Ananias and Saphira
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it, at the apostles' feet.
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Acts 5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Acts 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Acts 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Acts 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Acts 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
It was not the amount given that mattered. They were free to do as they wished, but they agreed together to lie, wanting to appear to the others that they had given all the money from the land sale to the needs of the people.
Who told Peter they were lying? The Holy Spirit revealed it to him. Who told Peter that the punishment would be death? The same Spirit, Peter only spoke the words of God prophetically.
Within each believer is a conscience and the Holy Spirit of truth. We are to obey the truth of God. The moral code of the Old Testament God still honors.
Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Had they not said that all the money from the property was given? They kept back some, that was to be given as an offering. They lied to God.
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Were they not lying to the church, giving a false report? Perhaps not lying against another, but lying to each other, and against God. They were breaking the unity of the Spirit and caused a separation from God, for God is truth.
The power of the church was and is in it's unity in God's spirit calling upon the Lord in prayer and obeying the Lord's will. Willful disobedience and lying divides the unity of the church and God's spirit is grieved. Satan is given a foothold in the church opposing God's spirit and direction.The church becomes powerless and worldly or just a dead place.Sometimes a church may actually be a place of evil intent.
2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Know God's word and walk in the spirit as Peter and you will not be deceived.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Earlier this week I received an invite in the Email to put our testimonies and Bible study web pages on a religious sight. The sight was named "zeal."
I thought the idea was interesting as they said that contributers would receive rewards and points to become called zealots. I thought, yes, we are to be zealous, enthusiastic for our Lord.
I looked deeper for others who were contributing to the sight and found several Islamic sights. Zeal? but not after truth. The Bible speaks of those having zeal, but after the wrong thing.
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
In truth? We must follow God through Jesus and in truth. As Sarah wrote in her letter;
"I think to our Lord truth is most important of all. God speaks nothing but truth in His word, all things of God are founded on His truths. It is His truth we give to all for salvation, it is God's truths to unite all children of the Lord together, it is truth that sets each man in the world free."
"Over and again in the Bible, God speaks of truth."
John 16: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
1Timothy 3: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1John 4: 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hearby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
John 1: 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. ( and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1: 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
"Simply our God tells us here that truth is the foundation of faith, lies only have a foundation built of satan... never could lies stand up to truth. Lies keep us ever captive, truth shall always set us free."
Is lying really such a dangerous sin? If we continuously lie, yes there is judgment. If we lie against the Spirit of truth, is he not grieved?
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Shall we apply this personally? Do we pretend in front of men to be living in truth and righteousness, and secretly we are in continuous sin? God knows, he sees all. It is time to quit the lie and give all to God.
Wait you say? Were not Ananias and Sapphira under Grace? Why were they judged swiftly as if under ther law of sin and death?
I believe that they were an example to the church. With this example God wishes to say to the believers in Christ that his moral laws continue, that we are not to hide behind grace as an occasion to sin. Paul addresses this in Romans;
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Will God continue to destroy someone who continues to sin without repentance? Yes, it may happen as Paul explains again.
1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Were these greater sinners then others? No, they were examples to warn us. All sin, but be assured God is not pleased with deliberate sin. The church is a place for sinners to come and be changed. The leadership must be separated unto God and the fruit of the spirit should be in evidence.
When God was with Moses leading the children from Egypt to the promised land, he wanted them to live in truth and obedience trusting in him. Korah rose up against his authority;
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Num 16:4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
Num 16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
God would show his displeasure with Korah.
Num 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Num 16:20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Num 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
Sin has a way of spreading if not dealt with. God would make an example out of Korah.
Num 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Num 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Num 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
Num 16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
God wanted to stop sin and make examples. he did this with rebellious Korah and he did it again with the hypocrisy and deceit of Ananias and Saphira. Is God the same today? Will he be angry with sin? Should we not obey in truth?
Ananias and Korah, what can we see in common ? Both were at the beginning of something new. Korah at the transition from bondage, learning to obey God in a new land where God was king and judge.
And Ananias and Saphira at the beginning of the church age, where all were learning to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. It is important when beginning something new that it be established on a foundation of truth and obedience in god's commands.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
Every man's work will be made manifest, some as examples. In recent years leaders in the faith have fallen because of secret sins. Covetousness, fornication, these are sins of the nation, but shall not be in the church.
1 Pet 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1 Pet 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
In conclusion; Do not lie to your neighbor nor to yourself. For we are sinning against God. Obey God with a humble spirit, avoid sin and rebellion. Walk in truth by Gods Spirit. Do this and you shall live free from God's correction and you will live in God's blessings.It was not Peter who killed Ananias and Saphira it was the displeasure of God.
Can anyone truthfully say that we never sinned as Ananias and Saphira?
We hide in Jesus and his grace, yet we must be lights to a darkened world. Learn the lesson of Ananias and Saphira and Korah, serve God in unity and truth. Ananias was a liar, Korah a divider, we shall learn to avoid these sins.
Mighty Miracles
The power of the Holy Ghost has come. In the past it came upon people for a time. David said :
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Isaiah some 700 years before Jesus came had prophecied by the Holy Ghost:
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Our Lord Jesus came to earth by the power of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous birth;
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Jesus spoke the word of truth, he was truth and the Holy Spirit in him was the Spirit of truth.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
At Pentecost truth came by way of the Holy Spirit of truth;
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
So when all were of one accord in the Spirit of truth, the life giving Spirit worked mighty miracles. But a married couple broke the annointing of truth and unity with a lie conceived and agreed on. The lie was exposed and God judged these as an example to the Church. The story continues;
Acts 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Judgment came to the household of God, two were killed for lying to the Holy Spirit. A great fear (of God ) came upon all the Church. Praise God, the fear of God is important, and the conviction of personal sin. If we do not fear God we coninue in sin. Lies were put away, all feared God and were of one accord, the results of this was a great outpouring of God's Spirit. We want an outpouring,? We need to cleanse the Church of sin and fear God, then pray together in one accord. The results follow;
Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
A great annointing of God came when the church put away sin and all were in one accord as they gathered in the great Solomons porch on the east of the temple.
Acts 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Who were the rest, who did not join with them? Perhaps these were the casual believers, the uncommitted people who were only around for social reasons or perhaps to get a handout. They were not true believers and they had heard of what God did to false people, as Ananias and Saphira. They had a fear of God that kept them away lest they be judged.
Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Think of this only true believers came to the Lord, no club members, a multitude of both men and women. Repentance and conviction responding to the power of God and the word of God.
Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
There were no unbelievers or skeptics in this crowd. Their faith and expectations were high, so God opened up his blessings. The sick came by faith and were healed even by the shadow of Peter passing by.
Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
From surrounding cities came a multitude with needs, sickness and demon possessions, all were healed, everyone.
They were doing the works that Jesus did;
"Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."
Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, Acts 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Unbelieving saducees, forcing others to conform to their will, when they saw the outpouring of God's healings and miracles were filled with indignation (jealousy). These leaders denied the resurrection, denied the existance of angels and were opposed to healings and miracles. Like many today, filled with unbelief, seeking to explain away all the works of God.
Acts 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Acts 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Even in jail God brings miracles of deliverance. The Saducees place them in prison to silence their witness and God sends an angel to free them. Another proof of Gods power and almost humerous when you think that the Saducees did not believe in angels. Unbelief will not change the nature and work of God. It may keep his blessings from the unbeliever but God moves still in hope and in help for those who trust in him.
2 Tim 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
The Angel commanded Peter" Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." The angel spoke the message of who sent him. He was a messenger of God confirming Peter's ministry. Wow, would you like an angel to tell you to continue and not be discouraged? That would be helpful wouldn't it? Yet we have the witness of the Holy Spirit. When we hear the voice of discouragment be assured this is not an angel of God, but perhaps an angel of satan. Earlier when Peter was told to stop preaching he replied;
"Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard"
Acts 5:21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Peter and John obeyed the angel and in the morning they went to the temple and taught. In another place, the high priest, the counsel and the senate came together to accuse the apostles of their crime of witnessing. In one place Gods word is spoken with clarity, in the place where God's representatives of the Old Covenant met, there was bitterness and jealousy. Peter spoke sweet words of life, the rulers spoke with guile.
Acts 5:22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Acts 5:23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Acts 5:24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
The same people who put Jesus in the grave thinking there he would stay. had placed Peter and the Apostles in a prison. Again they were surprised with the news, the place where they were put is empty, they are gone. Both the grave of Jesus and the prison of Peter, were heavily guarded, there was no escape in the natural. God has freed them, they are no longer captive, he has set the captives free.
Acts 5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Did the Apostles cower in a room as they did before Pentecost? No, they boldly were preaching in the temple.
Acts 5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
The apostles were hero's of the people, all people loved and respected them, anyone giving them trouble would be stoned .
Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Foolish arrogance of those who should have known God and his son, they had already called out a curse on themselves, they had killed their Messiah yelling; "His blood be on us, and on our children." (Mat:27:15) Now they were blaming the Apostles for explaining and reminding them of what they had done.
It is this way in witnessing, the guilty accuse the messenger of grace, instead of repenting and being forgiven. "Who made you our judge"? The choice of life is given, but often the messenger is refused and maligned.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Perhaps Peter is made even more confident as he once again answers his accusers. Had not the angel of God commanded them to speak? "We ought to obey God rather than men." Praise God, some men play God, but God's servants obey the living God, not the disobedient commands of men.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. You killed Jesus, and hung him on a tree, a stunning truth they did not want to hear, it was not politically correct, but it was the truth, they were not used to truth, they were actors of the law, pretending to be its champions, but full of evil. They killed Jesus and the God they pretended to serve, the God of their fathers raised Jesus by the Holy Ghost from the grave. Another miracle they tried to cover up and explain away.
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Jesus, God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour, with his right hand, the right hand of honor, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to israel.
They were witnesses and so was the Holy Ghost that gave them power to speak. There was something different about these simple men, they were given power by God's Holy Ghost. By their words and miracles was the evidence of God's power.
Acts 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Did they hear? Yes, did they fall to their knees in repentance? No, these foxes were used to Power and power intoxicates. Their response was the same as with Jesus, they were cut to the heart, and from envy and vengence they took counsel to kill them. Would these be the first Christian Martyrs?
Gamaliel
Acts 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
The Apostle Paul, who was first named Saul, as a Pharisee studied under Gamaliel. Saul was also a hater of Christians, even rounding them up to be killed. Was this what Gamaliel really believed should happen? Saul was zealous for the law and was his student.
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
We have to go to other sources to find information about Gamaliel,whose name means "my rewarder is God."
Our 29th President was named Warren Gamaliel Harding, apparently the name was one of honor. A town in Kentucky bears the name "Gamaliel." So who was this famous Jew?
His grandfather Hilel, was a famous Jewish scholar of the law. Gamaliel was the disciple of Hilel. Within the Jewish Talmud (meaning instructions: the authoritative body of Jewish tradition ) both Hilel and Gamaliel were the first to be called "Elders." Also Gamaliel was the first to be called "Rabban" or master. Gamaliel had a son and a daughter.
In the ninth century Photius, a Greek churchman and scholar started the tradition that Gamaliel was baptized by Paul and Peter and became a secret Christian. This is not something to trust, traditions made centuries after the events are really not to be trusted as God's word.
Another Jewish tradition says that when Gamaliel died, "the honor of the Torah (law) ceased and purity and piety became extinct." This gives us an idea of how respected this man was.
Their tradition and honor I believe should have been given to Jesus, he was the fulfillment of the law and honor and purity are kept by him eternally. Let's see what Gamaliel had to say regarding the apostles.
Acts 5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
Where was Gamaliel when Jesus was accused? The accusers and cheif priests were mostly Saducees, liberals, politically minded people protecting their power.
Take heed indeed. Jesus warned to take heed of the Pharisees.
Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Yet Gamaliel seemed to be different, he used cautious judgment.
In Jesus' words;
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Acts 5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
Acts 5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
I think we must also be careful to not judge someone swiftly. The Saducees were doing this from envy and jealousy. We must be careful when we judge another. Jesus warned us of this. We better search our own hearts first.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Acts 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Gamaliel, a defender spoke in their defense, unafraid of the angry Saducees, the unbelieving ones of the council. He was a Pharisee, believing in an after life, and in miracles. He was not convinced of their guilt.
What would you do? If evil comes against innocence, would you come to their defense?
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Are we of the light and truth? Then we must defend what is right.
Who in the Bible opposed God? Pharaoh of old, and God made himself known by many signs and wonders.
Jonah ran from God, and God brought a big fish.
Saul opposed the Church, rounding up it's members, thinking he was for God, until Jesus spoke to him;
Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
How many do we know who oppose God? If they were with God, they would be blessed and unstoppable, but opposing God they will be brought to shame.
Shall we adopt this principle of leaving alone beliefs that do not agree with our beliefs? I believe we are to stand for truth. Remember the apostles were going to be killed by their persecutors. Gamaliel was willing to risk his reputation to spare their lives.
(Acts 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.)
Their must be truth and freedom to choose, when a religion begins to persecute another for their beliefs, this is going too far. The Islamic fundamentalists thought they were serving Allah by killing innocent Americans. They should be stopped, but the freedoms of Islamic peoples remain as a matter of choice.
Our responsibility to God is to witness the gospel truth, where all may hear and choose. Death and judgment belong to God, not man. We still must be on the side of truth, loving those who oppose us with gentleness. As Paul instructed young Timothy;
2 Tim 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Tim 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2 Tim 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Then should we be as Gamaliel and ignore doctrines that are against our belief, knowing that God will cause them to cease?
No, we must oppose error with truth. We are witnesses of the Lord's message to a lost and dying world. We should even witness to the cults. In Russia and in the Philippines the cults are in great number. Many Mormon and Jehovah's Witness missionaries are active in these countries where many are seeking God.
Shall we sit back and allow God to cause them to stop? No, we must obey God and go out to the world with the true message of salvation from sins, through the blood of Jesus. Even on the Internet we must bring the good news of sins forgiven in Jesus. Our Bible studies will go out so those seeking may find the true way.
On a search for Jesus online "Jesus.com" brings a message of a Jesus person looking for women...this is not our Jesus. We must bring the true Jesus to the world and Internet.
Acts 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Thugs and bullies, they could not let them go without beating them. They were beaten without shirts, very severely. Many have died from such beatings. They were punishing them for disobeying. We may be punished for not obeying a law that opposes Gods will. So be it.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Gamelial chose to wait and see if they were of God or not. We need to learn to be still and wait on God.
Psa 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
Psa 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Even though they were bleeding from the whip lashings, they knew in their hearts that they were in God's will. If we are in God's will, we are happy, we have supernatural joy and peace.
Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2 Tim 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
They continued, as we shall continue until the Lord returns. As Gamaliel, we are to be spokesman for what we believe. Obeying God before the traditions and laws of man.
Though Gamaliel was a wise man, and honored by his people with the title "master," we are to put no man as our master. Jesus is our master.
Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: (master, my great one) for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: ( kathegetes :guide, master) for one is your Master, even Christ.
We are to give our highest respect and honor to God and his son Jesus. Gamelial was a teacher of the law, a man who made ordinances. Jesus is the fulfiller of the law. Upon the death of Jesus, man made traditions and ordinances were nailed to the cross.
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Gamelial helped spare the apostles from death, he was the means that God used to free his apostles and what had they done?
"By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders" (acts 5:12) "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) "[Acts 5:14] They were guilty of being used by God to evidence the new way in Jesus Christ. If this be a crime then we all should be criminals for this cause. "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29 )
Gary
Acts Links
Next Page
Previous Page
Table of Contents