God Conversation

Acts 5:1-11

1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.

2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

What happened?

It all begins at the end of chapter 4 with the description of the early church in Jerusalem, a group of believers so filled with the Holy Spirit that they were of one heart and one mind.

Great power and grace were on the apostles, who preached and testified of the risen Savior. So knit together were the hearts of the people that they held all their possessions loosely and willingly shared them with one another, not because they were coerced but because they loved one another.

Those who sold land and houses gave of their profits to the apostles, who distributed the gifts to those in need.

Deceit and greed

What Ananias and Sapphira did was a contrast with what people in general where doing

“But a man named Ananias . . .” A dark cloud invades the scene. Greed and deceit enter the community like a virus. Amid the glorious expansion of the church, Ananias and Sapphira sneak in as a threat.

Sapphira falls down dead at Peter’s feet (5:10), whereas Joseph brought all his money and laid it at the apostles’ feet (4:37). The generous disciple held God’s authority in high esteem and showed it by laying his possessions at his appointed messenger’s feet. Ananias and Sapphira did not, and God made his authority known by laying them down.

Satan trying to infiltrate

verse 3, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit”?” that principalities are at war. Satan is trying to get a foothold because he sees how powerfully the Spirit is moving. Whereas the community was “filled” with the Holy Spirit (4:30), Ananias was “filled” with Satan; “he has become Satan’s plaything.”

This is not simply a story of greed in the early Church. It’s about an attack on the church from within—an enemy scared and trying to stop the great momentum of the gospel.

Ananias and Sapphira were not judged for their lack of generosity. Instead, they were judged for trying to deceive God.

The assembly’s response

The aftermath is Acts 5:11, which says, “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

“and the word continued to spread”

Lying to God is a Serious Offense. God will judge and punish those who continue in sin (Revelation 21:6-8).

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Acts 9:36-42

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.

38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Who was Dorcas ?

Dorcas, or Tabitha, in the Bible lived in the town of Joppa, a city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Dorcas was also called Tabitha

Dorcas is a Greek name meaning “gazelle,”

Tabitha is the Aramaic rendering of the same name

Dorcas, or Tabitha, was a charitable person who made things, especially clothing, for the needy in Joppa

Proverbs 13:22 a good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous

The miracle

When Dorcas became ill and died, the believers who knew Dorcas heard that Peter was in the nearby town of Lydda, and they sent for him. The Bible does not specifically say that the disciples at Joppa were hoping for Peter to resurrect Dorcas, but they did call urgently for him

When Peter arrived at the home where Dorcas’ body had been laid out, he went up to see the body. There were many widows there, weeping. They all showed Peter “the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them”—tangible evidence of Dorcas’ loving service (Acts 9:39).

The Significance

What happened next is proof that our God is full of glorious, unrestrained power: “Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.

Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:40–42).

The resurrection of Dorcas was a major reason so many people in Joppa believed. This miracle performed in the name of the Lord led many to faith in Christ.

John 5:25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live

Because God has a plan for Tabitha and the proceeding miracle, He answered the prayer of Peter and brought Tabitha back to life.

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Acts 9:32-35

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years.

34 "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up.

35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Who was Aeneas?

Aeneas was a man living in the town of Lydda, situated on the coastal plain about 22 miles northwest of Jerusalem

Aeneas had suffered from paralysis for eight years until Simon Peter came to town

The name Aeneas is Greek and may imply that the man was either a Gentile or a Hellenistic Jew

The Miracle

Peter said to him, ‘Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.’ Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

Not only was a paralyzed man healed, but Acts 9:35 says that “all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

Aeneas healing is remarkable. When he heard the words “Jesus Christ heals you,” his reaction was not cynical or doubting. He did not say: “I have been paralyzed for eight years! What are you talking about? How can I get up and make my bed?!” Instead, he immediately believed that Christ healed him!

The Significance

By recognizing that Jesus wanted to heal this non-traditional Jew or possibly a Gentile, Peter was better prepared for the vision Jesus would soon give him in nearby Joppa at the home of Simon the tanner (Acts 9:43; Acts 10).

God used Aeneas to demonstrate His power to people who did not know Him.

2 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

If I were Aeneas, what would I have done? Would I have believed St. Peter, that Jesus Christ will heal me?

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Acts.5:14-16

14 More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

All of them were healed

Nowhere does the passage say that anyone was actually healed by being in Peter’s shadow but we assume that

Verse 16 says that the power of God was so strong that all of them where healed

The Shadow

Note that  the word "shadow" in Acts 5:15 does not, in the original Greek, necessarily mean a dark spot made by the sun. It is a word meaning an effulgence, a radiance, a shining forth of divine energy.

The book of Acts shows that many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles. In chapter three an outstanding miracle took place with a man lame from birth. In chapter four the place where the saints were meeting was shaken by the Holy Ghost.

And now in chapter five, in the case of Peter his close proximity brought healing to many.

Faith and the anointing

We know that people obviously had a high regard for Peter’s miracle-working and that they placed faith in the efficacy of even his shadow

Obviously it was not Peter's power or holiness that was radiating. It was the presence and power of Christ.

People who have a large or heavy radiation of life force, be it for good or evil, are said to have "charisma." When they enter a room, their presence immediately demands attention, many times without a word being spoken.

Jesus said (John 14:12) that we would do the same works that He did

Isaiah 60:1-2

Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

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Acts 5:17–21

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, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 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.

The issue

The religious council initially held Peter and John because they taught the resurrection from the dead, which the Sadducee-heavy Sanhedrin doesn't believe in.

Since preaching the resurrection isn't a crime—the Pharisees do just that—and the public supported them too much, the council couldn't punish them.

Now, however, the Sanhedrin can charge the apostles with disobeying a direct order of religious authorities. The Sanhedrin had forbidden Peter and John from preaching in Jesus' name (Acts 4:18). The apostles disobeyed, as Peter warned they would (Acts 4:19–20).

The Angel

But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 "Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." (Acts 5:19-20 NASB)

The word "angel" is from the Greek word aggelos, which means: "a messenger." In general, in texts where an angel appears, the task is to convey the message or do something on behalf of God. Since the focus of the text is on the message, the messenger is rarely described in detail. Thus, the divine emissary may or may not be some sort of supernatural being. How the angel got them out, we don't know, but it sure seems to be miraculous. The impression that Luke wants to give is that God Himself intervened.

re-arrested

"Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." (Acts 5:20 NASB)

The apostles ended up before the Sanhedrin, right where they would have been if they had not been released from prison. So, why release them? God did not set the apostles free so they could run for the hills or so they could just indulge their own comfort. They were set free for a reason. What was that reason? It was an acting out of prophecy.

Some times God delivers His children, and some times He doesn't.

Isaiah 42:7

To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon, And those who dwell in darkness from the prison

Luke 21:16-17

But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all on account of My name

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Acts 3

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk.

The Gate Beautiful

Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour

Peter and John were not going to the temple at the hour of sacrifice, but at the hour of prayer that followed the afternoon sacrifice. They realized that the sacrificial system was fulfilled in the perfect sacrifice Jesus offered on the cross

The Jewish historian Josephus described this gate on the temple mount; made of fine Corinthian brass, seventy-five feet high with huge double doors, so beautiful that it “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold

The lame man

A certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried… asked for alms

The lame man simply wanted to be supported in the condition that he was in. God had something better in mind

Fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

The healing

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (v.7-10)

Immediately his feet and bones received strength: Strength did not come to the lame man until Peter said “rise up and walk,” and not until Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up.

The lame man at the Beautiful Gate wanted something; but God wanted to give him something much greater.

Peter preaches to the gathered crowd

Peter responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”

Why do you marvel at this? Peter’s point was simple: Jesus healed all sorts of people when He walked this earth, so why should it seem strange that He continues to heal from heaven?

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John 20:30 AMP

There are also many other signs (attesting miracles) that Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

How many miracles?

We don’t know how many miracles Jesus did during His life and earthly ministry on earth

While we don’t know how many miracles were performed, we can count those that are clearly spoken of in the four gospel accounts wish are 37 plus His resurrection for a total of 38 miracles.

Why Did Jesus Do Miracles?

First, Jesus told us that He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (Mark 10:45) and in His miracles He certainly did that.

Jesus performed miracles was to reveal Himself as being sent by God, as being the Son of Man (a Messianic title), and as being the Son of God.

One more reason for Jesus performing miracles was to give us a glimpse of that which is to come. One day all things will be made new by the power of God.

Examples of other miracles

Jesus healed a great multitude (Matt 12:15-21, Mark 3:7-12, Luke 6:17-19)

He healed the blind and the lame in the temple (Matt 21:14).

Do miracles still happen today?

In Scripture, miracles are often associated with the words “signs and wonders.” A sign is a physical manifestation that points to something greater than itself. In other words, the healing ministry of Jesus recounted in Scripture confirms that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the Savior of the world (Acts 2:22)

I believe all the kinds of miracles we see in the New Testament continue to happen in the world today with the same frequency and intensity

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

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John 21:1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:  Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

The haul

The first great catch of fish, in Luke 5:1-11, occurred at the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus

At the Lake of Galilee Jesus taught the people from the boat belonging to Simon Peter. After his discourse He said to Simon: "Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch. And Simon answered, 'Master, we have toiled all the night and took nothing!'" (Luke 5:4b-5a).

The second great fish of 153 fishes, which occurred after the resurrection, and was His last earthly meal with His apostles

The Miracle

On at least three occasions, Jesus directs His disciples to meet Him in Galilee after His resurrection (Matthew 26:32; 28:7, 10; Mark 14:28; 16:7)

The last miracle is like Jesus coming “full-circle.” with the disciples

Galilee is the disciples’ home, and their fishing boats are docked there

They didn't recognize Jesus immediately. how many times have we ignored Jesus when He is right in front of us?

- The number 153 has some unique arithmetic properties. It is a triangular number: it is the sum of the integers from 1 to 17. Almost every modern biblical commentary on the symbolism of 153 mentions this fact.

- The number 153 occurs only once in the Old Testament. Actually, it is the number 153000, which was the number of constructors of the first temple when Solomon was king.

- How do we explain the 1000 in 153000? This is what the evangelist means by "big fishes". He certainly could not make you believe that the miraculous catch was 153 thousand fishes. That would have been not only miraculous, but beyond believable. The symbolic trick is to use "big" to mean "1000" as a multiplier. And that actually is a double-trick: 1000 is well known in the Old Testament to represent a symbolic large value that cannot be counted. So, not only does the 153 big fishes refer to the 153000 constructors of the first temple, it also means "a very large unknown number". This is also coherent with the first observation of one of the apostles when looking inside the net: there was a multitude of fishes.

The Calling of Peter

After the miracle Jesus ministers inner healing to Peter and calls him once again.

Just as Peter we can be called to follow and after we learn the gospel truth we are called to lead

Jesus gave Peter a three-fold command to “feed my sheep” in John 21:15-17. Each time Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” it was in response to Peter’s three-fold declaration of love for Jesus.

Jesus calls for action to accompany our faith; giving meaning and purpose for our Christian lives.

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Jesus rose from the dead

Luke 24:5-6

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

Death Is Defeated

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

The women had come to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body for the burial when they encountered a pair of angels asking this question

Death had been conquered. Jesus had defeated the power of death

1 Corinthians 15:55

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

Only Jesus conquered death

The Angels

Angels had announced Jesus’ birth

Angels announced that He had risen

The Women

Rising early Sunday morning (possibly even late Saturday night). Gathering the spices and approaching the tomb. They saw the stone rolled away and they were “perplexed”

The proof offered by the angel to the women that Jesus was alive was the fact that Jesus said He would die and rise again.

The women ran with this proof to the 11 and their companions

Jesus showed Himself to the disciples

Luke 24:15-24

(15-17) “While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.”

So Jesus shows up, but they aren’t allowed to recognize Him

John 20:27

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

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Luke 22:50-51

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

The betrayal

On the night that Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of his followers used a sword to cut off the ear of one of the men who had come to arrest Jesus.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

The Miracle

We learn in the Gospel of John, in John 18:1-14, the follower who used a sword to attack one of the men who had come to arrest Jesus was Peter, Simon Peter the Apostle.

Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour-when darkness reigns."

Rather than resist arrest, or allow his followers to engage in violence, Jesus admonished them and told them to stop resisting. Jesus then performed a miracle in which he healed the injured man's ear. Then Jesus cooperated and allowed himself to be arrested

Malchus

Peter, who cut off Malchus’ ear, had a history of impulsive behavior. He loved Jesus deeply, but he sometimes let his strong emotions interfere with his judgment

Jesus reprimanded the violence, immediately dropped to his knees and miraculously healed the servant’s ear.“But Jesus answered, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”

This healing was the last miracle that Jesus performed before his crucifixion

Malchus’ experience shows us that Jesus’ love was omnipresent. He was betrayed and unfairly arrested at that very moment, yet all that He had for this high priest’s servant was love.

The Bible doesn’t mention Malchus after this, but one can imagine that his life and heart was changed after his personal encounter with Jesus

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