most succinct phrase related to obeying God when human magistrates are in error.
We need to teach our people to obey human leaders in as much as they fulfill God’s commands because, in so doing, we obey God. However, we must also teach that to obey authorities in sin is not only to sin with them but to sin the sin of idolatry as well, for in obeying sinners against God, one is placing the human authority above God!
Even when defying the high priest, Peter proclaims the gospel!
33-42
Gamaliel is one of the most prominent teachers of his day. He is a Pharisee who taught Paul (though Paul has not come on the scene in Acts yet). It is unclear whether Gamaliel has trusted in Christ yet, but his sympathies seem to be turning to the disciples, and he is alluding to the fact that God might be with them.
In any case, God uses Gamaliel to spare the apostles, as he notes that groups that follow a messianic figure are usually scattered after that leader's death. The opposite has happened with the apostles. Jesus died, and now His following is growing! This is one more evidence indicating that Jesus rose from the dead!
The quote, “if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them,” is pretty cool. It’s been about two millennia since those words were spoken. You won’t find Pharisees, Sadducees, or an earthly high priest anywhere, but Jesus’ disciples are all over the world. The gospel is the rock the opponents of God are broken against!
The disciples still underwent a beating, but they left rejoicing to have been counted worthy to suffer in the name of Christ. Praise God! May we be so enthused to the Glory of God.
They kept on preaching the gospel. (This is the theme for the whole of the book)
