Acts 4:32-5:16
Dear RTB’ers,
Today we have two sets of “transition verses” (Acts 4:32-27 and Acts 5:12-16), sandwiched around the story of Ananias and Sapphira. In these transition sections time passes, but we don’t know how much. In chapters 1 and 2 Luke had definite time intervals – the Ascension occurred 40 days after Jesus’ Resurrection and Pentecost happened 50 days after the Resurrection. Between chapters 2 and 3 (the healing of the lame man) there is no definite period of time. It could have been that Peter and John appeared before the Council in the first few weeks after Jesus’ Ascension or it could have been months. (We don’t imagine it would have been years.) Likewise, there is no definite time period for the incident before and after Ananias and Sapphira; again it could also be weeks or months, but this time also, possibly years.
Ananias and Sapphira – a sad story…
Again (as in Acts 3:11) we see the apostles gathering in the temple, in Solomon’s Portico (Acts 5:12b), and multitudes gathering around them. Today’s reading speaks of healing miracles (Acts 5:12, 15, 16) accomplished at the hands of the apostles – no doubt the apostles were also sharing their faith. I’ve always admired the Catholic Church’s approach to evangelism, both locally and globally. Their “evangelism” was to go out with a goal of “doing good” (think, Mother Theresa) – mostly building hospitals and schools – and would construct a chapel for their own use, but also invite the locals to join them. Sounds remarkably like the apostles’ healing ministry in Solomon’s Portico…!
And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus… (Acts 4:33a). Time has passed since Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension and the Holy Spirit’s anointing at Pentecost, but the one focus for the apostles is the Resurrection. They are seeing miracles and signs and wonders taking place in Jesus’ name, but the preaching focus is the Resurrection. When I am sharing my faith with a non-believer, I often ask a series of questions. Do you believe that Jesus lived? Do you believe that He died, that He was crucified? Do you believe that He rose from the dead. I typically get “yes” answers for #1 and #2a, with a “maybe” for #2b and either a “no” or an “I don’t know” for #3. Then it’s time to launch into evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection. If you’ve never read it, a short book by Josh McDowell, More Than a Carpenter, provides in simple terms a number of evidence items for the Resurrection. Folks, we need to have Jesus’ Resurrection as the foundation of our faith and as the center of our witness. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus…
Blessings!