- Covered In His Dust
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- Acts Chapter 5
Good morning! ☀️
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
👉🏽 Read Chapter 5 before reading my notes. If you don’t, my notes won’t make sense.
You can access my previous notes on Acts and Luke by signing into your account. Click 'Read Online' at the top right of this post and scroll down to find them waiting for you.
Be Barnabas, not Ananias
Before we get into the rest of Chapter 5, let’s take another quick look at Ananias and Sapphira.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 teaches some important lessons about being real in our faith:
Integrity Matters to God: God values honesty. Ananias and Sapphira lied about their generosity, trying to look better than they were. God wants us to be truthful in our actions and hearts.
The Seriousness of Sin: Their punishment shows that God takes sin seriously, especially hypocrisy. Pretending to be a good Christian without truly following God is dangerous.
The Importance of Authentic Community: Their deceit threatened the trust and unity of the early church. God’s judgment protected the community, emphasizing that real, honest relationships are vital.
God's Holiness and Reverence: This story reminds us to respect and revere God. I grew up Catholic, and if there’s one thing I’ve taken from my early faith, it’s a deep honor for God.
Self-awareness: It’s a call to check our own hearts and motives. Are we serving out of love for God and others or just for approval? We should live our faith sincerely, not just outwardly but from the heart.
None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
People didn't dare join the apostles because they were afraid after seeing Ananias and Sapphira punished for lying. They respected the apostles and knew they had favor and power from God, which made them feel unworthy or scared to get too close.
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.
The "public prison" was a regular jail where they kept prisoners. It was open and visible to the public, unlike private or more secure places.
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out,
What would you have asked?
I don’t know about you, but the first thing I would have asked the apostles is, “How did you get out?”
But they weren’t interested in the miracle. Instead, they said,
“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.”
The apostles respond,
“We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
The phrase "hanging on a tree" is from Deuteronomy 21:22-23, where it says anyone hanged on a tree is cursed by God.
Describing the crucifixion as hanging on a tree points out the public humiliation and intense suffering that Jesus endured, showing the gravity of his sacrifice.
This powerful statement was meant to cut deep with the listening Jews, showing that Jesus was the Messiah who took on the curse to save everyone.
“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.”
The Apostle Paul uses this phrase in Galatians 3:13, saying that Jesus saved us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. This shows that Jesus' death was a way to take on the punishment for our sins.
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'"
Where did this boldness come from?
If we take a look at the end of Chapter four, this was their prayer to God,
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
Pray for strength today… that you might need tomorrow.
Sidetrack
When I visited Cuba in April, I met a young man at a Bible study.
Good looking.
Married.
He was probably 27-28 years old.
And he was a doctor.
When I talked with him and then shook his hand, YOU COULD FEEL his love for Jesus. I can’t explain it. He was all in.
During prayer time, this was his prayer,
“Jesus, I love you.
Lord, I will serve you in any way you call me,
With all of my strength.
Lord, call me to be a pastor.
That’s my desire.”
That’s boldness.
Reckless even.
That’s love.
I
Want
That
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
I will never stop pointing this out.
When we believe, we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
When we believe, we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
When we believe, we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
God • In • Us
Gamaliel was a respected Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, known for his wisdom and influence.
Late in Acts 5, Gamaliel mentions two men, Theudas and Judas the Galilean, as examples of leaders whose movements failed after they died. He's suggesting that if the apostles' movement is not from God, it will fail on its own, but if it is from God, it can't be stopped.
Normally, I would read right past that. It’s pretty straightforward.
But as I researched Theudas and Judas, I specifically wanted to know if anything was written about them outside the Bible.
Why does that matter?
For most of my life, I read the Bible as a religious document and not as history. By connecting places, events, and people to writings outside the Bible, my belief grows. Every person and place mentioned in the Bible is another thread in the fabric of my faith.
Flavius Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian and military leader born in Jerusalem in 37 AD. In his works "The Jewish War" and "Antiquities of the Jews,” he mentions Theudas and Judas the Galilean.
"The Jewish War" describes the Jewish revolt against Roman rule from 66-70 AD, including the siege and destruction of Jerusalem.
"Antiquities of the Jews" gives a detailed history of the Jewish people from the creation of the world up to the outbreak of the Jewish War in 66 AD.
Josephus wasn’t a Christian. He remained a devout Jew throughout his life.
It came to pass while Fadus was procurator of Judea that a certain charlatan, whose name was Theudas, persuaded a great part of the people to take their effects with them, and follow him to the river Jordan; for he told them he was a prophet, and that he would, by his own command, divide the river and afford them an easy passage over it. Many were deluded by his words. However, Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his wild attempt but sent a troop of horsemen out against them, who, falling upon them unexpectedly, slew many of them and took many of them alive. They also took Theudas alive, cut off his head, and carried it to Jerusalem.
Also from Josephus,
From "The Jewish War" by Titus Flavius Josephus
"Under his administration, a certain Galilean named Judas the Galilean attempted to incite a revolt among the Jewish people, persuading them not to pay taxes to the Romans and claiming that the payment of such taxes was equivalent to accepting human masters in place of God. This sedition was the beginning of the troubles, and it caused a great deal of commotion."
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; 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,
The apostles were then beaten and told not to speak in the name of Jesus.
Again, I have probably read that scripture dozens of times.
I have to remind myself to slow down. Dig deeper.
The apostles weren’t just “beaten.” They were BEATEN.
“Beatings” at that time typically involved flogging or whipping. This wasn’t a light punishment. The standard was "forty lashes minus one," meaning thirty-nine lashes, which was common among the Jews to avoid going over the limit given by law.
"Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight."
The beating would have been SEVERE, causing significant pain and injury. The purpose of this punishment was to serve as a warning and to show the seriousness of the charges against them. It was meant to be both physically painful and publicly humiliating.
And then,
And then they learned their lesson and stopped teaching in the name of Jesus.
No!
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer! That’s what Paul was talking about when he said,
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope."
"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake."
When we believe we are filled with the Holy Spirit… God in us… so we may boldly proclaim His name.
I loved Chapter 5. It reminded me of one of my favorite books of all time, The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken. I highly recommend it.
It’s a memoir and a collection of stories about their experiences as missionaries in some of the world's most challenging and persecuted areas.
On to today’s short video:
“If I become a Christian, do I have to stop smoking marijuana?” 0:58
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 26 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
George and his family are expanding to Cuba in 2024.