Tyndale Open Study NotesActs 5

Luke likes to balance a positive example with a negative one. He just shared the remarkable and positive story of Barnabas (4:36–37). Now, Luke shows the opposite behavior of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple desired to earn status in the community and for others to admire them. Ananias did not have to sell his property or give away the money. Their sin was pretending and dishonesty.

By lying about the sale of their land, Ananias was not just being dishonest towards others but also toward the Holy Spirit. This means he was lying to God. His actions harmed the honesty, unity, and integrity of the church at its foundation. As a result, he experienced God's direct judgment (compare Leviticus 10:1–5; Joshua 7:16–26).

great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events: The sudden judgment on Ananias and Sapphira had a serious impact on both the Christian community and those who learned about it (see Hebrews 10:31). Christians were strongly reminded to remain pure.

For non-Christians, the integrity of Christians was restored. So once again "the people regarded them highly" (Acts 5:13). However, it also made those outside the church cautious about joining a group with such high standards (5:13). This divine "pruning" allowed for new growth to occur (see John 15:1–11; Acts 5:14; see also 6:5–7; 11:24; 21:20).

The preaching of the apostles included many miraculous signs and wonders, similar to the ministry of Jesus. There were also powerful acts of healing and casting out demons (see also 6:8; compare Matthew 4:24; 9:35; Mark 1:32–34; Luke 4:40–41).

• Although the people regarded them highly: People respected the believers because their way of life was different.

• no one else dared to join them: The people may have been afraid because of the high level of commitment expected of believers. They may also have feared what happened to Ananias and Sapphira (5:11).

The apostles' successful ministry caused strong opposition (compare 4:1–3). The wealthy and powerful Sadducees controlled the temple and had a temple police force. They opposed belief in the resurrection and were determined to challenge and, if possible, prevent the apostles from sharing their message about the resurrection of Jesus. They felt their influence over the Jewish people weakening. Jealousy and bitterness led them to attack the apostles.

The irony is that the Sadducees denied the existence of angels (23:8). However, angels appear many times in the book of Acts (see also 10:3, 7, 22; 11:13; 12:6–11, 23; 27:23–24). Luke shows God guiding his people in their ministry, using angels to carry out his purpose.

See study note on verses 4:19–20.

We are witnesses of these things: As witnesses, the apostles had the responsibility to speak about what they had seen and heard (see Leviticus 5:1; compare Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18–20; Luke 24:44–49; John 20:21).

God once again stopped the plans of the Jewish leaders to silence the apostles. This time, he did so through the advice of Gamaliel.

Gamaliel was a respected Pharisee and a leading member of the Jewish high council. He was also a well-known teacher of the law. He later taught Paul during his training to become a Jewish rabbi (see 22:3).

• This Theudas is otherwise unknown, although the Jewish historian Josephus mentions a different man with the same name who led a revolution some years later (see Josephus, Antiquities 20.5.1). Theudas was a common Jewish name.

• Judas of Galilee appears in Josephus as a rebel who opposed paying taxes to Caesar around AD 6 or 7, following the census of Quirinius (see Josephus, Antiquities 20.5.2; compare Luke 2:2). His resistance was stopped by the Roman authorities, who used force to end the revolt