READING • ACTS 5
Honesty is more than obeying rules
Honesty means truthfulness, integrity and freedom from deliberate deceit. A disciple should be the same person in private as in public. Obedience to God and respect for lawful authority are part of that integrity, but honesty begins in the heart.
Living openly before God
Every day brings decisions about what we say, what we do, how we handle money, how we work, and how we treat other people. Some choices are visible to everybody; others may be hidden. The Bible repeatedly teaches that nothing is hidden from God, and that disciples should live in a way that can bear the light.
“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
John 3:20–21, KJV
Honesty is part of our witness
Paul knew that the behaviour of believers affects the way other people hear the Gospel. A disciple who speaks about Christ but is known to lie, cheat or misuse responsibility damages the message he or she is trying to preach.
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
Romans 12:17, KJV
The old lesson rightly connects honesty with preaching by example. Our words and conduct should agree. This is especially important in employment, business, family life, ecclesial responsibilities and financial matters.
What should fill our minds?
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8, KJV
Honesty toward the State
The New Testament teaches disciples to respect civil authority and to pray for rulers. This does not mean that every government is righteous, nor that human authority can replace God. It means that Christians should normally be law-abiding, peaceful and honest citizens, while retaining their first loyalty to God.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
1 Timothy 2:1–2, KJV
Paying what is due
Jesus was asked whether it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar. He refused the trap and gave a principle that reaches far beyond one Roman tax.
“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Matthew 22:21, KJV
For a disciple this includes honest payment of lawful taxes and duties, truthful records, and refusing fraud or bribery. At the same time, our whole life belongs to God. If human law ever directly requires disobedience to God, the principle remains: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
A good reputation matters
Acts 6 describes a practical problem in the Jerusalem ecclesia. The apostles asked the brethren to identify seven men who could be trusted with an important responsibility.
“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
Acts 6:3, KJV
A correction to the older lesson
Acts 6 does not actually call these seven men “deacons”, nor does it describe them as rulers of the ecclesia. The text says that the multitude chose seven men of honest report for a particular work. Stephen and Philip later appear as powerful witnesses to the Gospel.
The principle is valuable today: where money, records, pastoral care or other responsibilities are involved, character matters. Ability is useful, but trustworthiness is essential.
Honest advice is not always popular advice
We often ask other people for guidance. The Bible shows that sincerity, wisdom and faith matter more than the number of people giving the same opinion.
Caleb and Joshua
Twelve men searched the land of Canaan. Ten brought back a fearful report that discouraged Israel. Joshua and Caleb did not deny that the inhabitants were strong; they looked at the same facts through faith in God’s promise.
“If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us… Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land.”
Numbers 14:8–9, KJV
The lesson is not that an optimistic answer is automatically an honest one. Caleb and Joshua were reliable because their advice was faithful to what God had said. Truth is not decided merely by majority opinion.
Job and his friends
Job’s three friends spent a long time with him and were convinced that their explanation of his suffering was right. Yet at the end of the book God corrected them.
“Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.”
Job 42:7, KJV
Another important correction
The older lesson calls the friends’ advice “dishonest”. Scripture does not say that they were deliberately lying. Their problem was that they spoke wrongly about God. Advice can be sincerely meant and still be mistaken. We should test advice by Scripture, facts and wise judgement, not merely by the confidence of the person giving it.
Truth needs humility
An honest disciple must be willing to say “I do not know”, to correct a mistake, and to change an opinion when the evidence or Scripture shows it to be wrong. Pretending certainty is not faith. Humility and truth belong together.
WHEN RECEIVING ADVICE
ASK…
Scriptural
Does this agree with the teaching and character of Scripture?
Factual
Are the facts correct, or are assumptions being presented as facts?
Motives
Does the adviser have anything to gain from pushing me toward this decision?
Character
Is this someone whose life shows honesty, wisdom and self-control?
Humility
Is there room to ask questions, disagree and reconsider?
Honesty in money, work and responsibility
The prophets repeatedly condemn dishonest trade. Micah speaks of a “scant measure”, “wicked balances” and “deceitful weights”. The details belong to an ancient marketplace, but the principle is immediately modern: do not take what you have not earned, hide what should be declared, or manipulate a transaction for unfair advantage.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Micah 6:8, KJV
“Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?”
Micah 6:11, KJV
The lesson of Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5 gives a severe warning about religious hypocrisy. Ananias and Sapphira sold property and kept part of the money. Keeping part was not itself the offence: Peter explicitly says that the property and the proceeds were theirs to control. Their sin was to present a false impression and lie about what they had given.
“Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? … thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”
Acts 5:4, KJV
What Acts 5 does — and does not — say
The text records the sudden deaths of Ananias and Sapphira after their deceit was exposed. It does not say that Peter personally killed them, nor is it the only New Testament account in which divine judgement results in death. The central lesson is the seriousness of deliberate hypocrisy before God.
Integrity in ordinary life
AREA OF LIFE
HONESTY MAY MEAN…
Work
Doing the work for which we are paid; reporting time and expenses truthfully; not taking an employer’s property.
Business
Accurate weights, measures, invoices and descriptions; no hidden deception or bribery.
Money
Handling ecclesial, family or charitable funds transparently and keeping clear records.
Speech
Refusing lies, misleading half-truths and false promises; correcting misinformation we have passed on.
Online life
Not hiding behind anonymity to deceive, impersonate, plagiarise or misrepresent other people.
Responsibility
Admitting mistakes early rather than concealing them until someone else discovers them.
Jesus — truth without deceit
The Lord Jesus is our supreme example. Scripture says that there was no deceit in his mouth. He did not manipulate people for personal gain or use religious appearance to hide selfish motives.
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”
1 Peter 2:22, KJV
Jesus gave himself for others. A life shaped by him therefore learns not only to avoid stealing and lying, but to become generous, fair, dependable and transparent.
Giving honestly
Luke 6 teaches generosity and mercy. Verse 38 is not a formula for becoming wealthy; in context Jesus is teaching a generous, merciful way of life.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over… For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:38, KJV
A simple test of integrity
Before you act, ask four questions
Is it true? • Is it fair? • Would I be willing for the person affected to know what I am doing? • Could I bring this action honestly before God in prayer?
What have we learned?
1. Honesty is truthfulness and integrity, not merely outward rule-keeping.
2. Our conduct should be open to the light and consistent with the Gospel we preach.
3. Be honest in taxes, records, work, money and every responsibility entrusted to us.
4. Test advice against Scripture and facts; sincere people can still be mistaken.
5. Ananias and Sapphira warn against deliberate religious hypocrisy and false appearances.
6. Jesus is the perfect example of truth without deceit; his disciples should be dependable, fair and transparent.
Passages to read
Acts 5:1–11 • Romans 12:9–21 • Philippians 4:4–9 • Micah 6 • Numbers 13–14 • Job 42:1–10 • Luke 6:27–38
VERSE TO LEARN • ROMANS 12:17
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 1