Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira sell property just like Barbabas only they set aside some for themselves, presumably making it look like the gave it all. Peter picks up that they weren't being honest. They could have done anything but cheated God by lying.

Ananias dies when exposed. His wife gets a second chance to fess up and dies as well. Obviously, people were afraid of this. Cheating God was not a good idea! Do you cheat God by holding back when you say you give it all?

The early Church performs powerful acts because of it faith in God. More people invest in Jesus as a result. Men and women. This is a difference since women would normally not be mentioned. The Church IS a different  group where women have status as well. Crowds press on the apostles in order to get the sick well. Even an apostle's shadow is considered enough! Healing is a sign of power and of belief.

Religious leaders remain jealous. Back to jail the apostles go. This time, an angel (messenger of God) opens the jail doors so the apostles can go back to God's work. God won't let those who spread lie stay down. The apostles go back to teaching.

The religious leaders find the apostles gone from a locked jail. They are puzzled. The apostles are rearrested. They are reprimanded. Peter says that they must obey God and not men. He preaches the Good News even to the religious leaders who stubbornly cling to worn-out ways.

Furious, the leaders want the apostles put to death. A smart religious leader, Gamaliel, reminds the leaders that they could be attacked by the crowds if the harmed the apostles who were very popular. Why not see what happens. If God is with them, we can't stop them. If God is not, this apostle thing will pass. The apostles are flogged and warned again.

Remembering Jesus' words, the apostles are ecstatic that they were disgrace because they believed in Jesus enough to get in trouble. The teaching and healing goes on!