Acts 6
SEVEN CHOSEN TO SERVE
1 In those days,

• If Jesus was crucified and Pentecost occurred in 30 AD, we can read through Acts and pinpoint general dates of Luke’s writings.
• This particular event probably occurred around 33-34 AD.

as the disciples were increasing in number,

• Disciples, learners, of who?
• Disciples of Apostles who were learning about Jesus and the Good News.

there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

• The Jerusalem Christian community had witnessed considerable growth; and as is so often the case with rapid increase, administrative problems developed.
• The particular difficulty involved a complaint from the Greek-speaking Christians against the native Aramaic-speaking Christians that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food (literally, “the daily ministry”).
• We may assume that at this point the Christian community consisted exclusively of Jews.
• The only exceptions would be the “proselytes,” like Nicolas (v. 5), who were Gentiles who had converted to Judaism.
• The Gentile mission as such had not yet begun.
• The Hellenists (“Grecian Jews,” NIV) were more than likely Jews who had come from the Jewish dispersion and settled in Jerusalem.
• Their language and probably many of their ways were Greek.
• They had their own synagogues (cf. v. 9), and funerary inscriptions excavated in Jerusalem attest to their extensive presence there.
• As so often with ethnic groups, they tended to associate with those who shared their language and cultural background.
• As the church increased and came to include more and more of these “Hellenist” converts, it is only natural that they would have formed close associations with one another, perhaps even meeting in home fellowships together.
• There is no reason to picture a breach or separation in the total Christian community—only the sort of “distancing” created by natural linguistic and cultural differences.
• Where the “distancing” manifested itself was in the very practical matter of the community’s charity.
• The Hellenist widows were being overlooked—certainly not deliberately neglected but inadvertently left out.
• There may have been a considerable number of such widows. Dorcas (9:39) probably was one of them, and 1 Tim 5 attests to the large numbers of them in the Pauline congregations.
• In Jewish society widows were particularly needy and dependent, and the Old Testament singles them out along with orphans as the primary objects of charitable deeds.
• The Hellenist widows may have been a particularly sizable group.
• Diaspora Jews often moved to Jerusalem in their twilight years to die in the holy city.
• When the men died, their widows were left far from their former home and family to care for them and were thus particularly in need of charity.
• Many of them may have been attracted to the Christian community precisely because of its concern for the material needs of its members.
• The Jews had a weekly dole for resident needy, called the quppah. It was given out every Friday and consisted of enough money for fourteen meals.
• There was also a daily distribution, known as the tamhuy. It was for nonresidents and transients and consisted of food and drink, which were delivered from house to house where known needy were dwelling. [1]

 2 The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.

• The word “table” was characteristically used as a metaphor for a meal or for a table from which money was distributed.
• Either practice could have been followed by the church, just as both are found in the tamhuy (food) and quppah (money) of Judaism.[2]

3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.

• The apostles, however, laid down basic qualifications which the seven had to meet.
• First, they were to be “full of the Spirit,” i.e., they were to have manifested a special degree of allowing the Spirit to work in them.
• Then they were to be known for their “wisdom,” probably referring to the kind of practical know-how necessary for the proper management of the charitable funds.
• One would assume that the seven would take over the administration of the charity among the Hellenist Christians and the apostles would continue to do so among the others.

4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

• Verse 4 concludes the apostolic proposal. By selecting the seven, the apostles were free to carry out their primary responsibilities of preaching and bearing witness to Christ.[3]

5 This proposal pleased the whole company.

• Church problems also give us an opportunity to exercise our faith, not only faith in the Lord, but also faith in each other.
• The leaders suggested a solution, and all the members agreed with it.

So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
 Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.

• Stephen was named first. He met the qualifications, being full of faith and the Holy Spirit. That Luke listed him first is no accident. He would be the primary character in the following narrative (6:8–8:4).
• Next came Philip. He too would be a major figure in the story of the expanding Christian witness (8:5–40).
• The other five play no further role in Acts, and we have no reliable additional information on any of them.[4]
• The assembly selected seven qualified men, and the Apostles set them apart for ministry.
• The church was not afraid to adjust their structure in order to make room for a growing ministry.
• When structure and ministry conflict, this gives us an opportunity to trust God for the solution.
• The Apostles were not afraid to share their authority and ministry with others.[5]
• Expectations of the “church” as an institution have grown in our culture due to government requirements and the many programs churches/institutions have added to their structure over the centuries.
• Hospital visitation, weddings, funerals, small groups, age group ministries, training, meetings, committees, budgeting, record keeping, marketing, Sunday Morning service productions.
• That list doesn’t even include the two things we are talking about… teaching the Word of God and meeting the needs of the people.
• My hardest jobs 1) knowing what to teach and 2) protecting my schedule.
• My biggest issue is giving up control and trusting.
• The plan was to “select 7 men among yourselves.”
• Small group leaders at Leavener arise organically and are chosen among you by your attendance.

6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

• Dr. Luke describes the climax of the ministry in Jerusalem, for the persecution following Stephen’s death will take the Gospel to the Samaritans and then to the Gentiles.
• It has been estimated that there were 8,000 Jewish priests attached to the temple ministry in Jerusalem, and “a great company” of them trusted Jesus Christ as Savior![6]
• The story of the community’s struggle to overcome internal divisions begins and ends with the growth of the Church (Acts 6:1). [7]
• In the rest of Acts, nothing is made of their administrative duties. What one finds them doing is bearing their witness, even to martyrdom.[8]
• So the Word of God spread… causing their numbers to increase.
• Not marketing… not programs… not events.

 
STEPHEN ACCUSED OF BLASPHEMY
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

• Faith, wisdom, grace, power, and above all the presence of the Spirit were the personal qualities that equipped him for the ultimate witness he would soon bear.
• The Spirit and power are closely linked and led him to perform signs and wonders among the people.
• He was the first other than the apostles to be described as working miracles.[9]

9 Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen.

• Luke named it the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which indicates that many of its members formerly may have been slaves or were the descendants of former slaves.
• Its membership included Jews from the north African and Asian Diaspora.[10]

10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

• If you are unable to stand up against a man’s wisdom… history has shown that you just kill them.
• They just did this with Jesus.
• So watch the same pattern occur.

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

1. They hired false witnesses to testify against Stephen.

12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin.

1. They got the “crowd” to buy into what they were selling.
2. They took him to the Sanhedrin to face trial.

13 They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. 14 For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

• Stephen saw himself as facing the same predicament that Jeremiah had faced.
• Jeremiah 7:1-8 - 1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord and there call out this word: ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who enter through these gates to worship the Lord.
• “‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Correct your ways and your actions, and I will allow you to live in this place. 4 Do not trust deceitful words, chanting, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.” 5 Instead, if you really correct your ways and your actions, if you act justly toward one another, 6 if you no longer oppress the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow and no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods, bringing harm on yourselves, 7 I will allow you to live in this place, the land I gave to your ancestors long ago and forever. 8 But look, you keep trusting in deceitful words that cannot help. [11]

15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. [12]

• Interesting that Stephen’s accusers mentioned the named of Moses in the previous verse.
• It was not even necessary for Stephen to speak in order to give witness, for the very glow on his face told everybody that he was a servant of God.
• Certainly the members of the Sanhedrin would recall Moses’ shining face (Ex. 34:29–30).
• It was as though God was saying, “This man is not against Moses! He is like Moses—he is My faithful servant!”[13]

 
Acts 7
1 “Are these things true?” the high priest asked.[14]

• As presiding officer in the Sanhedrin, the high priest followed the proper protocol and allowed the accused to respond to the charges.
• “Are these charges true?” “How do you plead, guilty or innocent?”[15]

[1] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 180). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 180). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 181). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, pp. 181–182). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 429). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 430). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 6:7). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[8] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 183). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[9] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 184). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[10] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 184). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Je 7:1–8). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 6:1–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 430). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[14] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 7:1). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 187). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Acts 5
IN AND OUT OF PRISON
17 Then the high priest (Caiaphas – not Annas) rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy (passionately).

• Acts 23:8 - 8 For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.[1]
• Jealous because the crowds were listening and following the uneducated men rather than the educated men of the Sanhedrin.
• But they were doing this to “defend their faith”
• The council was educated, ordained, and approved, and yet they had no ministry of power.
• The Apostles were ordinary laymen, yet God’s power was at work in their lives.
• The council was trying desperately to protect themselves and their dead traditions, while the Apostles were risking their lives to share the living Word of God.
• The dynamic church was enjoying the new; the dead council was defending the old.[2]

18 So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

• Not just Peter & John this time… all of the apostles.
• Peter & John had not adhered to their instructions by the Sanhedrin in Acts 4 – Shut up!
• One should not miss the irony of their being placed in the public jail, i.e., openly and for everyone to see.
• Soon they would be unable to find these very ones who were so openly placed in jail.[3]

19 But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.” 21 Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

• Luke explains the breakout more in the next verses.
• The apostles received instructions from God via the angel.
• “Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.”
• Somebody in here please show me what this looked like for them!

 
THE APOSTLES ON TRIAL AGAIN
When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full council of the Israelites—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.

• This was the next morning and they had no clue what had occurred during the night.

22 But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

• The guards were standing so they were not sleeping.
• Clearly it said the angel opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.

24 As the captain of the temple police (the “sagan” - 2nd in line to the High Priest) and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this.

• Not how did this happen but now what is going to happen?
• How will they be perceived?
• People have a tendency to not be concerned about specifics of a situation but more concerned about how it affects them personally.

25 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

• Timing here is everything.

26 Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.

• Not only did they bring them in without force because they were scared… but obviously the apostles went willingly.
• Why wouldn’t they? They get to stand before the Sadducees and tell them how they got out of jail… Angels!
• One more opportunity before the Sanhedrin to proclaim the miracles of God.

27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

• The high priest as presiding officer began the interrogation, charging the apostles with two offenses.
• First, they had broken the interdiction of the Sanhedrin and continued to preach “in this name.”
• Second, they were determined to lay the guilt for “this man’s blood” on them, the Jewish leaders.[4]
• What the High priest avoided saying was:
• 1) Anything about their escape by an angel
• 2) He never would say Jesus’ name.

29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.

• This is a dangerous saying that has been quoted over by many people over the years.
• Most of the time it has been misappropriated and taken out of context.

30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler (prince/pioneer – ushering in a new set of rules) and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him (not based upon how we act… but based upon a new nature that has transformed us into naturally obeying God.)”

• In their defense they presented the Gospel one more time to the Sanhedrin.
• The High Priest was worried that the Sanhedrin might even be killed because they were being accused of killing Jesus.
• But Peter & the Apostles were more concerned about saving the High Priest & Sanhedrin than getting them killed.
• The apostles give the Jewish leaders one more opportunity to repent.

 
GAMALIEL’S ADVICE
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

• Seeking the death penalty. – The Sadducees.

34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.

• Gamaliel was a Pharisee who probably did not want to see the Sadducees win any victories.
• He was a scholar highly esteemed by the people, rather liberal in his applications of the Law, and apparently moderate in his approach to problems.
• Paul was trained by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).
• Gamaliel’s “counsel” was unwise and dangerous, but God used it to save the Apostles from death.
• That the Sadducees would heed the words of a Pharisee shows how distinguished a man Gamaliel was.[5]
• He didn’t think he needed much time to convince them… thus the “little while”.

35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas (they-dus) rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.”

• God will work out His will.
• Gamaliel used logic rather than emotion.
• He associated Jesus with two rebels which means he rejected all the evidence given by the apostles.
• Jesus was just another troublemaker to him.
• But the rebels never resurrected like Jesus did.
• “There is nothing to see or worry about here… it will dissolve on its own.”
• Gamaliel also refused to that we live in a fallen world and sometimes lies can prevail over Truth.
• But the Truth actually did prevail here.
• Gamaliel is recognized by the Jewish leaders as a distinguished scholar… but this doesn’t necessarily make him wise.
• Why didn’t he take what he knew (prophecy) and match it to what has already occurred right in front of his eyes… The evidence… again and again.

They were persuaded by him.

• They listened to Gamaliel and compromised.

40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

• Deuteronomy 25:1-3 - 1 “If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court, and the judges will hear their case. They will clear the innocent and condemn the guilty. 2 If the guilty party deserves to be flogged, the judge will make him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate for his crime. 3 He may be flogged with forty lashes, but no more. Otherwise, if he is flogged with more lashes than these, your brother will be degraded in your sight.[6]
• 2 Corinthians 11:24 - 24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.[7]

41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.

• How did the Apostles respond to this illegal treatment from their nation’s religious leaders?
• They rejoiced!
• Jesus had told them to expect persecution and had instructed them to rejoice in it (Matt. 5:10–12).
• The opposition of men meant the approval of God, and it was actually a privilege to suffer for His name (Phil. 1:29).[8]

42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.[9]

• In the temple… they proclaimed the Good News (preached).

In the homes… they taught the Good News.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 23:8). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 425). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 166). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 168). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 426). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 25:1–3). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Co 11:24). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 427). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 5:1–42). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Acts 5
LYING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.

• Ananias means “God is gracious,” but he learned that God is also holy; and Sapphira means “beautiful,”[1]

2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

• Nosphizomai – Greek word to describe his action in holding back part of the money.
• The verb means to pilfer, to purloin, to embezzle.
• One does not embezzle one’s own funds but those of another, in this instance those that rightfully belonged to the common Christian fund.[2]
• Same Greek word used Joshua 7 when Achan took from the fund of Jericho that was devoted for sacred use.
• Achan received the judgment of death from God.

3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?

• How did Peter know?
• The Church was of one heart and one mind (Acts 4:32)

4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”

• They were not required to sell the property; and, having sold it, they were not required to give any of the money to the church.
• Their lust for recognition conceived sin in their hearts, and that sin eventually produced death (James 1:15 - Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. [3]).[4]

5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.

• Only prophets and kings were buried within Jerusalem and few of those.
• Burial was generally outside the walls, where the corpse was laid in a cave, which explains why the young men could complete the procedure so quickly.[5]

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

• Ananias was dead and buried, and Sapphira did not even know it!
• Satan always keeps his servants in the dark, while God guides His servants in the light (John 15:15).[6]
• In both his Gospel and in Acts, Luke paired women with men, particularly in contexts of witness and discipleship.
• Here perhaps he was showing that along with discipleship goes responsibility; and this applies to all disciples, female as well as male.[7]

8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

• Peter’s role was to confront… not judge.
• This is the first Sapphira heard of Ananias’ death.

10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet.

• Now she lay at Peter’s feet, in the place of her money.
• The same place that Ananias had laid the money.

When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.

• He was letting everybody know that He would not tolerate deception in His church.
• If the Church is God’s temple, where He dwells… why wouldn’t Satan want to enter into the Church?
• The church is safe so long as Satan is attacking from the outside, but when he gets on the inside, the church is in danger.
• The Church as a flock
• If Satan cannot defeat the church by attacks from the outside, he will get on the inside and go to work.[8]
• Acts 20:28–31 - 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.[9]
• The Church is God’s army.
• 2 Timothy 2:1-4 - 1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
• Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.[10]

11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

• This is the 1st time the word “Church” (Ekklesia) is mentioned in the Bible.
• The people of God gathered in a religious community.
• By the power of this spiritual presence in its midst, the young community worked miracles, witnessed fearlessly, and was blessed with incredible growth.
• The Spirit was the power behind its unity, and its unity was the power behind its witness.
• The church can only thrive as the people of God if it lives within the total trust of all its members.
• Where there is that unity of trust, that oneness of heart and mind, the church flourishes in the power of the Spirit.
• Where there is duplicity and distrust, its witness fails.[11]

 

• Often it is said that the pair died of psychological fright.
• This can be neither proved nor disproved from the text, and it well may have been the case; but it does not alleviate the strong judgmental note of the text.
• Peter knew and told Sapphira beforehand that she was about to be carried feet first out the door.
• When all is said and done, there is no “comfortable” solution to the passage.
• It is a unique story. There is nothing like it elsewhere in Acts, or for that matter in the New Testament.
• It’s as if God treated the early Church as an infant.
• Their death did not necessarily involve their loss of salvation.
• Still, the judgment that befell Ananias and Sapphira was severe, and one is all too aware that today’s churches would be much emptier if such standards were consistently applied.
• The same Spirit that gave the community its growth also maintained its purity.
• This seems to have been Luke’s point, for the Ananias and Sapphira story is bracketed by an emphasis on the unity of the community (4:32–35) and the power of the Spirit in its midst (5:12–16)[12]

 
APOSTOLIC SIGNS AND WONDERS
12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles.

• This was God’s way of authenticating the apostle’s ministry.
• Not only for God’s glory but His stamp of approval.
• We find no miracles performed in Genesis, but at the beginning of the age of Law, Moses performed great signs and wonders.
• Elijah and Elisha were miracle workers at the beginning of the great era of the Prophets, and Jesus and the Apostles performed signs and wonders when the Gospel Age was inaugurated.
• Each time God opened a new door, He called man’s attention to it.
• It was His way of saying, “Follow these leaders, because I have sent them.”
• Remember in John 14:13-14 when Jesus said you will do even greater works than these you have seen?
• When Jesus performed miracles during His ministry on earth, He had three purposes in mind:
• (1) to show compassion and meet human need;
• (2) to present His credentials as the Son of God;
• (3) to convey spiritual truth.
• For example, when He fed the 5,000, the miracle met their physical need, revealed Him as the Son of God, and gave Him opportunity to preach a sermon about the Bread of Life (John 6).
• The apostolic miracles followed a similar pattern.
• Peter and John healed the crippled beggar and met his need, but Peter used that miracle to preach a salvation sermon and to prove to the people and the council that he and John were indeed the servants of the living Christ. One[13]

They were all together (unified) in Solomon’s Colonnade.

• This is probably in reference to the apostles only so as not to contradict the next verse.
• Pictures of Temple & Cory at Colonnade.
• Crisis in the Church – Come together and wait for God to work.

13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them.

• There was intimidation after what just happened with Ananias & Sapphira.
• The people were not only talking about them… they were watching them closely.

14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women.

• For the 1st time Luke includes women in his reference to salvations added.
• Luke is consistent in including women as part of the growth of the Church.
• This was not normal in that day.

15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

• Whether or not they were healed by Peter’s shadow Luke did not explicitly say, but the note underlines the strength of the apostle’s healing reputation.[14]
• Acts 19:11 - God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.[15]

16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

• At this point the apostles were still confined to Jerusalem.
• The people came to them from the outlying villages.
• Only later would they go forth from Jerusalem and take their gospel and their healing ministry into the villages of Judea.[16]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 422). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 156). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 1:15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 422). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 422). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 156). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 422). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 20:28–31). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Ti 2:1–4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 160). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, pp. 161–162). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[13] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 423). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[14] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 164). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[15] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 19:11–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 164). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.