Acts 5 & 6 Explained: Holiness, Obedience, and the Power of the Early Church

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Bible Made Real Podcast, Kathy Abraham continues the Acts Bible Study series, walking through Acts chapters 5 and 6.

We witness the seriousness of sin within the Church, the unstoppable power of the Holy Spirit, and the bold obedience of the apostles under persecution. From the sobering story of Ananias and Sapphira to the rapid growth and structuring of the early Church, this passage reveals what it truly means to live in integrity, courage, and Spirit-led purpose.

This is a call to purity, boldness, and faithful service in the body of Christ.

🔥 What You’ll Learn

• Why God takes integrity and honesty seriously
• The real issue behind Ananias and Sapphira’s sin
• How the Holy Spirit moved with power and authority in the early Church
• Why obedience to God must come before pleasing people
• How persecution actually strengthens faith and calling
• The importance of structure, delegation, and service in the Church
• How to identify and walk in your God-given role and gifts

📚 Key Scripture Passages

• Acts 5:1–11 — Ananias and Sapphira
• Acts 5:12–16 — Signs, wonders, and healing
• Acts 5:17–42 — Arrest, persecution, and bold obedience
• Acts 6:1–7 — Appointment of the seven (deacons)
• Acts 6:8–15 — Stephen’s faith and opposition

✨ Key Teaching Points

1. God Cares Deeply About Integrity

Ananias and Sapphira were not judged for keeping money—but for lying.

“You have not lied to men but to God.” 

Truth: God is not after your money—He is after your heart.

2. You Are Responsible for Your Own Integrity

Sapphira had a chance to tell the truth—but chose to follow deception.

Application:
You are never obligated to participate in someone else’s sin.

3. The Fear of God Leads to Reverence

The early Church experienced awe, reverence, and holy fear as they witnessed God's power.

• Miracles increased
• Healings multiplied
• People were transformed

4. The Power of the Holy Spirit Was Tangible

Even Peter’s shadow brought healing.

This wasn’t symbolic—it was evidence of real spiritual authority.

5. You Cannot Silence What God Is Building

The apostles were imprisoned—but released by an angel and sent back to preach.

Message:
When God calls you, opposition does not cancel your assignment.

6. Obey God, Not Man

Peter boldly declares:

“We ought to obey God rather than men.” 

This is the line every believer must settle.

7. Obedience Unlocks Your Calling

The apostles lived in full alignment with the Holy Spirit.

• When God said go—they went
• When God said speak—they spoke

Result:
Thousands were saved and the Church multiplied.

8. If It’s From God, It Cannot Be Stopped

Gamaliel’s wisdom reveals a powerful principle:

If something is from God, no one can overthrow it. 

9. Suffering for Christ Is an Honor

The apostles rejoiced after being persecuted.

They were “counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” 

Perspective shift:
Suffering is not failure—it is participation in Christ.

10. The Church Must Be Structured to Grow

As the Church expanded, needs increased—and leadership adapted.

They appointed seven men who were:

• Of good reputation
• Full of the Holy Spirit
• Full of wisdom

11. Everyone Has a Role in the Body

Not everyone is called to preach—but everyone is called to serve.

Key Insight:
The Church thrives when people operate in their assigned roles.

12. The Earl

Welcome to The Bible Made Real.

Be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes.

You can connect with Kathy on Instagram @kathyabidinglight and learn more at kathyabraham.com. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Bible Made Real Podcast. I'm Kathy Abraham, and today we're going to be continuing our Acts Bible study series. We are in chapter five and six of Acts today. We just finished chapter three and four in our last episode. And chapter four ends with the people helping the apostles by selling their possessions and setting them at the feet of the apostles to help the early church. So we are transitioning now into chapter five. We have a character, a couple, uh Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife. They have sold their possessions, but they kept part of it for themselves without telling the disciples the truth. So Ananias, the husband kept part of it. His wife, Sapphira, knowing this, now they have entered into the disciples' place and are talking to them. Peter knows what's happening, right? And Peter, by the Spirit, understands, and he is testing Ananias. And he says, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not even in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God. This is the key here. It wasn't the fact that they had kept a portion for themselves that was wrong. They are free to do as they want. It was their possession. It's the fact that they lied to Peter. Because when you're lying to Peter, when you're lying to the church, when you're lying to the Holy Spirit, this is a big, big uh responsibility to be honest to God and the church. And God takes us very seriously. That's why their judgment was really harsh and their fate was really harsh. Immediately after Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last breath. He immediately died. So great fear came around all those among them. And the young man arose, wrapped him up, took him and buried him immediately. Three hours later, his wife comes in. And Peter, knowing what happened, tests his wife and asks the same question again. And she he says, Tell me what whether you sold the land for so and so. And she said, Yes, I did. And Peter said, How is it that you have agreed together to test the spirit of the Lord, you and your husband? And the feet of those who have buried your husband were at the door and they're gonna bury you too. And immediately she died and they carried her away and buried her. See, there was a chance for repentance here. There is always a chance for us to repent. Even if who we're with did something wrong, even if they are in the wrong, we have a chance to speak up and say the truth. We don't have to feel the pressure to lie if others around us are lying. If others around us are being deceptive, deceptive, we can still guard our own purity, our own honesty, our own integrity, and say, no, honestly, this is wrong and I'm not taking part of it. If she had said that, she would have been spared and she would have had the grace and favor of God and the Holy Spirit and support of the church with her. But because she lied and she went on with the lie with her husband, her fate was the same. And they both, they both died. So let's continue on to the second part of Acts chapter five. So continuing power in the church. And through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all in Solomon's porch again. And now they're really scared. Okay. The people are feared, fearful of them because of everything they're seeing. They're seeing signs, they're seeing wonders, they're seeing miracles happen. They're seeing the dead, uh, people dying on the spot because they have grieved the Holy Spirit and have lied to the apostles. So people are now really like in awe. They are converting, they are changing, they are believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, yet none of the rest dared join them because the people esteemed them highly. They were growing in favor and honor and esteem among the people around them. And many people were being healed. They brought multitudes of men and women that lying on the streets, that their beds may are just on the streets, so that when Peter passes by, even his shadow was healing the people. Imagine the power of the Holy Spirit was so strong among the apostles and the disciples at this time that the shadow of them were healing the people. And more and more people in Jerusalem were being converted and uh believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Sadducees and the religious leaders were filled with indignation. They were upset. They grabbed the apostles, threw them into prison. But what happened? It says that night the 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. The enemy's always trying to mute you. The enemy's always gonna try to suppress you and push you down and try to hide your light. But look how the how the angel appears to them and releases them in the middle of the night. And what is she what does the angel tell them to do? Not to go and rest or go eat or go hide. No, go to the temple and preach. Go for what you were sent to do. Keep going, keep doing the thing that God is asking you to do. Do not stop. Do not stop working with the Holy Spirit. Do not stop obeying. Do not stop uh doing the right thing, even when you were being persecuted for it, even if if it costs you something, keep going. That's what the instruction was from the angel to them. And that's what they did. They went early in the morning to the temple, started teaching, started preaching. Okay, and the high priest came into the council. So imagine this whole like Jerusalem council. They're together in this like courtroom almost, right? And they're ready to judge these apostles. And they go and tell the guards, bring them in. We are ready. They're sitting in their high chairs, ready to judge them. And the guards go in and say, We don't understand. It's completely empty. They're like, What? They're like, the door is locked and the guards of the door are still there. But when we open the cell, there is nobody there. The apostles are gone. Imagine how furious they were. They were so embarrassed and so furious. They said, How did this happen? And where do they go? And how, uh, how do this even how did you even allow this? And what happened? They find out that the apostles are preaching at the temple. Okay. So now they're even more upset. And they put them on trial again. So the officers came out. They did not find them there. They found them at the temple and they brought them without violence again, okay, because they feared the people and they said lest they should be stoned. So they brought them in again before the council and they said, Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. They are accomplishing exactly what Jesus told them to do. In Acts 1.8, Jesus says, And you will be filled with the Holy Spirit when you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses to me, right? In Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. They are doing exactly what they were called to do. They obeyed God, and God's plan is being fulfilled fully in the apostles here. And the the religious leaders are saying, We told you not to do this, but yet you are filling Jerusalem with your doctrine. Hallelujah. Amen to that. Okay. And indeed, they bring this man's blood on us. But Peter and the other apostle answers and said this, get this, okay? This is uh verse 29. He says, We ought to obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers raise up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. He's reminding them, you guys crucified him, but this is our God, and we are not gonna sit quiet. We are not gonna let you dictate what's happening. You crucified him, we don't go your way. We're not agreeing with you. You guys are in the wrong, and we're gonna continue to do the right thing that God has asked us to do. And he said, Him God has exalted to his right hand to be prince and savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, and we are his witnesses to these things. And so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. They are completely working with the Holy Spirit here. This is full synergy. This is exactly what you and I are called to do. When we fully obey and fully submit and fully surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit, and when God says go, we go, and when God says stay, we stay. And when God says wait, we wait. When God says speak, we speak. When we obey the work of the Holy Spirit and the calling of God on our life, we will live in our full potential and our full calling, just like the apostles were, and God's will will be fulfilled. His plan is being fulfilled. People are converting day and night. Over and over, thousands are coming to know the Lord in Jerusalem, just had God has planned. And Peter and the apostles are standing strong in their faith, regardless of the persecution and the oppression and the opposition, they are actually growing stronger. Isn't that amazing? You and I continue to grow stronger if we are resolute and we are so sure of the calling and we're so sure of who is with us that greater is who is he who is with me than he who is in the world. If you truly believe this, like the apostles did, you will not shrink back in fear. You will continue to do what you're called to do, continue to work with the Holy Spirit. He says, We are not here to listen to man, we are here to obey God. And sure enough, they continue. The end of this chapter, the last portion, um, there is a man called Gamalel. And this man actually is a very holy and wise man, okay? And they are plotting to kill the apostles now. But this wise man in the council stood up and said, he wasn't he was a Pharisee, okay? But he stood up to the council and he said, Let me tell you something. Uh, why don't we let this just see how this plays out? Because in the past, there have been men of Israel, they have been people who have come forward claiming to be prophets, claiming to be teachers, uh, and they rose up, right? And people have followed them, but what happened? They eventually uh dispersed, they eventually fell, they eventually it died off because it wasn't from God. And he's saying, why don't we just keep these men alone? Keep them alone. And if the plan of this works out, if it is of men, it will come what to nothing. He's saying, if this is truly man-made, if this whole thing is just a cult, you know, or just a sort of following of human um belief. And if it's just not of God, it will fall apart. But verse 39, he says, but if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to fight against God. And you know what? They all agreed. The council members agreed with him and they said, Okay, so they agreed to this and they called the name of the apostles, they brought the apostles back, they did beat them, okay, but they let them go. And they told them, Don't speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. They were so thankful and happy, and they were rejoicing that they were suffering for the name of Jesus. And Jesus warned them that you will suffer for me, but he is their rejoicing. In 1 Peter 4, 13, it says, Rejoice in as much as you share in the sufferings of Christ. The apostles were joyful that they were sharing in the suffering of their Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. And this chapter ends, verse 42, and it says, And daily in the temple and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. They continued, they continued to do what they were sent to do. They did not stop. Actually, it increased their fervor, it increased their zeal, it increased their endurance, their faithfulness, their persistence. The apostles continued every day. They said without ceasing, they did not stop, preaching and teaching in every house, uh, the name of Jesus Christ. So that concludes our study on chapter five. Now let's move on to chapter six. So chapter six opens up with a need arising among the people. So more and more people are being saved and added to the church. Now there's a group of people called the Hellenists, um, which are the Greek-speaking Christians. And they were complaining to the apostles that their widows have been neglected by the daily distribution. Basically, they're saying, hey, you're not caring for our widows. You're caring for the widows of the Aramaic-speaking Jews from Palestine, but you're not caring for the widows of this, the Greek-speaking um of the DS of the diaspora. Most likely this was happening, neglect because of the barrier of the languages, uh, because the Hebrew-speaking Jews were not able to serve the Hellenistic Jewish community. So what they did was they got together and they said, We're going to appoint uh seven different um leaders to serve, seven deacons. And they picked Greek deacons, the Greek-speaking Jews among them, um, Stephen and Philip among them, the seven of them, to serve in this capacity. So in verse two, it says that they got together the disciples and they said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. So, therefore, let's seek out seven men of good reputation. So, these are the requirements, okay? Good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom that we can appoint over this business. So now the needs are growing in the church. And so the leaders were like, you know what, we need to preserve our energy for the word of God, for teaching and preaching, what we were sent to do, and let's go ahead and delegate this other work to people who we trust. And that's really how the church is and how the church functions today. There are different uh gifts and there are different roles and responsibilities, some that are teaching. The pastoral role is preserved for those who are teaching and preaching and helping bring and convert uh people to the church, and of course the priestly role. But then there are those who are administering uh gifts of administration. So uh we see this in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Actually, it lists all the different roles and responsibilities of the early church. And so this is kind of comforting because sometimes we're like, oh, we wish we were part of the early church. It was so perfect. It was not so perfect. They had problems, they had complaints, they had people, you know, wanting to speak up and say something, and they had to figure it out. They had to figure out how to care for them. So you may find yourself in a church right now where things are not always perfect, and it seems like there's the grass is always greener on the other side. It's not. No church will ever be perfect, but you should also step up and say, How can I serve my church? What can I do and contribute to the body of the church to make it uh running smoother and make it more functioning, more prosperous, and more healthy for the body and for those who are attending members of the church? So they found the seven, they laid hands on them, and they let them serve the widows in the distribution of food as they continued preaching the gospel. And it says that the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests also uh were converted to the faith. Okay, so Stephen started doing signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit, because now the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was doing signs and wonders, and now there was a group called the Freed Men Group, and they were very jealous of Stephen. Okay, they saw that Stephen had uh this sort of wonder and they were calling him sorcery, they were false accusations against him, and basically they put him um with the council and accused him just like they accused Jesus. And it says the last verse here, it says in 15, it says, and all who sat in the council looking steadfastly at him saw his face as the face of an angel. So we see by the power of the Holy Spirit that Stephen was a wise servant and he was a miracle worker, an evangelist, and that the spirit's power really helped him exercise the gifts of God in him. And that same spirit power is available for you and me to exercise the gifts that God has given us for the edification of our church, for our community, for the entire body of Christ and for the world and for the kingdom of God. So I hope this chapter encouraged you. And this concludes this episode of our series on Acts. And I'll see you next week as we go over Acts chapter seven. See you then. Bye. Thanks for joining me on the Bible Made Real podcast. If today's episode encouraged you, make sure to hit follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Bigger feedback helps us to reach more listeners. You can visit KathyAbraham.com to access free Bible study tools and sign up to receive my free weekly devotionals straight into your inbox. You can also follow me on Instagram and TikTok at Kathy AbidingLight for daily encouragement and behind the scenes content and updates. I'll see you in the next episode.