Page 35 - Acts Student Textbook

Study Section 6: Acts 5: Trouble Within and Without

6.1 Connect.
Earlier we had seen the apostles getting arrested for the good work of kindness. That was just
the beginning of more problems to come. In this section we will witness the church being in
trouble both inward and outward. The trials get a bit more intensified. How do the apostles
handle pressure? Let’s begin…

6.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to state how the church grew in the fear of God through the
trials she went through.

2. The student should be able to explain the nature of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira

3. The student should be able to describe the deity of the Holy Spirit

6.3 Acts 5: Trouble Within and Without

What was the nature of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira? (5:1-3)

The story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) shows the danger of lying and the danger of
seeking praises of men for our good works. Like other disciples had been doing (4:34,37),
they sold a property and gave part of the price to the church. This was good and admirable,
yet they ended up being condemned.

The sin was not that they gave only part of the price. They were not obligated to sell their property,
or to give the full price of the sale (v4). The sin was that they lied about the gift (vv 3,8). They gave
just part of the price (v2), but agreed to tell people they had received a different price (vv 7-9). They
lied to Peter and the church, but in reality they lied to the Spirit. Theologically this is very similar to
Jesus asking Paul on the road to Damascus, "Why are you persecuting Me?" (cf. Acts 9:4). Paul was
persecuting individual believers, but Jesus took it personally, as does the Spirit here. This should be a
word of warning to modern believers.

How does Peter interpret their sin? (5:4-7)

This passage shows the origin of lies. Peter said Ananias lied because Satan had “filled his heart.”
Pratte notes that this term "Filled" is the same word used of the Spirit (cf. Eph. 5:18). Filling
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requires cooperation! Satan cannot force us to sin. Ananias and Sapphira were still accountable for
what they did. That is why they were killed. The point is that Satan tempted them and, instead of
resisting him, they let him come into their hearts and control their conduct. Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13;
James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8,9; John 8:40-44; Luke 22:3-6. The same is true of all sin (Matt. 15:1-20; James
1:13-15). Other verses showing the danger of lying and deceit are: 1 Peter 2:1,22; 3:10; Matthew
15:18-20; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9; Revelation 21:8,27; 22:14,15; Proverbs 6:16-19; 19:22;
Psalm 24:3-5; 40:4; Exodus 20:16; John 8:44. Surprisingly there is continuing satanic influence in the
lives of believers (cf. Eph. 6:10-19; 1 John 5:18-19).

23 Ibid, (p. 81).
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