Acts 5:1-42

Contents: Sin and death of Ananias and Sapphira. The second persecution and answer of apostles to their persecutors. Warning of Gamaliel. Apostles beaten.

Characters: God, Holy Spirit, Ananias, Sapphira, apostles, Satan, Peter, priest, Sadducees, officers, Gamaliel, Theudas.

Conclusion: Beware of going to greater length in profession than the inner life will stand being ambitious to be counted religious and liberal while secretly cherishing selfish motives for this is lending oneself to Satan and lying, not merely to men, but to the Holy Ghost, a great affront to God.

Never does good work go on in the name of Jesus Christ but it is met with opposition, for Satan, the destroyer of men, will ever be an adversary to those who are benefactors to men. We may cheerfully trust God with our safety, so long as we keep close to the will of God and trust in Christ our leader.

Key Word: Lying (to Holy Ghost), Acts 5:3; Acts 5:9. Persecution, Acts 5:18; Acts 5:33; Acts 5:40.

Strong Verses: Acts 5:29; Acts 5:31; Acts 5:32; Acts 5:39; Acts 5:42.

Striking Facts: Acts 5:31. God has invested Christ with the highest dignity and entrusted Him with the highest authority. It is He alone who is authorized to give repentance and remission to men. The new heart is His work, the broken spirit a sacrifice of His providing, the putting away of sin His task alone.