Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Acts 5 Devotional

The God Who Cannot Be Fooled

“God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”Acts 5:31 (BSB)

Acts 5 opens with one of the hardest scenes in the New Testament. Ananias and Sapphira sell a piece of land, keep back part of the money, and present the rest as if it were the whole. Peter makes clear that the land and the money were theirs to keep (5:4). The sin was the pretense. Their lie was told to God himself, a test of the Spirit of the Lord, and both of them fall dead (5:3-5, 5:9-10). Great fear comes over the whole church (5:11). The Spirit living among his people is the holy God, and nothing is hidden from him (Hebrews 4:13).

The same chapter shows why this holiness need not drive us away. The apostles tell the council that God lifted Jesus to his right hand as Prince and Savior, so that he could give repentance and forgiveness (5:31). Pretending before God is dangerous, but confessing to him is safe, because he is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9). You do not have to look better than you are before him.

To think about: Where are you tempted to look more devoted than you are, and what would honest confession to God sound like?

About Acts 5: Ananias and Sapphira and the Apostles Imprisoned

Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit about a gift and fall dead. The apostles heal many and are jailed, freed by an angel, and brought before the council, where they insist on obeying God rather than men. Gamaliel counsels caution, and they are flogged.

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