Jesus’ first disciples were Jewish and they went to the temple to pray three times a day because that was the custom. Around 9:00 a.m. the temple doors would open and the morning sacrifice and prayers were offered. At sundown the priest made the evening sacrifice before the temple was closed for the night and people gathered and prayed again.

They also prayed around 3:00 in the afternoon when people customarily came to offer sacrifices for their sins. Peter and John were on their way to the temple for afternoon prayers when they encountered a beggar with lame feet. He made his living by begging from worshipers who practiced good deeds by giving alms to poor people.

The Holy Spirit caught Peter and John’s attention and led them to heal the crippled man. They didn’t ask if the man had enough faith for this miracle; Peter simply said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6) and helped him to his feet. The man didn’t just walk, he jumped around and praised God.

“When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 3:9-10

Preaching in Jesus’ Name

The Jewish Ruling Council might have been willing to ignore the growing number of Jesus followers in Jerusalem if Peter and John had not begun doing miracles in Jesus’ name. That got the attention of the crowds and Peter took the opportunity to preach about Christ.

He reminded them of Jesus’ recent death and informed them he had risen from the dead, as many eyewitnesses to the resurrection could attest. The healing miracle they had just seen happened because Jesus was alive and continuing his ministry through his followers in the power of the Holy Spirit. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

The priests, temple guards, and Sadducees were disturbed that the apostles preached about Jesus rising from the dead. The Sadducees didn’t believe in resurrection and they thought it was heresy to preach about it. So they arrested Peter and John and held them overnight. The next day “They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’” Acts 4:7

The Holy Spirit filled Peter and he preached about Jesus again, finishing by saying:

“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed . . . Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

Jesus had told his followers not to worry when they were hauled into court because the Holy Spirit would be there to help them.

Taught by Jesus

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

Peter and John were fishermen by trade. The only rabbi they had followed was Jesus and that was only for about three years. Most preachers who spoke with the authority of these two spent eighteen years following a rabbi before they were commissioned to become rabbis and teach.

Peter and John were so effective because they had just one message: Jesus Christ, crucified, buried and raised from the dead. It was all they needed to make an impact on people, but they had also been given the power to do miracles.

The Jewish leaders were in a quandary.

“‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.’” Acts 4:16-17

This order didn’t work, and it has seldom worked, wherever it has been tried. Once people know Jesus they can’t keep him to themselves.

“But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’” Acts 4:19-20

Life Together

The officials couldn’t decide what to do with Peter and John so they released them and the apostles went back to their people. They told their friends what had happened and it led to a faith-filled prayer meeting.

“‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:29-31

Jesus’ followers formed a remarkable community in Jerusalem and as long as it reflected his character things went really well. The disciples didn’t worry about what they would eat or drink, or what they would wear. They shared what they had with each other, “and God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.” Acts 4:33-34

Lies and Deception

The community brought out the best in some people and, sadly, the worst in others. Some people sold their properties and brought the proceeds for the apostles to distribute. Others enjoyed the benefits of being part of the group, but their hearts were selfish and deceptive.

Ananias and Sapphira sold some property and made a display of giving the money to the apostles, but secretly held back part of it. It was permissible for them to keep the money, but not for them to lie about it.

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to human beings, but to God.’” Acts 5:3-4

Ananias fell dead when he realized he had been found out. Later his wife Sapphira dropped dead, too, when she lied to Peter.

“Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” Acts 5:11

Ananias and Sapphira’s Sin

What did Ananias and Sapphira do that was so terrible? Apparently they had become too corrupt. The Holy Spirit showed Peter that Satan had filled their hearts and when Peter asked Ananias. “What made you think of doing such a thing?” the answer was that the devil had entered their hearts and led them into sin.

Jesus said about Judas Iscariot that it would have been better for him not to be born than to betray the Son of God. It seems that it was better for Ananias and Sapphira to die than to go on being agents of Satan in the community of Christ.

The Apostles Meet Opposition

After the Jewish leaders targeted the apostles for preaching in the name of Jesus, people were afraid to be seen with them at the temple.

“Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” Acts 5:14

The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the power to heal people and that drew great crowds to Jerusalem. The Sadducees were so jealous of the apostles that they locked them up. But in the middle of the night an angel from the Lord opened the doors of the jail and sent the apostles back to preach in the temple courts again.

The Sanhedrin was ready to interrogate their prisoners when they learned they had escaped. The apostles hadn’t gone far so they were brought back in and charged with violating the edict against their preaching.

Peter and the other apostles infuriated the Sanhedrin by preaching to them about Jesus, and the officials were ready to put them to death until the Pharisee Gamaliel reasoned with them. The Council had seen other “messiahs” come along and gather followers, but those movements always failed.

“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourself fighting against God.” Acts 5:38-39

The Sanhedrin had the apostles flogged for disobeying the edict against their preaching and then let them go with a reminder not to preach anymore. The apostles left rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer for Jesus, and the persecution only increased their determination to preach the Gospel.

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” Acts 5:42