Page 38 - Acts Student Textbook

The Grim Tale of Ananias and Sapphira

6.4 Let’s Practice…

1. Explain the nature of sin committed by Ananias and Sapphira?

2. From Acts 5, how do we tell that the Holy Spirit possesses deity?

3. After the death of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:11, Luke says that the people were
filled with great fear, what kind of fear is the author talking about?

4. How should we rightly understand Acts 5:16, is it teaching that we all will be healed from all our
physical sicknesses provided we have enough faith?

5. In which ways was Gamaliel’s advice bad?

6. Were the apostles schizophrenic, why did they rejoice after being beaten for the right cause,
instead of being angry at God or the religious leaders?

6.5 Let’s Personalize this Lesson…

Have you ever found yourself in a dilemma between truth and pleasing your parents,
boss, workmate, pastor, friends, wife, relative, children, church member, political
figure etc.? This seems to be the dilemma Gamaliel found himself. He was able to
recognize that the apostles could be representing God. He acknowledged that to fight
them could be fighting against God. But his conclusion was that they were to be left
alone (middle ground). He was afraid to convince his crowed to join Christianity if it was coming from
God when he actually knew that by not joining the group of truth meant they were destined for
destruction in hell. Let me challenge you today, when the issue is between truth and error, the
middle ground is of the devil. Stand for the truth regardless of circumstance!

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