King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 22 notes
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
It seems this couple 👫 wanted the praise and honour of sacrificing what belongs to you for others, whiles still holding on to part of the money 💵, and yet lying that they had sold everything for the sake of the brethren.
I conjecture that when they sold the land and they got the money, they couldn't believe that such a huge amount was going to the church.
They conspired to lie about it after they had likely promised the church they would sell their land to support the ministry.
They could have changed their minds at any time but chose this path.
5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
It's sad 😔, sad that in the times of the apostles, as we see in this case, the apostles literally stood in the place of God.
Peter did not say you have lied to the apostle of Christ, but that they have lied directly to God.
The people in the early church were like the children of Israel 🇮🇱, in that God was literally in their midst and they were aware of it.
It was this awareness and presence, I believe, of God that resulted in the death of this couple 👫.
This was the epitome, more or less, of what church should be: love, sharing, forgiveness, the fear of God both by the church ⛪ and those without.
There was true Power and presence.
10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Did they have a family 👪?
11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; ( and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Of course you would want to be cautious of such a community of holy people, where lying can have you struck down, especially when you know you are fake and just want the benefits of the community without genuine conversion 👇. 😌
14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, ( which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
This fresh wave 🌊 of revival and the spread of the gospel was definitely not going to keep going this unhindered.
Without the devil 👿 stepping in to stop, or at least hinder, this blazing work of revival.
18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
They had their plans, the Pharisees, but God had better counter plans. This act of the angel of God should have melted their hearts 💕.
But no, it did not; these were so hardened and would not be moved by miracles, neither by words.
It seems nothing would change their stands. Indeed, brood of vipers they were, and they would not escape the coming wrath of God.
Matthew 23:33 KJV
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
What is this? So humorous.
There was no stopping them. Even when in anger the disciples were locked 🔒 up,
almost immediately an angel comes to supernaturally rescue them.
How do you deal with such things?
The evidence of the divine hand of God was too strong 💪 and real to deny.
20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
See the instruction of the angel 😇 after making mockery of the attempted imprisonment of the disciples...
He tells them to go stand back in the temple doing exactly what caused their arrest — preaching Jesus.
It was almost as if God wanted to leave no room for them to doubt 🤷♂️ that indeed Jesus was whom he said he was.
So much so that they themselves, without doubt 🤷♂️, would acknowledge that it is God and his Christ they hate, and not that there was lack of evidence that Jesus was the Christ.
This was so glaring in how they dealt with the truth presented to them.
They were indeed children of the devil 👿
21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Ha 😁, what a slap in the face. God has a sense of humor.
They taught in the temple 🏛. Such defiance, but in a sense it was not for the same reason Jesus cleansed and taught in the temple.
This was the house of God, not of man 👨🏿. So they had more right to teach the truth of God's word, even if the leaders disagreed.
But years to come, and they had to flee the temple and synagogues because of persecution.
22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
No amount of proof or signs 🤘 would change these people.
They were hardened beyond help... They would not even concede their mistakes... Indeed, children of the devil 👿.
No wonder Jesus was ever so often on their case and never gave them much chance.
Didn't their conscience then prick ⛏ them that this thing was of God?
This goes to show how hardened and wicked they were. Any attempts at converting them or reasoning with them unto repentance would be a pipe dream 🚭.
Not all men have faith, O Lord, give us the wisdom to distinguish these, we pray 🙏
25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
☺, interesting. The Jews were not a religious group that could be taken for granted.
Inasmuch as they were listening 👂 to the truth of God's word, they were not calm, have-mercy kind of people.
If you should mess up against their beliefs, they would stone you.
Is this allowed in Christianity? For Christians to physically defend themselves if attacked or confronted?
I think it depends on the context.
27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
So Jesus the Messiah was just this man 👨🏿 to them. He meant nothing to them.
Even if they did not recognize he was the Messiah, at least they should have conceded he was of God, or a prophet.
But no, rather they conceded he was of the devil 👿
29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
These same men had been brought before the council when they attracted a huge multitude after the healing of the man at the gate of Beautiful.
They had created a scene and distracted the normal order of activities of the temple worship that day.
They were immediately seized from continuing and even threatened.
But as is evidenced here, they could not and would not stop.
30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
These men were too hardened. I am beginning to believe Joshua Selman's message that they were probably of the seed of the serpent 🐍.
How could men be this corrupted and defiant to truth?
They were the ones who were learned and had the law.
All they needed to do was to go read 📖 and they would be convinced.
But no, indeed generation of serpents.
Matthew 23:33 KJV
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
They were going to do the same thing they did to Jesus to them.
34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
If we look at the actions of wicked and ruthless men as these, you would not want to have anything to do with them.
But this is rather where we good men need to rise to the occasion and not leave power to such evil 😈 hearts 💕.
See, among these was Gamaliel, who had grown in influence and brought some sanity to these mad men.
So good people, rather than run from power because it is corrupted 🧞♂️ by evil, ought to run toward it and engage, so the force 💪 of good and of God is also felt.
Despite the interjection of Gamaliel, these men could not let it slide just like that and free them.
They still flogged these men. Which of course is better than death ☠
35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39But if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Finally one of their own had concluded right 👉 — they indeed were fighting God.
40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
So after all this counsel, they still threatened them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Or maybe it was to save face 😔.
Let me see if they were ever arrayed before them again after this.
But hold on, I remember Stephen was killed after this. Was it before them? Let me see.
41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Ei, these guys were stubborn paa oo...
So I believe true believers ought to begin to invade the churches once more with truth and doctrine.
True worship 🛐 and doctrine ought to be restored in the house 🏡 of the Lord.
In the place of lies, we ought to engage the church ⛪ back to God.
So help 😣 me, Lord.
There was no stopping this.