Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 5 (Daily Devo)
There is a lot going on in our country right now. We have a new president elect. Some are happy and some are not. And in this world of modern social media, everyone has the right go to Facebook and give their two cents about it. Because we live with those dynamics it can cause some real tension, even among believers.
Please hear me, the issues are important, and we as a church need to engage in the narrative and be listeners and doers of justice, loving those who are hurting and standing up for the oppressed, praying for our leaders and asking God to heal our broken land. All the while remembering our mission that Christ gave us.
As I was reading and studying Acts 5 this week, I was struck by the mission that the apostles were on. There was some really crazy stuff happening. People were getting healed all over the place, and many people started coming to faith. God was building his church.
At one point, the apostles were arrested for speaking and teaching about Jesus, and an angel appeared to them in jail and told them, “come on boys...we’ve got more work to do..” Then they got arrested again and eventually beaten and told AGAIN to not speak and teach in Jesus’ name.
But what happened? They rejoiced! They whaa??
How do you rejoice after having someone punch and kick you and just generally beat the snot out of you? It’s because they were on mission. They had real confidence that Jesus was alive and that he had given them a purpose and a role to play in his kingdom. It was something that dominated their minds! I think if they would have had Facebook they would be blowing up our feeds with the play by play of God building his kingdom.
I don’t think it’s wrong to care about who the next President will be. And it’s not sinful to vote or not vote. We are free in Christ. But what dominates our attention? What mission are we on? Let us fill our lives with the mission of God.
Jesus prayed like this, “Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Brother and sister, we have work to do. We have darkness to push back. It will not be easy. There will be suffering. But we will rejoice because we are on God’s mission.
So start in your family. Start in your neighborhood. Start with this week’s Devo. Ask God where he wants to use you. What role will you play? How will God use you? Your family?
Josh Walker (@joshdwalker) is the co-founder and owner of One Fifty Media House, a Houston, TX based Audio and Video Design Team. He is the writer and author of music products such as Family Devo, Grammar Time and Hymns For Selena. He is married to Angela and has two beautiful children: Nathan and Charity Joy.
Day 1: Acts 5:1-11
Weekly Catechism: (adapted from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000)
- Q44: What is baptism?
- A: Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior and symbolizing the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. (bolded text for young children)
READ:
[1] But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, [2] and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. [3] But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? [4] While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” [5] When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. [6] The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
[7] After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8] And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” [9] But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” [10] Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. [11] And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. - Acts 5:1-11 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Who does Peter say influenced and deceived Ananias?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, keep us from the evil one. Help us to hold tight to truth and to fight the lies of the enemy to act in ways that are self preserving.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 2: ACTS 5:12-16
Weekly Catechism: (adapted from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000)
- Q44: What is baptism?
- A: Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior and symbolizing the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. (bolded text for young children)
READ:
[12] Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. [13] None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. [14] And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, [15] so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. [16] The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. - Acts 5:12-16 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: By what power was all of these miracles happening?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, you did miraculous things by the hands of your apostles. You still act in powerful ways today. Let our lives be a part of what you’re doing for your kingdom.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
DAY 3: ACTS 5:17-26
Weekly Catechism: (adapted from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000)
- Q44: What is baptism?
- A: Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior and symbolizing the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. (bolded text for young children)
READ:
[17] But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy [18] they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. [19] But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, [20] “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” [21] And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. [22] But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, [23] “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” [24] Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. [25] And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” [26] Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. - Acts 5:17-26 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: The angel of the Lord tells them to go and teach the people all the “words of this Life.” What do you think that means?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, you alone (in Jesus) have the words of life. Where else can we go? Thank you for your grace that has saved us from our sin and revealed to us eternal life in the life of your son.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 4: ACTS 5:27-32
Weekly Catechism: (adapted from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000)
- Q44: What is baptism?
- A: Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior and symbolizing the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. (bolded text for young children)
READ:
[27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, [28] saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” [29] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. [30] The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. [31] God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” - Acts 5:27-32 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: God exalted Jesus in order to give us what two things mentioned here in the text?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, you have (in Christ) forgiven our sins. May we truly understand how big a deal that is. May we never get over that reality. Keep it fresh on our minds and hearts.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 5: ACTS 5:33-42
Weekly Catechism: (adapted from the Baptist Faith and Message 2000)
- Q44: What is baptism?
- A: Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior and symbolizing the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. (bolded text for young children)
READ:
[33] When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. [34] But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. [35] And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. [36] For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. [37] After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. [38] So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; [39] but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, [40] and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. - Acts 5:33-42 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Why were they rejoicing if they just got beat up?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, we cannot help but speak in the name of Jesus. This will, at some point, bring suffering (verbal or physical or both). Help us, in that day, to rejoice in your name. To count it an honor to be found worthy of suffering for Jesus’ sake.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.