Day 321

I sat down, asking why it seemed more people believed in the times of Peter and John. Why didn’t as many people believe in Jesus’s time? We are told 5k people were saved. Could it be as a result of the fact that many people from different languages understood the tongues they spoke in? Could it also be that beyond being amazed by the miracle performed by the disciples, they were awed at their boldness and wisdom being ‘ordinary’ men? There is just this boldness that came with being filled with the holy spirit.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira has been used to instil fear (and emotionally blackmail people) in the current-day church. As I pondered on the event, I asked if the issue was because they didn’t bring the proceeds to church or if it was the deception. Could it be because the couple knew exactly what they were participating in and chose to lie and pretend like what they brought forward was all they got? They seem to have had a choice not to bring forward anything, but should you choose to participate, then abide by the expectations.

Jesus had foretold that the world would hate them as they did him, and we see that. So the disciples are performing signs again and gaining attention, and we see a repeat of what happened with Jesus, where the religious leaders became envious again. So the motive behind all their actions was really driven by jealousy and maybe not out of fear that they may be exiled for disobedience against God like their forefathers.