Acts 4:23—5:11

Introduction

Acts 4:23—5:11: Peter and John return to the other followers and report what the Council had said. The believers come together and pray for boldness to speak the Lord’s message. They continue to meet, pray, and share their possessions so that no one would be in need. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sell some property but withhold a portion of the money for themselves and lie about giving the entire amount to the apostles for the community of believers. Peter confronts the couple, who then die, and all who hear about their deaths are terrified.

Today’s Key Verse: Acts 4:31b GNT

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.

Read

²³ As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said. ²⁴ When the believers heard it, they all joined together in prayer to God: “Master and Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them! ²⁵ By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said,

‘Why were the Gentiles furious;
why did people make their useless plots?
²⁶ The kings of the earth prepared themselves,
and the rulers met together
against the Lord and his Messiah.’

²⁷ For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. ²⁸ They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen. ²⁹ And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. ³⁰ Reach out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”

³¹ When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.

³² The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. ³⁴ There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, ³⁵ and turn it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the people.

³⁶ And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “One who Encourages”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the apostles.

5 But there was a man named Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira sold some property that belonged to them. ² But with his wife’s agreement he kept part of the money for himself and turned the rest over to the apostles. ³ Peter said to him, “Ananias, why did you let Satan take control of you and make you lie to the Holy Spirit by keeping part of the money you received for the property? ⁴ Before you sold the property, it belonged to you; and after you sold it, the money was yours. Why, then, did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to people—you have lied to God!” ⁵ As soon as Ananias heard this, he fell down dead; and all who heard about it were terrified. ⁶ The young men came in, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, was this the full amount you and your husband received for your property?”

“Yes,” she answered, “the full amount.”

⁹ So Peter said to her, “Why did you and your husband decide to put the Lord’s Spirit to the test? The men who buried your husband are at the door right now, and they will carry you out too!” ¹⁰ At once she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in and saw that she was dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ The whole church and all the others who heard of this were terrified.

Reflect

Describe the believers’ prayer (verses 24–30). What happened immediately after they prayed? Have you ever experienced the power of the Holy Spirit while praying? If so, how would you describe it? In verses 32–37, we learn that, from the beginning, the believers met to pray and share their possessions. What would all our communities be like if they followed this example? Reread 5:1–11. Based on what Ananias and Sapphira’s greed and deception, what are your thoughts about the importance of trust among members of a community of faith?

Pray

Almighty God, empower me to speak your message with boldness and to share what I have with those in need. I pray in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Acts 9:1–19a: Saul, a persecutor of the Church, is converted.