Bible Discussion — Acts 5

August 27, 2008, 1:00 pm; posted by
Filed under Bible, Chloe, Connie, David, Josh J, Steve  | 3 Comments

This week, Bweinh.com progresses to the next chapter of Acts.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS:
Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50
Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40
Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I)
Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15-16
Luke: 1:1-38 | 1:39-2:40 | 2:41-3:38 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
Esther: 1-2 | 3-5 | 6-8 | 9-10
Acts: 1 | 2 | 3-4

 
INTRODUCTION:
Steve:
Much like Mike refers to in his reprinted article today, this time in the growth of the early church was dangerous — and exciting. The disciples had just seen with their own eyes the powerful example of the only One worth giving their lives for, and they were prepared to take whatever risks were necessary to tell the world.

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
David:
For the first time I began to think about the motives of Ananias and Sapphira. Why sell the land, keep back part of the price — then give the rest to the church? How does the song go? “Say a prayer but let the good times roll — in case God doesn’t show.”

What if this doesn\’t work out? What if I don\’t love God’s people, or they don\’t love me? I need something to fall back on. Maybe this was not about the couple’s greed as much as it was being unwilling to sell out completely and throw their lot in with God’s people.

Maybe it\’s less about money and more about keeping your options open.

Chloe:
Perhaps this is an obvious point I\’ve just failed to notice, but I find it very interesting that the passage does not say that anyone killed Ananias and Sapphira. They simply fell down and died.

Steve:
Gamaliel’s argument is a little odd. He gave examples of two men who tried to lead revolts and were killed as a result — I’m not sure why the other members of the Sanhedrin didn’t just say, “Uh, yeah, why don’t we kill these guys too?”

Connie:
When Gamaliel gave his advice about leaving the apostles alone to see how things would work out in the long run, he mentioned Judas of Galilee from the days of the census, as an example of someone who amounted to nothing.

Did anyone else just automatically change that to Jesus of Galilee, keep reading, then say, “Hey, wait, what did he just say? Who the blinkers is Judas of Galilee?” To which Gamaliel would’ve replied: “Exactly!”

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Chloe: Fallen Shadow
Steve: Colonnade
David: Healing Shadow
Josh: Jailbreak
Connie: Peter’s Shadow

 
STORY IT REMINDS YOU OF:
Josh:
Gamaliel reminds me of Reuben from the account of Joseph and his brothers (Gen 37:19-24) — not quite bold enough to cast his lot with the accused, but sensible enough to partially dissuade a bloodthirsty mob.

David:
It reminded me of those two people in the Bible who lied to God about how much money — uh, wait…

Chloe:
I\’m reading John right now, and it\’s amazing to me how Jesus\’ descriptions of what the early church would be like are precisely what occurred. Maybe we expect nothing less from where we\’re standing, but it must have been an incredible comfort to the disciples to know they were on the right track.

 
WHERE IS JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE?:
David:
Being exalted as a prince and a savior in v. 31.

Connie:
“Through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people…” (5:12a)

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
David:
It would be hard to find a deeper theological meaning than Peter\’s statement to the council in vv. 31-32. We are here to bear witness to who Jesus is and why He came, in partnership with the Holy Ghost, given to those who obey Him.

Steve:
Growth comes from persecution — growth of the individual and growth of the church. We should be careful to limit how cozy we let ourselves get with the world and our government.

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
Connie:
Why didn’t the high priests launch some sort of side investigation into the prison break? It’s like they just overlooked the whole thing and went on with the interrogation, like they expected them to be back in the temple.

Chloe:
Verse 24 cracks me up — they were “puzzled” about what would come of the disciples disappearing from jail? Really? They weren\’t furious? Afraid? Secretly tempted to believe?

David:
Did Gamaliel ever get saved?

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
Steve:
5:31 — “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Josh:
5:42 — “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Chloe:
5:38-39 — “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it””lest you even be found to fight against God.”

David:
5:29 — “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’ ”

Connie:
5:16 — “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

 
LESSON TO TAKE AWAY:
Josh:
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

It may even lead into greater sin, and greater consequences.

Connie:
DO NOT LIE TO GOD.

David:
If you\’re not ready to give everything to God, be honest about that. Don\’t imitate what others are doing while inwardly holding back. “These people worship me with their lips,” God told Isaiah, “but their heart is far from Me.”

 
GENERAL RESPONSE TO THE PASSAGE:
Josh:
I love the continued boldness of the apostles. When released from jail they don\’t run and hide, or stay off the radar for a while, but immediately return to the one place they are sure to be seen, to do the one thing guaranteed to get them in trouble. All that matters is obedience to God.

Connie:
All the sick people from all over the place came there and they were all healed — the apostles were thrown into prison, but the angels just let them out and told them to go back to teaching. They were brought back to the high priests but let off with a warning, and even though they were beaten, they left rejoicing!

The disciples never ceased to preach and teach Jeasus as the Christ — they did this for us, saints! This is the birthplace of our foundational truths: church-building. Someday maybe you’ll be a part of it.

 
CONCLUSION:
David:
The church was birthed in chapter 2, by chapter 5 we had hypocrites, and in chapter 6 we’ll get our first controversy over who’s getting more of the money. The church has never been perfect.


Comments

3 Comments to “Bible Discussion — Acts 5”

  1. Steve on August 27th, 2008 1:07 pm

    Wow… Let me look up the odds that our first reference to Fall Out Boy in a Bible discussion would come from David . . . . . 1000-1!

    Looks like we’re going bankrupt — or, perhaps, “goin’ down swinging.”

  2. Connie Maxon on August 27th, 2008 3:29 pm

    Wow! I seriously thought you were going to reference the fact that some how three of us picked band names having to do with that healing shadow verse. Sixty percent! There\’s some weird odds for you.

  3. David on August 27th, 2008 6:01 pm

    I had to listen to that song on the PA System before every one of the Auburn home games last year. Thanks for the memories—-even though they weren’t that great.

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