Acts (Written)

Saturday, 19 February 2022

So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. Acts 5:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse found Sapphira keeling over and breathing her last, right at the feet of Peter. With her sudden demise, the young men who had carried out Ananias arrived and carried her out for burial by him. With that recorded, Luke next writes, “So great fear came upon all the church.”

Here, the word ekklésia is used and translated as “church.” It was used by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 and again twice in Matthew 18:17. It signifies a called-out assembly. It will be used many times as Acts continues, and it will then fill Paul’s epistles. It will also be used in Hebrews, James, 3 John, and Revelation.

The word refers to the people who comprise the faith, meaning the faith that leads to an individual’s inclusion in the body of Christ. Faith in what Jesus has accomplished is the key to inclusion. When faith is demonstrated before God, that person is sealed with the Holy Spirit and becomes a member of the ekklésia, or “called out assembly.”

HELPS Word Studies provides a more important meaning for the student of Scripture to remember, saying, “The English word ‘church’ comes from the Greek word kyriakos, ‘belonging to the Lord’ (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēsía (‘church’) is the root of the terms ‘ecclesiology’ and ‘ecclesiastical.’”

This called-out body is who Luke is referring to now. They, meaning all of the believers in Christ, are the church, and it is said that great fear came upon them because of what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. They have now come to understand one of the traits of the Lord. He is not just merciful and forgiving, but He is also holy. He is to be treated as such. It is reminiscent of what was said in 1 Samuel 6 when the people realized the sternness of the Lord in judgment –

“And the men of Beth Shemesh said, ‘Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall it go up from us?’” 1 Samuel 6:20

The church has been given a stern example of what it means to not treat the Lord as holy. This doesn’t mean that this is what will happen at all times, but it is what is deserved at all times. As every infraction will be judged, all believers can expect their times of treating the Lord in a less than holy manner will be presented to them when they stand before Him at the bema seat judgment that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 3 and 2 Corinthians 5.

Along with the church, Luke also notes, “and upon all who heard these things.” Not only did those within the church hear of the matter, but non-believers did as well. This was probably a convincing proof to many that the Lord was, in fact, among the church. As such, the act may have led to more conversions to the faith. Verse 5:14 refers to the expansion of the church, and this demonstration of the Lord’s power and holiness, through His apostle, may have been one of the reasons for this.

Life application: A study of the use of the word ekklésia in Acts clearly shows that it refers to one united body of Jew and Gentile, not two separate bodies based on two separate gospels. Further, the use of it shows that the church is not an organization based on a centralized building or location, such as one might think while considering Roman Catholicism.

The church is shown to be the people who are saved believers in Jesus Christ. Too often, the word “church” is used when referring to a building. Even abandoned buildings are often referred to in this way, such as, “That is an old church.” What would be more appropriate would be to say, “That is an old building where the church used to meet.”

This would then help both believers and non-believers to understand that the church is comprised of those people who are followers of Jesus. Further, those who are true followers of Jesus are also known as “saints.” That is clearly seen in Paul’s letters, such as in his first letter to the Corinthians –

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2

Remember these things and, to the extent possible, try to be precise concerning them. In this, those who misunderstand the terminology can be corrected. The church (the called-out assembly) refers to believers in Jesus Christ, and those believers are all saints.

Thank You, Lord God, for allowing us to be members of Your called-out assembly when we have faith in the gospel concerning what Jesus Christ has done. As Your saints, help us to be responsible and remember to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of this high calling. May our lives be lived to Your glory. Amen.

Friday, 18 February 2022

Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. Acts 5:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse had Peter proclaim judgment upon Sapphira for her having tested the Spirit of the Lord. He proclaimed that the same young men who carried out her husband would likewise carry her out, meaning that she would die. With that spoken, Luke records next that exactly that happened, saying, “Then immediately she fell down at his feet.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, she punched her ticket and fell down dead. The note of her falling at his feet is a nice touch. The very place where the money had been left by Ananias, meaning at the apostles’ feet (as noted in verse 5:2), is the same place where she wound up. The spot where the money testified against her is the same spot where she lay dead.

In this, she (like her husband) became an immediate object lesson to any who would dare to be deceitful in this manner again. As the word is now written, it stands as a testimony to the nature of the act, and to what is rightly deserved by those who do such things.

However, this does not mean that such an action is to be expected with every incident that arises. The example was set to show what is rightly deserved, but it is not prescribing that this will be normative in every instance. Hence, we can find the mercy of God in every such instance we find ourselves in during our walk before the Lord. As for Sapphira, after keeling over, it says, “and breathed her last.”

It is the same word introduced in verse 5:5 when Ananias was said to have breathed his last. Within just a short time, the same thing happened to Sapphira, and the matter was settled as a recorded testimony for all time. In her expiring, Luke next records, “And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.”

The verbs of this sentence are not well translated by the NKJV. Here, instead of “came in,” it is an aorist participle, “having come in.” Likewise, the words, “carrying her out,” are also an aorist participle, “having carried her out.”

Hence, it should read something like, “And the young men, having come in, found her dead, and having carried her out, they buried her by her husband.” Luke’s description is alive with the actions that occurred in order to convey that the same young men, who had just picked up the dead body of Ananias and transported him to a grave, likewise had come in and found Sapphira in the same state as he had been.

After “having carried her out” they took her to the same location as he had been carried, and “they buried her by her husband.” In this, the tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira comes to its end. They had neglected to consider the words of Scripture, they had failed to apply the knowledge of the Lord to their understanding, and they had tested the Lord.

Life application: The 94^th Psalm gives insights into the nature of the Lord in such an instance as that which came about with Ananias and Sapphira –

“Yet they say, ‘The Lord does not see,
Nor does the God of Jacob understand.’
⁸ Understand, you senseless among the people;
And you fools, when will you be wise?
⁹ He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
¹⁰ He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?
¹¹ The Lord knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.” Psalm 94:7-11

The Lord is aware of those things we think we have kept secret, and He will act in accord with His wisdom in each and every such case. Let us consider this and take it to heart. And let us also be grateful that we do not always get what we deserve. If we did, the church would be a lot emptier come Sunday morning. Thank God that He mercifully does not act against our every transgression!

Lord God, You are gracious and merciful. You return to us less than our sins deserve, and You are abundantly good to us in so many ways. Help us to remember this and to always be grateful to You for Your kind hand of discipline when it is brought upon us. Great are You, O God, and greatly are You to be praised. Amen.

Thursday, 17 February 2022

Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Acts 5:9

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Peter had just questioned Sapphira as to whether the land was sold for the amount Peter had indicated. Her answer was a lie, saying it was. With that, it now says, “Then Peter said to her.” Peter has information that is as yet unknown by Sapphira concerning Ananias. He also knows that she has lied, just as he did. With that knowledge, he questions her directly, asking, “How is it that you have agreed together?”

Rather than “agreed together,” the verb is passive, being rightly translated, “How was it agreed by you?” The word Peter uses, sumphóneó, is the etymological root for our modern word “symphony.” It originally signified a harmony of voices, thus being in agreement. A cunning idea was brought forth, and it was agreed to by both “to test the Spirit of the Lord?”

In verse 5:3, Peter had told Ananias that Satan had filled his heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Then in 5:4, he said that Ananias had lied to God. Now, the same action is described as testing the Spirit of the Lord. One can see how the concept of the Godhead is somewhat revealed by how Peter has made the three statements. His wording is not unlike that found in 2 Corinthians 3 where Paul refers to “Christ,” “the Spirit of the living God,” “God,” “the Spirit,” “the Lord,” “the Lord is the Spirit,” and “the Spirit of the Lord.”

Each member has His own role, but the role and the terminology are also seen to overlap as their workings are displayed in the stream of time. In Peter’s use of “the Spirit of the Lord” in this verse of Acts, he is certainly using the term synonymously with “the Spirit of Jesus Christ” as is seen, for example, in Philippians 1:19. And yet, Peter also used the term Holy Spirit as noted before in verse 5:3. As such, the act is one that has come before the Godhead and Peter understands the consequences of their actions by declaring, “Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door.”

Sapphira may have heard the words and not even really understood what was being said. The sentencing is so abrupt and direct that her mind may not have had time to process what he meant. But they were stated clearly enough to tell her that some sort of disaster had taken place in regard to Ananias, and that meant disaster was certainly coming upon her as well. And without a break in his words, Peter then conveys what that disaster would be, saying, “and they will carry you out.”

The span of time would have been very short between the two intervals, especially if a tomb was already set to receive Ananias’ body. Just as the feet of the young men who had put him in his grave had returned, the sentence upon Sapphira was being spoken and executed. She would be joining him in burial within moments.

Life application: If one slowly reads through the epistles and notes every use of the names and designations – God, Jesus, the Spirit, and so on – a round and rich tapestry of the workings of God is revealed. The amount of overlap in the terminology makes it utterly inexcusable that people deny the concept of a Godhead where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each a member.

This is unquestionable. As such, only a few options are available concerning the matter. One can say, “I simply don’t believe this is the word of God.” In this, the indication is that the person does not accept the Bible as a revelation of who God is. But if the person is honest, he will at least admit that the Bible does convey the notion that the God presented in it is triune in nature.

If a person says, “I believe the Bible is the word of God,” then there is a true disconnect in his thinking if he also says, “I do not believe in a Trinity.” The evidence is right there for anyone who is willing to simply open his eyes. Such a person is deluded and has not sought out the truth of the God who is revealed in those same Scriptures.

And, of course, there are those who accept the Bible as the true revelation of God, and they are willing to accept what it says at face value concerning how God has revealed Himself. “Yes, I accept that the Bible teaches the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. I may not understand this, and I may have some of the nuances wrong in my thinking, but this is what the Bible clearly teaches.”

If you are struggling with the concept of the Trinity, take the time to do your own study. The epistles and Revelation are not that long. In a short amount of time, you can have every instance of how God has revealed Himself written down. From there, you can consider them. If you are honest with what is there before you, you will agree that the Bible teaches a Triune Godhead.

Lord God, You greatly reward those who diligently seek You through Your word. This is certain. And so, help us to be wise and to spend our time wisely through reading it, studying it, contemplating it, and meditating upon it. What could be more important than knowing You and growing closer to You? Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Wednesday, 16 February 2022

And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
She said, “Yes, for so much.” Acts 5:8

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse noted that Sapphira had come in without knowing any of the details concerning the death of Ananias. With that being the context, Peter is obviously prompted in his spirit to find out if the matter extended to her as well. With that in mind, it says, “And Peter answered her.”

In the Bible, the word “answered” is frequently used to indicate “asked,” even if it is the beginning of a conversation. There is a matter that is waiting for a resolution and so it is “answered” to. Hence, the word “answered” responds to the as-yet unstated issue and not necessarily to someone’s query. Understanding this, Peter introduces the issue, saying, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

The issue is the sale of the land for a certain amount of money. It may be that the bag of money was still there where it had been left as a witness to the deceit of Ananias. The arrival of Sapphira was like its own discourse to open the matter up for a resolution. As such, Peter answers by asking.

In this, the matter is set forth and the evidence is either openly present, or the amount was asked by Peter, even if unrecorded by Luke. Either way, the amount was made manifest to her, and Peter then asked about it. With this precise line of presenting evidence and then questioning the details, Luke next records that “She said, ‘Yes, for so much.’”

The question from Peter was not, “Is this the amount you and your husband decided to present to us?” Rather, it was whether the land was sold for the amount presented. As such, her answer is false.

Life application: Although we should not expect that every person who lies about such a matter will suddenly keel over and expire, the purpose of including this story is surely to instruct us in our own responsibilities in running matters of the church.

First, it is an indication that the Lord is aware of even the smallest details of our daily lives. This is evident from the parable He gave concerning the unjust steward in Luke 16:1-13. Secondly, it is to be remembered that that church at this time did not have a New Testament to conduct its affairs by. And so, the Lord directed the early church, through the apostles, and He did it – at times – by having things come about that are not to be considered normative once the epistles were written.

With the epistles now available, a matter such as this one can now be evaluated based on what is written there, and decisions can be rendered based on that guidance. Thus, it is incumbent on those who find error within the church to go to the word, ensure that the matter is evaluated based on what the word says, and then a decision is rendered based on that evaluation.

Let us be sure to consult the word. To not do so defeats the purpose of having it in the first place. Keep reminding yourself as you go through Acts that it is a descriptive account. It is not prescribing anything in matters such as this one, and what occurs is certainly not to be considered normative for the rest of the church age.

Glorious God, what a gift You have given to us in the pages of the Bible. If we are willing to adhere to it as the guiding rule for our lives, then our lives will certainly be better off for it. You are the Creator, and we are the work of Your hands. Certainly, what You have given us in the word is a reflection of the care You have for us. Thank You for this word! Amen.

Sgt York’s Desk.

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Acts 5:7

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Ananias has died and been wrapped up, carried out, and buried. With that recorded, Luke now turns to the second person to be involved in the devious matter, saying, “Now it was about three hours later.” The Greek bears an idiomatic expression commonly found in the gospels. It more literally reads, “And it came to pass, about three hours later.”

It is a way of conveying that the events were not preplanned by Peter. The first thing occurred, and, eventually, the next event began to unfold as well. In this instance, the event surrounds the wife of Ananias, saying, “when his wife came in.” This is Sapphira, noted by name in verse 5:1, and of whom it said “his wife also being aware of it” in verse 5:2.

She is complicit in the lie concerning the money obtained from the sale of the land, but she is clueless as to the events that occurred concerning Ananias. As it says, “not knowing what had happened.” With this, she is given an opportunity to set the course of her future, for good or for ill.

Life application: The book of Proverbs provides wisdom to those who are willing to accept what it says. If the discourses and pithy sayings that are given there are mulled over and meditated upon, a lot of woes that otherwise occur might be eliminated from our lives. In Proverbs 4, Solomon says –

“My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
²² For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
²³ Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:20-27

In those few lines are several admonitions that would help Sapphira decide what course of action to take when she is questioned about the affair of the sale of land. We’ll see if she stayed awake during Sabbath school when Solomon was read.

Take time to read through Proverbs. If you read one chapter a day, it will take you a month to go through it. If you read three a day… well, you do the math. Just be sure to review the wisdom recorded there. You will often find that from day to day what you read will be applicable to events of that same day.

Lord God, Your word is precious. Thank You that it is there, waiting for us to give our attention to it. Now, Lord, give us the desire and the wisdom to search it out and to then apply its precepts to our walk before You. Thank You for this word that can safely guide the steps of our lives. Amen.