What is the significance of fear in Acts 5:11? Canonical Parallels 1. Sinai: Exodus 20:20—“Do not be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 2. Nadab and Abihu: Leviticus 10:1-3 shows holiness enforced at the tabernacle’s inauguration. 3. Uzzah: 2 Samuel 6:6-8 couples sudden judgment with corporate fear and renewed respect for the ark. 4. Corinth: 1 Corinthians 11:28-32 links sickness and death to unworthy participation in the Lord’s Supper, echoing Acts 5. These parallels demonstrate that decisive divine intervention at formative moments safeguards the purity of worship. Theological Significance • Holiness of God: Acts 5 reveals that the God who struck down Nadab and Abihu is identical with the risen Christ’s Spirit. The event unifies Old and New Testament portrayals of divine holiness. • Sovereignty of the Spirit: Peter’s words, “You have not lied to men but to God” (v. 4), teach the personal deity of the Holy Spirit, a cornerstone for Trinitarian theology. • Integrity of the Church: Fear functions as a purifying agent, reinforcing that the ekklēsia is not a social club but a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Ecclesiological Implications The first mention of “church” (ekklesia) inside Acts appears here (v. 11), suggesting that a shared fear of God helps define corporate identity. Luke presents discipline not as antithetical to growth but as catalytic: immediately afterward “more than ever believers were added to the Lord” (5:14). Holiness and mission are complementary, not competing, priorities. Moral-Pedagogical Purpose 1. Deterrence: Public judgment discourages hypocrisy, preserving credibility before a watching world. 2. Accountability: The episode validates apostolic authority in exposing hidden sin—an early precedent for church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17). 3. Discipleship: Fear drives self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5), fostering authenticity in stewardship and speech. Psychological Dimension Behavioral research affirms that salient consequences heighten moral salience. Immediate, vivid outcomes (e.g., sudden deaths) create “availability heuristics” that reinforce communal norms. Acts 5 provides such a vivid deterrent, aligning internal motivation (awe) with external behavior (truthfulness). Reverent fear thus serves a constructive, pro-social function. Historical and Cultural Background First-century Jewish culture linked communal purity with divine blessing (e.g., Qumran’s 1QS). Archaeological discoveries—such as inscriptional evidence of communal funds in the Herodian period—illustrate the gravity of property pledges. Luke’s audience would grasp that misappropriating sacred funds invites covenantal curse, making the reaction of fear culturally coherent. Contemporary Application 1. Worship: Fear invites sober, joy-infused worship (Hebrews 12:28-29). 2. Stewardship: Transparent handling of resources honors God and shields the church’s witness. 3. Evangelism: A community visibly aware of God’s holiness and grace makes the gospel credible; converts in 5:14 respond not despite fear but partly because of it. 4. Spiritual Health: Fear prevents casual religion, nurturing a high view of God that anchors perseverance amid cultural pressure. Conclusion The “great fear” of Acts 5:11 encapsulates awe, accountability, and assurance. It safeguards the nascent church’s purity, validates apostolic authority, and magnifies God’s holiness for both insiders and onlookers. Far from hindering growth, reverent fear proves foundational for a vibrant, truth-telling, Spirit-empowered community. |
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