How does Acts 5:11 emphasize the importance of reverence in the church? The Context of Acts 5:11 • Acts 4 ends with believers freely sharing possessions and Barnabas selling a field for the common good. • Acts 5:1-10 describes Ananias and Sapphira pretending to give the full proceeds of a sale while secretly keeping part back; Peter exposes the lie to the Holy Spirit; both fall dead. • This real, historical judgment scene prepares the ground for the reaction in 5:11. Key Verse “And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.” (Acts 5:11) Why This Verse Highlights Reverence in the Church • Immediate, tangible judgment produced “great fear”—a deep, trembling awe of God’s holiness. • The fear “came over the whole church,” stressing that reverence is not optional or private; it is meant to permeate the entire congregation. • Those who merely “heard” were affected, showing that reverence extends beyond eyewitnesses and belongs to every generation that hears the Word. • The term “church” (ekklēsia) appears here for the first time in Acts, linking the very identity of the church to holy fear. A Pattern Seen Throughout Scripture • Leviticus 10:1-3—Nadab and Abihu consumed by fire for offering unauthorized incense: “I will show My holiness to those who are near Me.” • Joshua 7—Achan’s hidden sin leads to national defeat until judgment falls. • 1 Chronicles 13:9-10—Uzzah strikes the ark and dies; David responds with fear. • Hebrews 12:28-29—“Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Lessons Drawn for Today’s Church • God’s holiness has not changed; He still demands sincerity and truth (Psalm 15:1-2). • Corporate worship must be approached with clean hands and honest hearts (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2). • Church discipline remains a safeguard for purity (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). • Leadership bears special responsibility to model integrity, lest hypocrisy invite judgment (James 3:1). • Genuine reverence leads to bold evangelism; when outsiders sense holy fear, the gospel’s seriousness becomes unmistakable (Acts 2:43; 1 Peter 2:12). Cultivating Godly Fear in Everyday Practice • Regular confession and repentance, individually and corporately (1 John 1:9). • Transparent stewardship of resources and ministries. • Teaching the full counsel of God, including His justice and wrath alongside His love. • Celebrating the Lord’s Supper with self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). • Prizing authenticity over appearance, encouraging accountability relationships. Conclusion—Reverence as a Hallmark of God’s People Acts 5:11 records a watershed moment: God Himself declares, through decisive action, that the church He purchased with Christ’s blood must remain a place of truth, holiness, and awe. When we embrace that same reverence today, we uphold the purity of Christ’s body and display His glory to a watching world. |
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