Study From the Book of Acts,5

Study From the Book of Acts,5  

Today we study the fifth chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

The severity of the punishment of Ananias and his wife may seem extreme to some people. However, Prov. 6:16-19 tells us how God feels about deception and division. The early church was vulnerable to great spiritual danger. Yet Jesus had promised that the power of hell would not destroy this fledging church in its infant stage. God would move with great discipline to ensure its purity and survival.

God, working miracles through the apostles, never failed to bring complete physical restoration. Signs and wonders were given by God to His disciples to confirm His word.

The imprisonment of the apostles apparently was a common event in the early church. In this occasion God sent an angle to free them. The phrase “angle of the Lord” refers to spiritual messengers of God. Sometimes these messengers were   human beings and other times they were angelic beings. In some places the phrase may even refer to a preincarnate Christ. Considering the events of this passage, a supernatural visitor is in view.

Different from the above supernatural means, God delivered his apostles by natural means, causing an enemy of Christianity to argue for their release from prison. God is a sovereign God. He can even use the thoughts of those who oppose the gospel to preserve and protect His servants.

Structure:

Verses 1-11: lying to the Holy Spirit.

Verses 12-16:  continuing power in the church.

Verses 17-21: imprisoned apostles freed.

Verses 22-32: apostles on trial again

Verses 32-42: Gamaliel advice.

Principle 9: verse 4:11- “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things-.”

Lesson 9: The fear of God purifies the church and puts it in a reverent frame of mind that encourages God to do amazing things through it. When we fear God, the fear of man will never dissuade us from doing God’s will.

Principle 10: 5:19,20: --"But at might an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

Lesson 10: God did not break the disciples out of prison so they could escape to safety, He freed them so they could go right back to where and what they had been doing. God wants His words of life to go forth! 2/3/2025