Acts Chapter 5

1. When Ananias came to announce he had sold his property also and that he had given all of the money to the church, he lied. He publicly sinned before the church telling them he had given all the money but in actuality kept a portion for himself. The Holy Spirit let Peter know that this man was lying. Peter acknowledged the land belonged to Ananias and so did the proceeds from the sale of his land. What sin was Ananias guilty of besides lying?

2. Because the man had sinned publicly, Peter addressed the sin publicly. Imagine the shock this man felt as Peter revealed his lie. Peter said that this man had not lied to the church but to whom?

3. The Bible said that great fear came upon all who heard of what happened to Ananias. There was someone who had not heard about this Ananias’ death, who was it?

4. Sadly, Ananias had involved Sapphira in his schemes and she went along with it. When questioned she also lied about the situation just as her husband had instructed her to. The young men had just finished burying Ananias and now they had to bury whom?

5. Verses 12-16 are verses that should be read slowly as they tell a phenomenal story of the power of the Holy Spirit working through the apostles in the early church. We see that the people held the apostles in high respect. Many people were saved and what other things happened?

6. This caused jealousy amongst the religious leaders, the high priest and the Sadducees. They arrested the apostles and put them in prison. An angel came and let them out of prison. The angel instructed them to go back to the temple and to speak words. What words were they to speak?

7. A council meeting was called to discuss what to do about the teaching of the apostles. They decided to question the men and called for them to be brought out of the jail. Little did they know an angel had already got them out. It is ironic how this happened, because the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, nor did they believe in angels. When they brought the apostles before the religious leaders, they were reminded of the strict command to not teach in the name. What name were they talking about?

8. Peter very boldly told these men that God was in charge, and they would obey God not them. How did they receive Peter’s words?

9. There was one man who calmed everyone down and basically told the religious leaders to just let this go. He felt that if the work of the apostles was fabricated it would self-implode. But if the work of the apostles was genuine and from God then the work would continue no matter what. What was this man’s name?

10. The council took this man’s advice and did not kill the apostles, but they did do what to them?