Chapter 4 ended with the report of believers selling lands and houses and giving the proceeds to the apostles for distribution among the needy, and telling the example of Barnabas.
Continuing, we now have the negative example of the couple Ananias and Sapphira who also sold a property, but Ananias retained a portion of the proceeds for himself with the complicity of his wife and only gave the apostles the remainder as if it were all. Ananias was under no obligation to sell his property, and he had every right to keep all or part of the sale proceeds, but he wanted the apostles and the whole church to think that he had done the same as Barnabas (so deserving glory for the same generosity).
The Holy Spirit detected his lie, and challenged him through the apostle Peter. Upon hearing the words of Peter, Ananias collapsed and died, and great fear seized all who heard what had happened. His wife Sapphira appeared three hours later, unaware of this, and Peter asked if the money brought by Ananias was the price they had secured for the property. She said yes, lying like Ananias. Peter rebuked her for having agreed with her husband to tempt the Spirit of the Lord, and told her that her husband had died and she would die like him. Therefore, she died immediately after that.
This was a unique occurrence in the history of the church given in the Bible, revealing an action by the Holy Spirit to preserve its purity. It was necessary in those early days when it was being formed, so that its testimony would not be tainted by a lie, also manifesting the power given by the Holy Spirit to the apostles.
God is sovereign, and can withdraw from the church on earth those He wants, to accomplish His purposes. Remember that the death of Ananias and Sapphira does not imply the loss of their salvation, or of their eternal security. These are gifts of God and are eternal, that is, forever, unconditionally. Such is the grace of God.
The role of Peter was to uncover the sin committed by the couple, and to declare its consequence. The apostle Paul also judged a member of the Corinthian church and ordered that, in the name and power of our Lord Jesus, he be "delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Corinthians 5: 3-5). This power was given to the apostles only and does not appear to have been exercised by others. The effect on the church and on all who heard about these events was that they were taken by a great fear of God. Fear generates reverence.
Once this sin was eliminated in the church, the apostles continued to perform many signs and wonders among the people, as the church had supplicated from God (chapter 4:30).
The Gospel was announced boldly in the Solomon's Porch and all who believed were meeting there (also in response to the pleas of the church - Chapter 4:29). The situation was dangerous, so the unbelievers dared not join them, even though they had them in high esteem.
The number of those who believed in the Lord and were added to the church was growing. Also the effectiveness of the healing done by the apostles was such that some of the people came to believe that even the shadow of Peter falling on a patient as he passed, was enough to heal him. It is noteworthy that crowds came from nearby cities to Jerusalem, bringing their sick and demon-possessed, and all were cured. The healings done by the apostles were general and efficient, perfectly attending to what the church had prayed for.
Every person who had no preconceived ideas could clearly perceive the legitimacy of the healings, a sign of the supernatural power with which the apostles were endowed. These signs and wonders were God's way to testify with the apostles the truth of the Gospel (Hebrews 2:4), especially to the Jews, who always asked for a sign that they might believe.
As the church grew, the Holy Spirit gave spiritual gifts to suit its needs, including evangelists and teachers who continued to build on the foundation of the apostles. Eventually the Word of God was completed and is now printed and published so that almost everyone can read it, it is totally inspired by the Holy Spirit and is of itself sufficient to bring the Gospel to the needy sinner for salvation (Hebrews 4:12) .
The priests and Sadducees had preconceived ideas and rejected the idea that Jesus of Nazareth, who had been crucified, was indeed the Messiah. In principle, they rejected the possibility of a resurrection of the dead, so He could not have risen. In their eyes, what the apostles preached was not true, and their signs were hoaxes, regardless of ample evidence to the contrary. As religious leaders, they were jealous of the fame that the apostles were acquiring, contradicting what they taught the people. They therefore sought to silence them at all costs and for this purpose ordered their arrest to be confined in a common prison.
During the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors - Luke tells it succinctly, without going into details as to how this powerful being looked. Luke must have been very well informed, for he would have had the opportunity to talk about this with Peter, but for us it is enough to know that it was by divine intervention. The doors were left locked securely, so the guards did not know anything (verse 23)
The angel commanded the apostles to return to the temple and to speak to the people "all the words of this Life." He was probably referring to eternal life, life that the Sadducees denied, but that Jesus Christ came to give us (John 6:63, 68, 1 Corinthians 15:19). The temple authorities had forbidden the apostles to speak of the Gospel, but this instruction came from a Person above them. If the apostles were feeling any fear, it should reassure them. Note also the majesty and power of the Lord Jesus, for after His resurrection He started using heavenly messengers to perform His commands and transmit His messages. The apostles were commanded to do exactly what the church had asked, “that with all boldness they may speak Your word”.
At daybreak, the apostles entered obediently the courtyard of the temple and began to teach the people. No doubt, they were even more excited now, knowing they were doing exactly what God wanted. They came at dawn, when the doors opened, and announced the gospel message to the first that were entering.
If they had been silent now, the enemy would have gained a victory, and it would have been an interruption in the successful communication of the message of eternal life. However, the people who came saw that the prohibitive action of the "authorities" of the temple had been annulled, if it had come to their attention.
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part 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 keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."
9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.
13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,
18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
20 "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."
21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught.
Acts chapter 5, verses 1 to 21a