Acts 5:29-7:53

Acts 5:29 – Christians are subject to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-15), but the apostles showed that Christians are authorized to disobey civil authority if that authority required them to disobey God.

Acts 5:33-42 – The teaching of the apostles threatened the status quo. This made the leaders feel threatened as they stood to lose their followers.

Acts 6:1-6 – Seven men were appointed to help with the work. These men did not serve in the same capacity as deacons since they were chosen for a particular time-limited work. It’s not specified exactly what was being served to the widows. It could have been food, money, or something else. Whatever it was, it was clear this was not a public outreach program – it was simply caring for the needy Christians.

Acts 6:7-15 – Some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen stirred up the people against Stephen. They accused him of blasphemy, but he was doing the opposite.

Acts 7:1-53 – Stephen’s defense

• Stephen recited Israelite history, include a few things not recorded in Genesis (Acts 7:2-4; cf. Genesis 11:31).

• Stephen showed they were committing the same sins as their ancestors.

  • Guilt of jealousy:

    • OT Jews: Jealous of Joseph, Acts 7:9

    • NT Jews: Jealous of Jesus & apostles, Matthew 27:18; Acts 5:17

  • Rejecting God’s people and plan

    • OT Jews: Rejected Moses, Acts 7:27, 35-41

    • NT Jews: Rejected Jesus, Acts 2:23; 7:52

  • Resisting the Holy Spirit

    • OT Jews: Persecuted prophets, Acts 7:52

    • NT Jews: Persecuted prophets, Acts 7:51

Genesis 26:12-18 – Philistines stopped up the wells of life-giving water.

Philosophy threw debris in the pure water of life.

• Acts 17:18-29 – Paul tried to remove this debris in his preaching to the Athenians.

Roman Catholicism threw debris on the pure water of life.

• This started with errors about church governance. Bishops were appointed over elders, then bishops over multiple churches, then patriarchs over entire regions, and finally a pope.

• Instrumental music was later introduced.

• Indulgences were sold for forgiveness of sins.

• Voltaire decided that is this was Christianity he’d rather be an atheist!

Alexander Campbell clogged the stream by supporting missionary societies.

• Later, instrumental music was also added.

• Others started business enterprises to make money for the church.

• We are still having to remove this debris today. We must continue to work to unclog the stream!

Indifference may be the greatest danger we face.

• Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:23

• Indifference hinders the work of the church.

• We can all do more than we are doing for the glory of God.

Book: I Am N

I Peter 1:1-9

We must continue to live as Christians.

• II Peter 1:5-11

• We can’t turn and run in the face of persecution.

• II Peter 3:17-18

• I Peter 2:13-16, 19-20 – Do right to silence foolish men.

• I Peter 3:15 – This verse was written to people under persecution!

• I Peter 5:2-3 – These people were under persecution. They were to keep serving and not fold under pressure.

We can’t please everyone, so focus on pleasing God!

• Luke 19:5-8 – Zaccheus and grumblers

• Studies show that ministers are often afraid of offending those who come to them for help and advice.

• Isaiah 30:9-11 – These people didn’t want to hear God!

• Acts 5:27-29 – The apostles decided to obey God rather than men.

• I Peter 2:17-19 – Be submissive even to those who are unreasonable.

• James 4:1-8

• Pleasing God must be our priority.

Acts 4:32-5:42

Acts 4:35 – “Lay them at the apostles’ feet” means they put things under control of the apostles. The money was specifically given to needy Christians.

Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira

• Acts 5:3 – “Satan filled your heart” is a figure of speech (compare James 5:4; Romans 6:16). Satan didn’t physically take control of them.

• These phrases are used interchangeably:

  • “lie to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3)

  • “lied … to God” (Acts 5:4)

  • “put the Spirit of God to the test” (Acts 5:9)

• The text makes a distinction between money that is “one’s own” and that which is “common” (Acts 4:32). Chapter 5 makes the same distinction (Acts 5:2, 4). This is good to remember when thinking about the use of the treasury.

Acts 5:17-42 – “they laid hands on them”

• Note the difference between the people and the leaders:

• Acts 5:41-42 – This is the attitude we should have about persecution!