Title Hiding Some of the Price/Acts 5
The book of Acts is the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit, prayer, the preaching of the gospel, and the Acts of the Church. But the external context of Acts was not peace and prosperity, but suffering and persecution. Its inner context was lies, envy, and strife. From its earliest days, the church faced external persecution and internal problems.
1. "He hid some from the price" (1)
One of the fundamental problems of human beings are lies and masks that disguise themselves as good. Is it such a great sin that Ananias and Sapphira sold their possessions and hid some of the price and left some at the feet of the apostles? If we judge us by such strict standards, there will be countless people who will fall and die in the church today. Here we learn how God hates, hates, and judges our hypocrisy and lies in our worship, our offerings, and our services. One of the serious problems inherent in the church is dishonest lies and hypocrisy. A lot of people are Cremulins. The serious sins of Ananias and Sapphira here were those of lies and hypocrisy, described as "concealed," "deceived," "concealed," "liar," "conceived," "tested." As a result, they were judged and fell to death. Peter did not cover up the lies and hypocrisy inherent in the church. He revealed it and carried out God's judgment. The holiness of the church was maintained by implementing strict discipline. As a result, more and more signs and wonders appeared, and more and more people turned to the Lord.
2. "They were filled with envy, and they arrested the apostles" (17:18)
3. “Bring them out and set them before the council” (27) “Scourge” (40)
As the Lord's messenger commanded them, they went and stood in the temple and preached the gospel, but the path of the apostles was not smooth. He was arrested again, taken away and interrogated. The path the apostles took was a rocky road and a thorny road. But strangely, it made the apostles bolder and stronger. They testified of God and Jesus Christ more boldly and more clearly. “God raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging on a tree, and made him King and Savior to bring Israel to repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (30:31). And there was even a supporter (Gamariel) who defended them. But the apostles were scourged again. Persecution and beatings were still the casual clothes of the apostles. But strangely, the apostles were still full of joy, and every day, wherever they were, they preached only Jesus. The apostles were people who could not be stopped by the world. So it is the book of Acts.