What Old Testament examples parallel the judgment seen in Acts 5:9? Acts 5:9 – the benchmark of swift judgment “Then Peter said to her, ‘How could you agree 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 also.’” (Acts 5:9) Old Testament voices that echo Acts 5:9 • Nadab and Abihu – irreverent worship (Leviticus 10:1-2) – Offered “unauthorized fire before the LORD… So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them.” – Immediate death inside the tabernacle, just as Ananias and Sapphira die inside the church gathering. • Achan – stealing from God (Joshua 7) – Hid devoted items; “the anger of the LORD burned” (7:1). – Exposure, public accusation, execution (7:25). – Like Ananias, he pretended obedience while keeping part of what belonged to the LORD. • Korah, Dathan, and Abiram – rebellion against God-given leadership (Numbers 16:31-35) – “The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them.” – God vindicates His appointed leaders (Moses then, Peter now) by decisive judgment. • Uzzah – presuming on holy things (2 Samuel 6:6-7) – Touched the ark; “God struck him down… and he died beside the ark of God.” – A reminder that sacred spaces and acts must not be handled casually. • Gehazi – lying for profit (2 Kings 5:25-27) – Denied taking payment; Elisha exposed him; “Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you.” – Greed and deception toward God’s servant meet instant, personal punishment. • Lot’s wife – half-hearted obedience (Genesis 19:26) – Looked back and “became a pillar of salt.” – Single act of defiance leads to sudden, irreversible judgment. Threads that tie the stories together • Holy God, holy people – Each event occurs when God is establishing or renewing His covenant community (tabernacle inauguration, conquest, priesthood, monarchy, early church). • Hidden sin unmasked – False appearances crumble under divine scrutiny. • Immediate, public consequence – The judgment happens on the spot, warning the whole assembly. • Offense against the LORD – Whether deceit, irreverence, or rebellion, the sin is ultimately “testing the Spirit of the Lord” (Acts 5:9). Key takeaways – God’s holiness remains unchanged from Old to New Testament; the early church is not exempt from the standards that governed Israel. – Hypocrisy and greed, especially when cloaked in religious devotion, invite severe discipline. – The fear of the LORD is meant to preserve the purity of His people and advance His mission (Acts 5:11). Scripture teaches these accounts literally and accurately so that we “do not test Christ, as some of them did and were killed” (1 Corinthians 10:9). |
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