Acts 4:32-37 (NLT), All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles. • When Karl Marx read this, he thought he could do better. In his mind, if you just get rid of God, private property, personal freedom, everyone can have this utopian community. PROBLEM: v33, God’s great blessing was on them all. Marx was wrong to think he could build an ideal society without the blessing of God. TITLE: Fighting Against God (Acts 5) in the Church (5:1-6), But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. • A. W. Tozer, “Christians don't tell lies they just go to church and sing them.” • What Achan was to Joshua, Ananias was to Peter. They both kept what was dedicated to God. Achan/Ananias’ families were put to death instantly by God. • Hypocrisy only leads to spiritual defeat. (5:7-11) 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. • Peter is putting a firewall around the church to keep the virus of hypocrisy out. • Ananias and Sappira were double-hypocrites. They were dishonest and deceitful. • Hypocrisy fought its way into the early church and lost. God stopped it. • The next few verses Luke give another idyllic snapshot of the inner life of the early church. Acts 5:12-14 (NLT) The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. • V13 is interesting, “no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them” meaning there was a healthy fear and respect for the power of God. • God was protecting the early church from phonies, fans, fakes and rubberneckers. Real followers were coming and being saved. against the Church (5:17-19, 26-28) 17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out…. 26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, (again) but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” (5:29-33) 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. • Just as the Jewish leaders were jealous of Jesus and wanted to kill him, now they are jealous of the apostles and want to kill them. • Peter preaches a mini sermon. For the 4th time he says,“You killed Jesus. God raised Jesus.” Peter puts them on trial for their disobedience and calls them to repent, be forgiven. and receive the Holy Spirit. for the Church (5:34-37) 34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. 35 Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. 37 After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. (5:38-39) 38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” • Gamaliel was a highly respected Pharisee. He was Paul’s teacher. • IF this movement IS of GOD – it is futile to fight against God The of the Church (5:40-42) 40 The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. 41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” • Matthew says Jesus was flogged with a lead-tipped whip. I assume this was the same treatment. The OT prescribed flogging of up to 40 lashes for crimes against Israel. The Jewish leaders stopped at 39 so they would not break the law. • The amazing thing to notice here is the apostle’s attitude. • They considered it their highest honor to be treated the same way Jesus was. CONCLUSION: • So far in our study of the early church we have seen the Church attacked on the outside by jealous religious unbelievers, and we have seen the church attacked on the inside by lying and hypocritical believers. • God teaches us that both attacks were demonically inspired, but failed because of the miraculous intervention of God. • Christians should be especially warned that these same two demonic strategies will fight against the church and the family today.