Notes from a class I'm teaching on Acts 5

Acts Chapter 5- The Sovereignty of God in 3 Acts

In today’s study of the book of Acts, chapter 5, we will see the sovereignty of God, demonstrated through his people, unfold in a drama composed of 3 acts. The first act demonstrates the ABSOLUTE sovereignty of God over His creation. The second act demonstrates the DELEGATED sovereignty of God, which He loans to His people. The third act demonstrates the ASCRIBED sovereignty of God that resonates from the heart of the Spirit-filled believer toward God.

I. Absolute Sovereignty
a. Acts 5:1-11- Ananias and Sapphira attempt to deceive the church, but anger God instead.
b. Was God’s treatment of them just? Did the punishment fit the crime? It matters not, for God is completely SOVEREIGN over all creation!
c. So why? Why did God kill Ananias and Sapphira?
i. It was His choice.
ii. It was an example to the church.
iii. It is a reminder that all sin is first and foremost an offense to God, though we also wrong others in the process.

II. Delegated Sovereignty
a. Acts 5:12-16- The apostles work miracles among the people, winning a great number of souls.
b. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12. We see the fulfillment of this promise in these verses.
c. The working of miracles through mankind is a delegation of God’s supreme authority to intervene in the natural course of events.

III. Ascribed Sovereignty
a. Acts 5:17-42- The apostles stand firm under the oppression of the Counsel.
b. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
c. There were no miracles worked, but the lives and actions of the apostles spoke loudly enough that the counsel determined nothing could be done to stop these men, not even taking their lives. (Consider Genesis 11:6).