Hey, this is David Platt. Did you know that around the world believers gather in secret,

often at great risk simply to open God's word together. Secret Church is inspired by that reality.

Lord willing, on April 17th, over 50,000 believers will gather online for this once a year at night.

Six hours in scripture, prayer for the persecuted church, an action to make Jesus known among the nations.

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You are listening to David Platt messages, a weekly podcast with sermons and messages from pastor, author, and teacher David Platt.

If you have a Bible, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to open to the book of Acts.

Chapter 5. As you're turning there, let me encourage you if you had the notes from your celebration guide that we're in there to pull those out that will serve as a guide for our time together today.

This morning, we are going to look at what I believe is one of the most difficult passages in the book of Acts, if not the most difficult

passage in the Book of Acts. And it is a humbling text to study and a humbling text to preach.

It seems out of place in its context. In Acts 2 through 4, we are seeing the height of

biblical community, a picture of the early church, of people who cared about each other and loved

each other and sacrificed for each other, of unity, everything coming together, everything going right, and people coming to

know Christ day in and day out. We're seeing the height of that. And then we come to Acts 5.

With that context, just listen to this story. Acts chapter 5, verse 1. Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife, Safira, also sold a piece of

property. With his wife's full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the

rest and put at the Apostles' feet. And Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled

your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you

received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the

money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not

lied to men, but to God. When an Ananias heard this, he fell down and died, and great fear seized

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