Sunday School Lessons: Acts 5 Pt. 1

Lesson 9

Review Acts 4:32-36
Review Barnabas’ offering and the state of the church as described in Chapter 4.  Chapter 5 starts with the ominous word, But. . .
Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5:1-5  But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “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 men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

There was nothing wrong with keeping the land for themselves, or, having sold it, keeping some money back for themselves.  As Peter said, it was their own and it was “at their disposal.”  They had the right to do with it however they saw fit.
What was wrong, then, with what Ananias and Sapphira had done?  (read Acts 5:3-4)
They lied to the Holy Spirit.  Notice, Peter says the Holy Spirit is God in vs. 4.
Who struck Ananias dead?
Read vs. 5  Do you think Peter knew what was coming?  Why or why not?
Everyone who was there was afraid.

Read Acts 5:6-9
6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said 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.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

This time Peter knew what was going to happen.  And the great fear came upon the whole church now and upon all who heard what happened.
Ananias and Sapphira had been disciplined for their sin, but the whole church was made aware of what had happened.  It was a sad day for the church because up until that time, they had had all things in common.  We will see how it affected the church in Chapter 6.

Read Acts 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Who did the signs and wonders?  
Why didn’t the people join the apostles on Solomon's Porch?
Ananias and Sapphira’s death cause the church to fear, but vs. 14 says “more than ever believers were added to the Lord.”
The people also desired to see miracles and to be healed.  Notice that verse 16 said they were ALL healed.  This was the power given to the apostles by the Holy Spirit for the early church.  The gifts were given to them to demonstrate the fact that they spoke with God’s authority.
What is our authority today?

Assignment:
Next week we will finish Chapter 5.  Please read the rest of the chapter which describes the second persecution of the church.  Review Chapter 4 and see if you can find similarities between the two accounts.  Pay special attention to Peter’s reaction and to his preaching.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.