Thoughts on Study Questions from Acts Ch 5 on 9/23
My Sunday school class/Life Group is studying the book of Acts. I posted these questions this Monday and encouraged you to jot your thoughts down.
It's Wednesday. This post consists of some comments from the class discussion.
If you’d like a PDF file of the questions, email me at crd.author@gmail.com
Chapter 5 - Vv1-11
Do you think Sapphira could argue that Peter used “entrapment” on her?
No. They lied. That's the bottom line.
No. They tried to make themselves look great.
No. Paul encourages the Ephesians to "speak the truth in love." That's what Peter did.
Why would Luke include this gruesome event directly after a paragraph describing the unity of the believers?
5:1-11 The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.Click the title of this Matthew Henry commentary to go to the url.
An important word (term) is used for the first time in v11. What is it?
How was the church affected by the "great fear" that seized them?
The Fear of God was a demonstration of their healthy respect of God's power.
Ignoring lying would corrupt God's plan for the church.
This is a defining moment. Look at the continued church growth in the next series of verses.
Vv12-16
Rhetorical. It's in v12.
Verse 13 is a strange one. What does it mean?
Church members did not want to become apostles.
Human nature.
How do you reconcile v14 with v13?
New converts.
What is significant about 1) the way people were healed? and 2) the number healed?
1) All they had to do was believe--either the people who were healed's belief or the belief of his/her friends. "People" brought others.
2) All who believed. Everyone. FAITH
Why do you think so many people were “tormented by evil spirits”?
Satan was upset by the number of converts and the miracles.
Do you think Sapphira could argue that Peter used “entrapment” on her?
No. They lied. That's the bottom line.
No. They tried to make themselves look great.
No. Paul encourages the Ephesians to "speak the truth in love." That's what Peter did.
No. They lied. That's the bottom line.
No. They tried to make themselves look great.
No. Paul encourages the Ephesians to "speak the truth in love." That's what Peter did.
Why would Luke include this gruesome event directly after a paragraph describing the unity of the believers?
Part of unity is honesty.
They were starting something new, and they had to keep it holy.
Although it seems like an extreme example, God did something similar when the Hebrews were wandering in the desert where people had to look at the bronze snake to be healed. (Numbers 21:9)
It most likely was not the first time that the couple lied.
No one knows the time and place they will die.
An Aside.
The New Testament structure parallels the Old Testament structure in part. The four Gospels are the NT Torah. Acts is the book of Joshua.
5:1-11 The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.
5:1-11 The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.
Click the title of this Matthew Henry commentary to go to the url.
An important word (term) is used for the first time in v11. What is it?
Church.How was the church affected by the "great fear" that seized them?
The Fear of God was a demonstration of their healthy respect of God's power.
Ignoring lying would corrupt God's plan for the church.
This is a defining moment. Look at the continued church growth in the next series of verses.
The Fear of God was a demonstration of their healthy respect of God's power.
Ignoring lying would corrupt God's plan for the church.
This is a defining moment. Look at the continued church growth in the next series of verses.
Vv12-16
Did you find the answer to the last questions yet?
Rhetorical. It's in v12.
Rhetorical. It's in v12.
Verse 13 is a strange one. What does it mean?
Nobody wanted to be up on the porch with Peter and the apostles.
Church members did not want to become apostles.
Human nature.
Church members did not want to become apostles.
Human nature.
How do you reconcile v14 with v13?
New converts.
New converts.
What is significant about 1) the way people were healed? and 2) the number healed?
1) All they had to do was believe--either the people who were healed's belief or the belief of his/her friends. "People" brought others.
2) All who believed. Everyone. FAITH
1) All they had to do was believe--either the people who were healed's belief or the belief of his/her friends. "People" brought others.
2) All who believed. Everyone. FAITH
Why do you think so many people were “tormented by evil spirits”?
Satan was upset by the number of converts and the miracles.
Satan was upset by the number of converts and the miracles.
We got this far this week.
We got this far this week.
Vv17-42
What was the reason for arresting the apostles?
How long did the imprisonment last? How did it end?
How does the attitude of the Sanhedrin/soldiers change in v26?
How does this set of charges differ from the first time Peter and John were arrested in Chapter 4?
Peter and the others answer with a famous quote in v29. How can this “defense” be used correctly? How has it been abused?
Why would the Sanhedrin's reaction to the apostles’ explanation be fury?
Friday, This week Expressions of Faith is Acts Ch 7. Living a Parallel Life - Part 3.
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