LYING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 5:1-11
I. A Show of Generosity (vs. 1-2)
a. Immediately preceding Ananias’ and Saphira’s offering…”Joses who was
also named Barnabas by the apostles (which means son of
encouragement) having land, sold it and brought the money to the
apostles and laid it at their feet.” What about this may these two have
wanted?
b. Was the sin that they had kept back part of the sale of their own
possession, or something more?
c. Where did the sin start and who was complicit in it?
II. Be Sure Your Sins Will Find You Out (vs. 3-11)
a. How long does it take for Peter to confront Ananias?
b. Whose hand does Peter see at work in this deceit?
c. Who does Peter state that Ananias had lied to?
d. What did Peter mean that the possession was Ananias’ when he owned it
and under his control after he sold it?
e. How do you think Peter knew so much about what was going on with
this?
f. What happened to Ananias?
g. Why do you think the penalty was immediate and this severe?
h. Ananias is carried out and buried without the usual mourning etc. Why?
i. Sapphira is proven complicit with Ananias. How does she find out her
husband is dead? _
j. Does Peter know what will happen to Sapphira?
k. What was the result in the church and community when word of Ananias’
and Sapphira’s demise was known?
l. Is this kind of ‘fear’ a healthy thing for the church?
III. Application: Are people to casual, careless, or even willfully belligerent in their attitudes and actions toward God?
What caution can we take away from this lesson?
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