Acts 5
Ananias and Sapphira
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
Ananias is the Hebrew name חֲנַנְיָה, (hananiah) meaning "Jehovah gives graciously". We will find out that he did not live up to his name. Sapphira is the Hebrew name סַפִּיר (saphir), meaning "beautiful". It is where we get the word sapphire . She did not live up to her name either, as she may have been beautiful on the outside, but she was sure not beautiful on the inside.
In chapter 4 of Acts, a man named Joseph had sold his land and given it to the church. Joseph was such an encouragement to the church, both individually and corporately, that his name was changed to "Barnabus", meaning "Son of Encouragement". Barnabus had received so much praise for his gracious giving, that Ananias and Sapphira decided to follow suit. After all, the Hebrew name of Ananias does mean "God gives graciously", so why shouldn't Ananias give just as graciously as Barnabus?
2 They kept back part of the price, his wife also having knowledge of it, and brought a certain portion, and laid it at the apostles feet.
The Greek word for "keeping back" is νοσφίζω (nosphixo), meaning to separate for oneself, to embezzle, to steal, or to pilfer for one's own use. It is in the middle tense, meaning that they pilfered the money for themselves.
The Greek word for "having knowledge" is συνειδυίης (sunadais). It means "to see in one’s mind together". Ananias and Saphirra saw in their mind together that it was to their advantage to embezzle money, but make it appear as a gift to the infant church. Like Barnabus, they were possibly attempting to find favor with the local church and move into a leadership position.
This was the first sin of the church. This was similar to the sin of Achan, taking gold from the City of Jericho. Jericho was a city that was חרם (cherem), or "devoted to destruction". God had commanded that everything in the city was to be burned. The sin of Achan took place at the beginning of the entrance into the promised land, when the Mosaic Law was beginning a new dispensation. This sin of Achan was the desire for gold, or materialism. Materialism is the main sin of America today and it is a horrible sin. At the battle of Ai, Achan's sin caused Israel to be defeateed. This sin had to be eliminated from the infant Israelite community, so Achan was executed. God is a God of love, but he also judges sin. This is a lesson that American churches need to learn today.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Peter is the Greek word Πέτρος (petros), meaning a small stone or pebble. Peter was the small pebble taken out of the large mother rock. The large mother rock was the Petra, who is Christ. Peter is the petros or the pebble, who is taken out of the Petra, or the large mother rock, which is Christ.
Satan is the Greek word Σατανᾶς (satanas), meaning the adversary or the accuser. Satan is the adversary of God, attempting to abolish the divine plan of God. Satan also stands at the throne of God the Father and accuses the saints of their sin. Jesus currently sits at the right hand of the Father as the believer's advocate. Jesus reminds Satan that he has paid the price for sin, so there is no accusation that can condemn the believer. Jesus is the beleiver;s lawyer and he has never lost a case.
The Greek word for "filled" is πληρόω (plaroa), meaning to "be controlled or influenced". Notice that Peter possessed the apostolic gift of discernment. The Holy Spirit directly told Peter that Ananias was lying. Ananias was a believer, but his bible doctrine was so weak, that he was influenced and controlled by Satan. Many times, Satan will use the ignorance of immature Christians in order to discredit Christ and the church. Satan used this kind of attack on this infant church. The church was growing too rapidly. It was becoming a threat to the satanic world system. Satan was attempting to destroy this church before it could even get started. Satan still uses this trick today.
If believers today are immature Christian who have not studied the entire council of the Word of God via a gifted pastor-teacher, then they are easy prey for Satan. Satan will make ten think that what they are doing is right, and even godly, but he will be influencing them to do what is called human good works. Human good works appear to be righteous to the immature believer, but the results benefit the satanic world kingdom. Knowledge of Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God is the only defense against the spiritual attacks of Satan. The Book of Ephesians teaches the Christian how to defend and defeat these kinds of spiritual attacks.
Notice also that Ananias was lying to the Holy Spirit. In Greek, the Holy Spirit is τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον (to pneuma to hagion). τὸ Πνεῦμα (to pneuma) means the breath, spirit, or wind of God. τὸ Ἅγιον (to hagion) means the one who is set apart to complete a task for God. Therefore, τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον (to pneuma to hagion) means the Breath of God who is set part to accomplish a task for God. τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον (to pneuma to hagion) is always in the neuter tense, but the Scriptures always use masculine pronouns. The neuter tense along with the masculine pronouns mean that the Holy Spirit is sexless, but he is a divine personality, and not an active force, as the jehovah Witnesses falsely teach. The Jehovah Witnesses are ignorant of Greek and thus teaching theological error.
4 While it remained, did it not belong to you? And after it was sold, was it not under your command? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.
Peter was reminding Ananias that the property that he sold belonged to God, but God had delegated this property to his family. Therefore, Ananias was free to do what he wanted with the property. He had the freedom to keep or sell the property. He had the freedom to give some, or none, or all of the money to the early church. What he did instead was that he lied. He lied not only to the men in the church, but he lied also to God. Notice that Peter is calling the Holy Spirit God, because the Holy Spirit is God. He is the third person of the Trinity.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.
Ananias committed the sin unto death. He did not give up the ghost, but in Greek, he ἐξέψυξεν (exepsuken), meaning that he breathed out his soul. This immediate death was observed by the multitudes of the church who were present at this time. The early church was not a seeker-friendly church. It was not using music concerts, skits, plays, funny stories, or easter egg hunts to entice people into their church. There was praise, breaking of bread, and bible teaching. The entire counsel of the Word of God was taught.
This type of action sent φόβος μέγας (phobos megas) upon the church. φόβος means fleeing from fear, because one is feeling inadequate. It also means withdrawing from the Lord’s will, in an attempt to avoid a relationship with God. μέγας means mega-big, like a mega super store. This is the only example in Scripture where a person is being slain by the Spirit. Notice that Ananias did not stand up and become a super charismatic. When a charismatic claims that they are slain by the Spirit, they are placing their faith in superstition. Pagan religions contained demonic religious rituals where members were slain in the spirit and possessed by demons. Satan has manipulated this ritual back into the modern charismatic church. Believers are commanded to study and apply bible doctrine, not to be slain in the spirit.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.
Notice that when Ananias was slain in the Spirit, he did not rise up, because he was dead. Some young men took him off to be buried.
7 And it was about the interval of three hours later, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
The Greek word for "knowing" is οἶδα (oida), which means "grasping the spiritual truth". Saphirra had not grasped this spiritual truth. Nor does she know that her husband had been slain by the Spirit.
8 And Peter answered unto her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."
The Greek word for "yes, for so much" is tosoútos (tosoutos). It is a compound Greek word. tosoútos (tosos) means "so much". oútos (Houtos) is a demonstrative pronoun which means "this" or "that". Sapphira was given the opportunity to confess her part of the conspiracy to an apostle who was sent by God. Instead, she chose to follow her husband's lead and continue this deception. Her answer in Greek is that she sold the land for the same price that her husband claimed. God will not allow this lie to enter his infant church.
9 But Peter said unto her, "How is it that you have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out."
Peter was an apostle who had the prophetic gift of seeing into the future. He knew that Saphirra was going to be slain in the Spirit. He knew that the young men had returned from burying her husband. He knew that they were standing at the door, even before they knocked or entered. He knew that she would be slain in the Spirit and the young men had arrived just in time to carry her out to her grave.
10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
She did not "give up the ghost. In Greek, she ἐξέψυξεν (exesuchen), meaning that she breathed out her soul. In other words, she was slain in the Spirit and she instantly fell down dead. As for her burial, the Greek is πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα (pros ton andra), meaning that she was buried face to face with her husband.
11And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
This is the first mention of the church in the Bible. In Greek, the English word church is ἐκκλησία (ekklaisa), meaning "the called out ones". According to Ephesians 1:4, the church was called out of the world before the foundations of the world were even created. The English King James scribes were Church of England and Arminian, meaning that they believed that man was not totally depraved and evil, but man possessed enough good in his own individual soul to understand, seek, and choose God by his own volition. This is the direct opposite of what the Apostle Paul taught in Romans 3:10-11, "There is no one who understands God. There is no one who seeks God. There is no one righteous, not even one." If no one seeks God, then God must seek man.
Arminians elevate their own opinion above Paul's apostolic teaching in Romans 3, even though Paul received his information in the wilderness directly from the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Therefore, the Church of England Arminians of 1611 translated ἐκκλησία as "church". They did not like the meaning of "called-out ones", because it gave evidence for the Pauline doctrine of election and predestination. Therefore, the Arminians translated this word into "church" to fit their own human theology.
It only takes one little Greek word to destroy the Arminian theology which is found in many modern denominations, such as Catholics, Church of England, Free will Baptists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Church of Christ, etc. Arminianism is also found in all of the cults and other religions, including Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Hinduism, Buddhism, Seventh Day Adventists, etc. It is biblical error and it should not be tolerated. It should be exposed as false doctrine.
According to Dr. Fruchtenbaum, there are four observations that can be made about this incident:
First, we have an example of the use of Peter’s apostolic authority. In Matthew 16:19, he had been given the authority to bind and loose. One of the ways binding and loosing was used was in the realm of church discipline. To loose was to free from punishment, but to bind meant to bind for punishment. In John 20:23, the apostles were given the authority to retain sin, and here Peter “retained” the sin of Ananias and Sapphira for punishment. The apostles had the authority to exercise discipline upon the Church, and that authority has not passed beyond regular church discipline. Today, we have to follow the four stage procedure of Matthew 18:15–20, but the apostles did not.
The second observation is that it seems to be a harsh treatment. But discipline is always stricter at the start of a new dispensation. A previous example of this was the death of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1–2.
The third observation is that there were four results: first, a recognition of apostolic authority; secondly, the purity of the Church was preserved; thirdly, there was godly fear; and fourthly, there was fresh apostolic power with new signs and wonders in Acts 5:12...
The fourth observation is that there are three lessons to be learned from this account: first, even the early Church was not perfect; secondly, God will judge sin; and thirdly, as pointed out in 1 Peter 4:17: judgment must begin at the house of God. (The Story of Ananias and Sapphira, Volume 162, p. 10.)
The Second Persecution of the Church
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders performed among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
Notice that so far, all of the miracles were done "through the hands of the apostles" only. The "hands of the apostles" is the Greek statement Διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων (dia de ton kairon ton apostolon). Charismatics will ignore this verse and claim that they can still perform these same miracles in modern churches today. There has not been a charismatic yet who can discern a lie and prophesize the immediate death of the liar. The charismatic on television tend to stay away from these kinds of miracles. The Holy Spirit used the pen of Luke to record the history of the Church, not the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine of the Church is found in Paul's epistles.
Notice also that the location of this large-growing church had changed. The upper room was now too small for 8,000 new members to meet. Therefore, the new church was now meeting in Solomon's porch. This large gathering would later come to the attention of the Jewish Temple police.
13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.
The Greek word for "associate" is κολλᾶσθαι (kolasthai), which is a medical word, meaning to stitch or bind a wound. Luke is a doctor, so he used many medical terms that are not found in the other gospels. Even unbelievers held the apostles in high esteem, because they were healing the sick and performing beneficial miracles that aided the observers.
14 And more believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both men and women.
The Greek word for believers is πιστεύοντες (pisteuontes), meaning those who were persuaded. When Ananaias and Sapphira dropped dead instantly, many of the witnesses were persuaded that the apostles were telling the truth. They believed that the apostle's message was from God.
15 Insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, so that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
The Greek word for "shadow is σκιὰ (skia), meaning the spiritual reality relating to God’s light. The people were walking in darkness and deceived by the satanic deception of the satanic world system. When Peter walked by, it was not his shadow that healed them. It was the realization that he was speaking of God as a spiritual reality. These people were no longer in the darkness of unbelief, but they were in the light of the gospel. They believed in Jesus as God. When they believed, they were not only saved from darkness to light, but they were also healed of their physical aliments as well. This miracle changed those who were healed into powerful witnesses for Christ and the gospel.
Charismatics often use this verse to confirm faith healing. However, Luke was not recording bible doctrine. He was recording history. We cannot use history as a substitute for bible doctrine. The doctrine of the church was recorded by the Apostle Paul in his epistles.
16 And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bring sick folk, and them that were inflicted with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
The message spread quickly to the surrounding cities. Many people from all over the Jerusalem metroplex emptied their hospitals and brought their sick to the apostles. Some of the people were sick from their human frailty. Some of them were inflicted with sickness from demonic forces. It is wrong to teach that all illnesses come from demonic forces. Notice that the apostles healed every single sick person that came to them. The sick did not have to demonstrate faith. They just came to the apostles and everyone of them were healed. If faith-healers were real today, then they should be able to heal every single person in every single hospital in every single city in the world. What a witness that would be! Instead, they only perform their healings where there is an offering plate and where they can control the environment.
Some people will claim that they were sick and healed by a faith healer. It is possible that demons made them sick and then took the sickness away at the words of the faith healer. The demon's motive may be to get people out of Bible teaching churches where Bible doctrine is taught, and seduce them into charismatic churches where demons can speak through false tongues, false prophets, and false teachings. Demons want humans to look to the miraculous emotionalism rather than to the study of Bible doctrine. This is a very powerful delusion that even a Christian cannot escape. The Christian's only defense unless is mastery of Bible doctrine.
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
17 But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.
Annas was the high priest at this time, which was around 35 A.D.. He was the one who denied Jesus as the Messiah and had him turned over to the Roman government for execution. The Sadducees were now leading a second persecution against the Messianic Jews. The reason for the persecution was jealousy. The apostles were stealing their flocks out of Judaism. At this time, Judaism had been corrupted by the man-made traditions of the Mishnah, or the Oral Law. The rabbis taught that the Mishnah was equal or even surpassed the written Word of God. Jesus condemned the Oral Law, as he called them "traditions of men". Jesus never quoted from the Oral Law. Instead, he quoted only from the written law, saying "it is written".
18 And laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public jail.
The Temple Police arrested the apostles and placed them in jail. This was the same jail cell that Peter and John spent the night during the first persecution. Laying hands means that it was a violent and brutal arrest.
19 But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,
This is the first of seven angel interventions in the Book of Acts. The angel opened the door without a key and allowed the apostles to escape. This escape was miraculous, as even the guards could not see the escape.
Beware of people who claim that they have seen or spoken to angels. Satan can masquerade as an angel of light. He will be glad to seduce anyone who is not grounded in Bible doctrine.
20 "Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
The Greek word for "stand" is σταθέντες (stathentes), meaning "to stand with boldness". The apostles were speaking words that could bring eternal life to their audience. The Word of God is alive and active and it can cause the conversion of the lost. This is why we do not need apologetics. We just need to tell the good news and allow the Holy Spirit to act upon those who were chosen before the foundations of the world. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the Word of God."
21 And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought.
The apostles begin teaching at daybreak. The High Priest was Annas. The council was the Sanhedrin. The senate of the children was the Pharisees. Both the Sadducees and Pharisees were joining together to stop the teaching of the gospel. Jesus had already told these Jewish leaders that "their father was the devil." Therefore, Satan was active in Judaism. He is also active in the modern church today.
22 But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told.
The officers in the jail cell were confused, because somehow the apostles had disappeared from their cells. They would have to report to the Sanhedrin empty-handed.
23 Saying, the prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
The Greek word for "shut in all safety" is κεκλεισμένον (kekeismenon), meaning “to be shut tight.” This meant that there was no possibility of an escape,because those prison doors were shut air tight. Secondly, the officers stated that the guards were still there as well. Even though the prison doors were shut air tight, and although the guards were still there keeping things safe, the apostles were not found inside. This was a powerful witness to both the guards and the Sanhedrin.
The Apostles Before the Council
24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would go.
The captain of the temple was in charge of the temple police and the entire prison grounds. He was the second most important man in the temple compound area. The Sadducees were worried that this new gospel message would be spread even more rapidly. They feared that this gospel message could not be contained. The gospel message was meant to be squashed by these Jewish leaders, but the opposite had happened. The gospel was now being spread even more quickly and exponentially.
25 And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.
This event was a big surprise! Not only had the prisoners disappeared, but they were in the temple teaching about Jesus being the Messiah of Israel! The one who brought the message was unnamed. Despite persecution from the most powerful Jewish group existing at that time, the gospel message was being spread even more rapidly. The Sadducees were powerless to stop them. This was a big threat to Judaism.
26 Then went the captain with his officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
During their first arrest, the apostles were handled violently. The temple police changed their tactics the second time around, because they feared the crowds. The Greek word for "brought" is ἦγεν (hagen). It is an imperfect active verb, meaning that “they were continually bringing the apostles in slowly and carefully without violence".
The captain of the guard and most of the temple police were Sadducees. Sadducees were the liberals of the day. They did not believe in the entire counsel of the Old Testament, nor in miracles, or the resurrection. There is no recorded in the Scriptures where a Saducees was converted.
Most of the Jewish leaders, who ended up following the apostles, were Pharisees. Nicodemus, Joseph of Arithimia, and Paul were all Pharisees. The guards feared that they would be stoned by the Messianic Pharisees.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
The Pharisees and Sadducees were natural enemies, but they became natural friends against Christ. They gathered together, but it was the Sadducees who had instigated this persecution.
28 saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
Notice that the Sadducees hated Jesus so much that they refused to use His name. The apostles did not bring the innocent blood of Jesus upon Jerusalem. The City of Jerusalem rejected the messianic claims of Jesus and brought the blood upon themselves. They even cried out to Pilate, "Let his blood be upon us and our children".
29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men."
The Greek word for "obey" is πειθαρχέω (petharcheo), meaning "to obey the highest authority". Only Paul and Luke used this Greek word, showing their close relationship to each other. Also, Paul and Luke were educated scholars, while most of the other disciples were uneducated fishermen. The Sanhedrin had planned to give the apostles a lecture, but the tables were turned, and it was actually the Sadducees who were receiving the lecture. According to Romans 13, Paul commanded believers to follow governmental authority, because all government authority had been established by God. However, this command does not apply when a believer is asked to go against Scripture. When Scripture is asked to be violated, believers are to follow the teachings of God, rather than the teachings of men.
30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree."
The God of our Fathers" were the Jewish patriarchs who received the covenants. Peter was accused, but now he became the accuser. Peter accused the Sanhedrin of slaying their own Messiah on a tree. According to Deuteronomy 21:22, death on a tree was a cursed way to die. Jesus became the curse of God on the tree.
31 Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
The Sanhedrin slew their Messiah, but God raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him to his right hand. The right hand of God was reserved for the Prince of God, or the Son of God. Jesus was exalted to the throne of God in heaven, because He is a Prince, and he will soon be Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Jesus is also the Savior who saved us from our sins. The Sanhedrin was guilty of killing their own Messianic King and Savior. As for repentance, the Jews must repent of their national rejection before Jesus will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus stated that he would not return until the Jews cry out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." The Jews will make this call on the last day of the Great Tribulation.
32 And we are witnesses of these things; and'so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Jesus promised in John 15 that the disciples would be witnesses of these things via the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a divine personality, the third person of the Trinity. Peter and the apostles must obey the Holy Spirit, not the Sanhedrin, because God had given them the Holy Spirit at their conversion. Peter is teaching the Sanherdrin that the Holy Spirit was not present in all, only those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
Gamaliel's Counsel
33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them.
The Greek word for "cut to the heart" is διεπρίοντο (diepionto), meaning to cut their emotions in half with a saw. When Peter gave the same message in Acts 2, the listeners were also διεπρίοντο (diepionto), but their emotions caused them to believe on Jesus. The same Greek word is used here, but with the opposite affect. The Sadducees want to murder the apostles, but they do not have capital offense authority from Rome to do so. The Jews were a tribute nation underneath the Roman Empire. Rome had taken away Israel's authority to execute by capital punishment. This is why the Sanherdin had to deliver Jesus to Pilate. They needed Pilate's approval to execute Jesus.
34 But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while.
Gamaliel was not a Sadducee, but a Pharisee. He was trained by Rabbi Hillel. The Mishnah (the Oral Law) reported about Gamaliel, “Since Rabban Gamaliel the elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and abstinence died out at the same time.”
Since Gamaliel was called rabbon instead of rabbi, then he was the head of the school of Hillel. During this apostate time of the Roman Empire, Gamaliel was able to hold a moral force that other rabbis could not, because of the strength of his own moral character. Gamaliel was so respected that even the Sadducees were willing to listen to his advice.
35 And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.
Gamaliel addressed them not as Pharisees and/or Sadducees, but as "Men of Israel". The Greek word for "take heed" is προσέχω (prosecho), meaning, "to take caution, do not act too rashly." Many commentators claim that he was a secret believer, but this is not confirmed in Scripture.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves, who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought.
There is no secular historical record of this event, but it must have happened before 35 A.D. since it was recorded by Luke as an historical event. When secular history is silent or disagrees with the biblical record, it is the biblical record which is correct. The only true history is biblical history. All other historical documents contain mixtures of truth and error.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the census, and drew away, some of the people after him, he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
This historical event was recorded in secular history by Jospehus. The census is the Census or Qurinius in 6 A.D., which is also recorded in secular history. Frank Stone was a skeptic who studied Luke and attempted to disprove it by citing historical error. However, he could find no historical errors, so he became a believer and wrote the book Who Moved the Stone. Many skeptics have attempted to disprove the Bible, but their studies have resulted in conversion. Examples are Josh McDowell, an atheist who attempted to disprove the Bible, but instead, he wrote the classic Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Lee Stroebel was an atheist lawyer who studied and wrote The Case for Christ. Len Wallace wanted to write a book of the human Christ, but instead, he studied and wrote Ben Hur.
38 And now I say unto you, refrain from these men, and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown.
Gamaliel's advice was to leave them alone. If it was the work of men, then they would be overthrown, like Theudas and Judas.
39 But if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest happly ye be found even to be fighting against God.
Many cults, isms, charismatics, and mega-churches often use this verse to support that since their congregation is so large, then their work must be from God. This is not a divine truth that Gamaliel is uttering. Luke was an inspired historian. He simple wrote what Gamaliel said. We cannot use this verse as doctrine. It is simply the human viewpoint of Gamaliel, and it is not always true. Sometimes God allows his servants to be martyred or overthrown, even by satanic forces. Sometimes God uses small churches or even a single person to accomplish his will. God always has a reason for what he allows or disallows. The size of a congregation is not a doctrine of success.
40 And to him they agreed, and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
These apostles received the “forty stripes minus one,” which was based upon Deuteronomy 25:2–3. For the first time, believers suffered physically because of their faith. There was physical punishments in the first persecution. This suffering was administered by leaders inside of Judaism.
41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
"The Name" is Jehovah. The apostles were equating the name of Jehovah with Jesus. Joel Osteen teaches that faithful Christians are to prosper materially. He often quotes from the Old Testament to support his own biblical truth. Christians are not called to prosper materially. Instead, they are called to suffer. The maturity of a Christian leads to the joy of suffering.
42 And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.
The Apostles continued to teach, starting at the temple, and moving into the houses of the neighborhood Jews in the surrounding cities. The message was that Jesus was the Messiah, the Messianic God-man King, predicted in the Old Testament.
