Acts- Things Heat Up

Things are heating up for the apostles; both good and bad. MULTITUDES are added to their number every day, and the high priest does NOT like it!

The first part of our story today deals with a conniving couple. They want to look good in everyone’s eyes; those who were fully sharing all they had. While also holding some back for themselves. It’s not even that they held back a portion, but they tried to lie about it to everyone. It cost them their lives.

After the Sanhedrin’s warning to be quiet, the apostles step it up. And they ‘reap the rewards’ of their labors. Both good and bad. Let’s rejoin our story with two dishonest people.

Holy Spirit, lead my journey today. Help me to focus on the parts You set out for me. Show me what You want me to take from this story.

♥ ♦ ♥

Ananias and Sapphira appear like any ordinary couple. Their children are grown with children of their own, they share the same dreams for their lives, and they both became believers in Jesus as the Christ together. They eagerly joined the company of believers, and when it is mentioned that they all share in all things, they readily agree.

“Funds are running low” Stephen tells John. “We need help feeding the people.”

“Trust in the Lord and pray. He will make a way” John reminds him.

This need is heard among the believers. Ananias and Sapphira look at one another and know in their hearts that they are thinking the same thing. Ananias is the one to voice the proposition to Stephen.

“We have a field that has not been used in some time. We can sell it and bring the proceeds here to help the other believers.”

“That would be wonderful! Go and do as you have purposed in your hearts.”

Ananias sends out messages to those he knows who might be interested in the property. Within days, offers are coming in. Sapphira is astounded by the size of the offers when Ananias shows them to her.

“This is a LOT of money” she says.

“I agree” Ananias agrees.

The two sit and look at the offers a while longer. They have already decided to take the highest offer, but something is tugging at their hearts.

“This is a LOT of money” Sapphira says again.

Ananias simply nods his head. After a minute he says; “What if we…”

“Held some of it back for ourselves” finishes Sapphira.

“Exactly what I was thinking” he agrees.

“How would we do it” asks Sapphira.

“We can give the amount from the lowest bid to the believers and put the rest away for our needs in the future” says Ananias.

“What if someone asks how much we got for the property?”

“Then we simply tell them the numbers of the lowest bid. No one needs to know anything different. And they won’t, as long as we keep with the same answer.”

“What if we get caught?”

“Stick to the story and all will be fine.”

Guilt rises up in both of their hearts as Ananias gets ready to bring the contribution to the apostles.

“Ananias, are we doing the right thing? Will we anger God?”

“We are not breaking any of God’s laws by looking out for ourselves. We are still supporting the church too. He won’t ask any more than that from us.” he convinces them both.

“I will see you when you return” Sapphira says as she waves to Ananias from the doorway.

Ananias goes to the house where the apostles are staying. He knocks on the door and greets the one who opens it for him.

“My wife and I have sold a piece of property and we want to give the proceeds for the benefit of the believers.”

Mark welcomes him with a smile. “That’s wonderful news! Please, come in and deliver it to Peter yourself.”

Ananias is brought to stand before Peter. He lays his bundle at Peter’s feet. “I have brought all that we gained in the sale of our field for the believers.”

Peter shakes his head. The Spirit has already told him all that Ananias and his wife have done.

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God” (Acts 5:3-4).

Ananias’ eyes go wide in surprise, just before he falls face first onto the ground at Peter’s feet. His heart instantly stops.

Everyone in the room steps back in fear. They don’t want to be part of God’s judgment on Ananias.

“Bring a blanket to wrap him in and take him out and bury him” Peter tells the young men.

Four men jump up and carry out Peter’s instructions. The rest of the house sits silent for a while.

Matthew breaks the silence. “How did you know he was lying?”

“I didn’t, but the Spirit did. He told me. Now all that is left is to see if his wife will also lie.”

“Do you think she will come before us? It isn’t the place of a woman.”

“No. But her husband won’t be returning to her and she will begin to wonder about him.”

“Are you going to confront her?”

Peter nods. The room begins to pray for strength in this matter. They don’t want another death, but they will follow where the Lord leads.

Three hours after her husband was carried out, Sapphira arrives at the door. She is quickly led in and brought before Peter.

“Tell me whether you sold the land for so much” (Acts 5:8a).

Sapphira remembers Ananias telling her to stick to their story. “Yes, for so much” (Acts 5:8b).

Peter shakes his head again and says to her; “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out” (Acts 5:9).

Sapphira’s reaction is identical to her husband’s. He eyes go wide just before she collapses onto the floor. She too breathes her last at Peter’s feet.

Not moments after Sapphira dies, the men who took care of Ananias’ body reenter the house. Seeing Sapphira lying at Peter’s feet they look up at him.

Peter nods to them.

Their shoulders drop in sadness. One goes quickly to get another blanket to wrap Sapphira in. Once this is done, she is carried to the same place where her husband was just buried. The two of them now lie side by side in death, as they lied side by side in life.

Peter is grateful that this is NOT the norm for the believers. Word quickly spreads through the whole community and fear of suffering the fate of Ananias and Sapphira keeps it from happening again.

In the morning, things return to normal. Peter, James, John, and Andrew go to the Temple to teach. The Sanhedrin’s warning has not stopped them, but fueled their resolve to speak about Jesus.

Two months pass with the apostles teaching the people and healing all those who come. They are FILLED with the Spirit and miracles follow wherever they go. It is to the point that even Peter’s shadow carries the power of the Lord.

People bring the sick, blind, and the lame on cots and blankets. They lay them along the edges of the streets, praying that even Peter’s shadow will fall across them, as he makes his way through the city. And, rather than being proud of this, Peter is humbled by the hand of the Holy Spirit working through him. He tries his best to meet the needs of every person who comes seeking help. He even chooses times when his shadow is the longest when making his way through the city.

Solomon’s portico has become a favorite spot for the apostles to speak to the people. Because of the Pharisees, the people keep distance between the apostles and themselves, but they are listening with their whole hearts. Even some of the priests and Levites come to believe in Jesus!

This riles the high priest in the extreme. “Didn’t we tell these men NOT to speak of this name?” he roars.

“We did, my rabbi” answers his servant.

“Then WHY are they STILL speaking out?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they need more persuading.”

“Then that is exactly what they are going to get!”

Caiaphas enters the hall of the Sanhedrin and begins calling out for support. “These men are leading everyone astray! They are still professing the name of Jesus as Lord. They MUST be stopped, or Rome will fall on us.”

“We already admonished them” replies one of the rabbis.

“Then we need firmer measures” demands Caiaphas. “They need to be put in prison. No more of the comforts of the guard house. Once they are in the public prison, they will change their tune.”

Guards are immediately sent to arrest the apostles. The people watch from a distance as they are all roughly grabbed and dragged from the Temple.

“Pray brothers” Peter shouts to the crowd as he is pushed along with the other disciples.

The people heed Peter’s words and begin to earnestly pray for the apostles. They remember how Caiaphas treats those whom he finds troubling.

The guards take the apostles to the common prison and turn them over to the jailer.

“Caiaphas wants to make sure they have a ‘pleasant’ stay” the captain says with a sneer.

“I will see to it personally” the jailer replies. His smile is sadistic. He enjoys his job too well, and the prisoners all know it.

The apostles are not just locked into a cell, but are chained to one another and guards are posted outside their door.

Peter begins softly singing songs of praise. Within minutes the other apostles join in. The sound of their voices bounces off the limestone walls and resonates throughout the whole prison. It is a beautiful sound to the Lord.

The hours pass and the apostles continue in prayer and praise. In the middle of the night, there appears in the cell with the apostles a bright light. An angel stands before them. The guards on the other side of the door have no idea what is happening inside the cell.

 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life” (Acts 5:20).

Peter holds up his arm to show the angel the shackles on his wrists when they drop off. He smiles with the wonder of a child and watches as the rest of the apostles have the same thing happen with their shackles.

The angel moves towards the back wall of the cell. “Follow me.”

As the angel approaches the limestone wall, a hole opens in it, large enough for all of the apostles to step through. When the last man is through the hole, it closes back to its original configuration.

It is almost painful as the apostles suppress their joy while quietly making their way back to the Temple. They slip through the gates without being noticed and take their standard places on Solomon’s portico.

Morning breaks and Caiaphas is ready to deal with the prisoners. Another meeting is called and it includes ALL the ruling bodies of Israel. When everyone is ready Caiaphas calls to the guards.

“Go and bring the prisoners to stand before us.”

No one needs to tell them which prisoners Caiaphas is referring to. The guards arrives at the prison in record time.

“I’ve come to retrieve the prisoners I left with you last evening. I trust they had an enlightening stay.”

“I expect they did. I haven’t heard a peep out of them this morning. They were singing until all hours of the night though.”

“Singing?”

“That’s what I heard.”

The captain of the guards follow the jailer into the depths of the prison.

“How are our ‘guests’ doing this morning” the jailer asks.

“See for yourselves” the guard replies as he puts his key in the lock and opens the door.

The jailer steps into the room and starts looking around. He doesn’t see anyone. Furious, he turns back to the guards.

“Where are they!”

The guards’ quickly look inside and confirm that no one is there.

“I don’t know how this happened! We never unlocked the doors even for a second. I swear it my lord!”

The Temple guard captain enters the cell too. He sees the shackles, still locked, lying on the floor and no sign of the prisoners.

“Caiaphas isn’t going to like this” he says to himself.

When the captain rejoins his men, their faces show confusion.

“Where are the prisoners?”

“They are not here. Somehow, they vanished in the night.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Go back and tell Caiaphas the truth. There is nothing else we can do” says the captain.

The guards return to the counsel chamber. Caiaphas sees them enter.

“Where are the prisoners? Why didn’t you bring them with you?”

“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside” (Acts 5:23).

Caiaphas’ face goes red with anger. “Then where are they?”

“We do not know, High Priest Caiaphas.”

“What are we supposed to do now” asked several members of the ruling counsel.

As they were discussing the situation, the doors burst open and one of the Levites hurries inside. “The men you put in prison yesterday are in the Temple, speaking to the people, as though nothing ever happened!”

“Bring them here immediately! But, don’t use force. The people may rebel” Caiaphas orders.

Within minutes the soldiers make their way to Solomon’s Portico and approach the disciples.

Peter politely gives them his attention. “How may I help you this morning?”

“You can tell us how you got out of a locked prison cell” the captain thinks to himself. But he holds his tongue. “Caiaphas, the high priest wishes to speak with you. Please accompany us to the ruling chamber.”

Peter looks at the rest of the apostles and nods his head. They all follow the captain while the rest of the guards fall in behind them. The group is led directly into the Sanhedrin chambers and brought to the very place Peter and John occupied not so long ago.

Without preamble, Caiaphas launches into his charges against the apostles. “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us” (Acts 5:28).

Peter raises his arms out to the side and addresses Caiaphas directly. “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:29-32).

Blood begins to boil throughout the chambers. The ruling body is ready to KILL the apostles! But before anyone can act on their impulse, Gamalie, a Pharisee of great respect on the ruling counsel speaks up.

“Take these men outside until we call for them again.”

The apostles are escorted out of the building and the door shuts behind them.

Gamalie turns his attention to the counsel.

“Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (Acts 5:35-39).

“Gamalie speaks wisdom” several of the members say as they endorse his plan.

“Fine” Caiaphas growls. “But there has to be some kind of consequences, or they will ignore this message as well.”

“Beat them, but do not kill them. They will learn this way that we mean business.”

The apostles are returned to the counsel chambers.

“We have decided your fate; your punishment for ignoring our directive” Caiaphas says to the apostles. He looks to the captain of the guards. “Beat them! Teach them a lesson by pain that we mean to put an end to their words.”

The apostles are led out into the courtyard and beaten by the guards. They do not resist or try and flee. Neither do they cry out for mercy. They silently endure.

Frustrated with the lack of response, the captain calls a halt to the beatings and has them taken into the street. “Leave them in the hands of their supporters” he spits.

Once the apostles are released, they go away rejoicing. Not because they are finally free, but because they feel honored to have been able to suffer as their Lord did. They hurry back to the home where they have been staying and share the whole experience with the rest of the apostles and believers.

“An angel actually led you through a WALL” Matthew asks.

Peter and the rest of the apostles who were with him smile and nod.

“I wish I could have seen the looks on the faces of the guards when they came to retrieve you in the morning” Thomas chuckles.

(to be continued)

I would have LOVED to see that moment myself. Maybe Jesus will give me a replay of it. NOTHING is impossible with God!

Father God, I KNOW that life has its hard times. Help me rejoice in them as much as I rejoice in the good times. You are ALWAYS worth of praise! And I will continue to speak of Jesus’ name for the rest of my life!