And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” (Acts 5:27-28)

The religious leaders who opposed the apostles of the early church didn’t have the facts on their side. The truth was, Jesus Christ had risen from the dead, showing Himself to many people before He ascended to heaven. The religious leaders couldn’t produce the body of Jesus or discredit the reliable reports of His resurrection. Worst of all, they couldn’t stop the disciples of Jesus from proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ life, sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection.

So, the religious leaders did what many do when the truth isn’t on their side: they hoped intimidation would frighten the opposition into silence. That’s the scene when Acts 5:27 says, they set them before the council. This was another attempt to intimidate the apostles with a display of the council’s institutional authority. The apostles, knowing how God had protected and would continue to protect them, were probably not intimidated or even overly impressed.

Then, the most intimidating man present – the high priest – confronted the followers of Jesus saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?” It was true that they had commanded Peter and John to no longer teach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18). Yet Peter and John openly told them that they would continue, in obedience to God (Acts 4:19-20).

Then the high priest said to the apostles, “you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.” This accusation probably made the disciples smile – it was a wonderful testimony of how effective their message had been. Their doctrine, the good news of Jesus Christ, had filled Jerusalem.

Then the high priest said something surprising, claiming the disciples “intend to bring this Man’s blood on us.” First, notice how he referred to Jesus: he called Him “this Man.” One might say that the high priest was so afraid of the power of Jesus that he avoided even saying the Savior’s name!

Yet, the charge that the apostles did intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us is interesting. The high priest no doubt meant that the apostles intended to hold the Jewish leaders responsible, at least in some measure, for the death of Jesus (as in Acts 2:23).

At the same time, we know that the apostles must have desired for the high priest and the other Jewish leaders to come to faith in Jesus, even as some other priests did (Acts 6:7). For certain, the apostles wanted to bring the covering, cleansing blood of Jesus upon the high priest and others in the council.

Perhaps the apostles smiled, nodded, and thought: “Yes, we want you to trust in what Jesus did for you through His death.”

In this sense, is His blood upon you?

Click Here for David’s Written Commentary on Acts 5

So that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:15-16)

These first several chapters of the book of Acts tell the story of the amazing first years of the church, the community of the disciples of Jesus. To this point they had not expanded much beyond Jerusalem, and it was a season of an amazing work of God.

There were amazing – and strange – miracles. People brought the sick out into the streets. People were so convinced of the reality and power of what the Christians believed, they thought they could be healed by the mere touch of Peter’s shadow.

That’s what Acts 5:15 says: that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Notice it does not specifically say people were healed by Peter’s shadow; it simply tells us people thought it would, and they took action based on this belief. We don’t know for certain if people were actually healed when the shadow of Peter passed over them.

In this case, apparently even the shadow of Peter became a point of contact where people released faith in Jesus as healer. It seems that people well understood what Peter said in Acts 3:12-16: That Jesus heals, even if He does His healing work through His apostles.

It may sound crazy to us that someone could be healed by the touch of a shadow, but we know a touch of Jesus’ clothing healed a woman (Luke 8:44). There wasn’t anything magical in the garment, but it was a way that her faith was released. In the same, there was no power in Peter’s shadow itself, but there was power when a person believed in Jesus to heal them, and the passing of Peter’s shadow may have helped some to believe.

However God chose to bring the healing, there is no doubt that a remarkable work was present, so much so that they were all healed. We shouldn’t miss the connection between the purity preserved in the first part of Acts 5 (with the death of Ananias and the fear of God among the Christians) and the power displayed here. God blessed a pure church with spiritual power.

Notice that a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem. Notice that this was people coming to Jerusalem instead of the apostles going to them. This was exciting, but not exactly according to the command of Jesus. He told the disciples to go out to Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). The apostles didn’t leave Jerusalem until they were forced by persecution.

With all the miracles happening, perhaps they needed a greater miracle of obedience to Jesus!

Click Here for David’s Written Commentary on Acts 5

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. (Acts 5:12)

At this time, the community of the disciples of Jesus was still centered in Jerusalem. In that city, they gathered at Solomon’s Porch. This was an area up on the temple mount. The second temple was a massive compound, with extensive porches and covered areas. No doubt, the early Christians gathered in a particular area of the temple complex, in an area open to all.

This was a season of remarkable works – many signs and wonders. Here we aren’t told what these signs and wonders were. Presumably they were like what we see in other places in Acts and in the Gospels – healings, deliverance from demonic powers, and other unusual blessings.

In Acts 4:29-30, the disciples asked God to do some things: …grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. We see God powerfully answered that prayer by giving the disciples boldness to speak God’s word, and by working many signs and wonders through the apostles. They asked in faith, and God answered their prayers.

These miracles were done through the hands of the apostles. At this time God chose to do these miraculous works through the hands of the apostles and we don’t read of God doing these miracles through the hands of other disciples. We must trust that God wisely chooses which hands will bring a miracle. Here, God had a purpose in doing it through the hands of the apostles.

I don’t know about you, but I believe God still does miracles today. I don’t believe anyone has the power to perform miracles whenever and however they want to; that power does not rest in any person. But God has power to do things that go beyond our understanding of the natural order. The Creator of the normal laws of cause-and-effect can suspend those laws from time to time as it pleases Him.

It’s easy to see the miraculous when someone is healed or set free from demonic power. However, God does many other miracles that aren’t as easily seen as miracles. We also see this in Acts 5:12: they were all with one accord. There was wonderful unity of heart and purpose among the people of God.

Often, the fact that God’s people are together all with one accord is a greater display of the power of the Holy Spirit than any sign or wonder. Our selfish hearts and stubborn minds can be harder to move than any mountain. Divisions among believers can be harder to heal than the worst illness.

Believe God for miracles that He will grant in His wisdom – but don’t forget one of the greatest miracles: true unity in Jesus Christ among His disciples.

Click Here for David’s Written Commentary on Acts 5

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

When we sin, whose fault is it? Sometimes we like to claim that the devil makes us sin. I don’t want to defend the devil, but Satan does not do everything he gets blamed for! The truth is that the world, the flesh, and the devil work together to lead us to sin and ruin. Acts 5 is an example of this.

In a season of great generosity among the first Christians, a man named Ananias and his wife Saphira wanted to be known as super-generous people. They sold piece of land. Then, they pretended to give all the money from the sale to the church, but actually kept back some of the money for themselves.

This was a sadly unnecessary sin. Peter told Ananias, while it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Peter understood that the land and its value truly belonged to Ananias; he was completely free to do with it what he wanted. His crime was not in withholding the money, but in deceptively implying that he gave it all.

This was a sin so bad that Peter had to publicly confront Ananias. When Peter spoke, Ananias must have been crushed. Certainly, he expected praise for his spectacular gift, but was rebuked instead. Peter saw that Satan was at work, even through a man like Ananias who was numbered among believers.

There is no doubt that Satan did his work in the heart of Ananias. But Peter also described his sin in another way: Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? Satan had filled the heart of Ananias, yet Peter could ask why he had conceived this thing in your heart. Satan can influence the life of a believer, even a spirit-filled believer, but he can’t do your sinning for you. Ananias had to conceive it in his heart.

We need to practice spiritual warfare, knowing that our real enemies are spiritual (Ephesians 6:10-20). We should be on guard against Satan and all of his strategies.

However, if you are believer, please remember – Satan can’t make you sin. He can tempt you, scream at you, attempt to deceive or frighten you, but the devil can’t do your sinning for you.

So, as you are on guard against Satan and his strategies, also make sure you take double care to keep an open heart before God. Take care what you conceive in your heart. Don’t be afraid to do some heart-repentance. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 5

Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:34-35)

Going through the early chapters of Acts, we are impressed by the many descriptions of the generosity and sharing of the first Christians. We read of the Christian community in Jerusalem that there was not anyone among them who lacked. No one starved or had no place to live, because the Christians took care of each other.

That took some radical generosity: all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them. Among the 5,000 or so Christians in Jerusalem at that point, some were wealthy. These wealthy believers weren’t taxed into a program of income redistribution. Everyone gave generously and God provided. Remember that the Jerusalem Christians were largely made up of visitors who came as visitors on Pentecost – they were refugees from abroad and had special needs.

I keep noting that they did this among the community of Christians. We don’t read that they did it for everyone who lived in Jerusalem. Christians have a responsibility to take care of those who are fellow believers. We have the opportunity to help those outside the church, but I don’t think we have the responsibility. I just don’t see in the Scriptures where Christians are responsible to feed, clothe, and shelter everyone on earth. But we are called to take care of our own.

Among the believers, they distributed to each as anyone had need. Unfortunately, this generosity was soon abused. Later Paul taught regarding who should be helped and how they should be helped. Paul’s directions include:

– The church must discern who the truly needy are (1 Timothy 5:3).
– If one can work to support himself, he is not truly needy and must provide for his own needs (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
– If family can support a needy person, the church should not (1 Timothy 5:3-4).
– Those whom the church supports must make some return to the church (1 Timothy 5:5, 10).
– It is right for the church to examine moral conduct before supporting (1 Timothy 5:9-13).
– The support of the church should be for the most basic necessities of living (1 Timothy 6:8).

I think that today the church does a better job with this than most people give credit for. Of course, Christians can and should always do better and do more. But I can’t think of a single voluntary organization that does more to feed, clothe, and shelter their own and the poor of the world than the church.

Today, ask God if there is a believer in need that He wants you to help – and trust that if there is, the Holy Spirit will show you and guide you. Do it with the Biblical wisdom given by Paul and others – but do it!

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 4