Can Piety Oppose the Gospel? (Acts 5:12-42)

Reformed & Expository Preaching · Jul 14, 2026 · 36m

Introduction: Beware the Pious Ones

Introduction: Beware the Pious Ones

My dad used to warn me, "Be careful of the pious ones." That puzzled me for years. Piety should be about loving God, pursuing God. So why would anyone warn you to be careful of pious people?

Then, I noticed that the most pious in Christ’s day received His sharpest words. Christ warns the pious that they are shutting people out of the kingdom. In fact, in all their evangelistic zeal, they are only creating disciples of hell. That should make us pause and contemplate true piety.

Acts 5 gives some insight into this problem…