Acts
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Acts 5
Acts 5
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Commentary · verse 3
Peter confronted Ananias about him lying to the Holy Spirit. Notice, Ananias was not lying to Peter. Ananias apparently had been led by the Holy Spirit (because of the great grace) to sell the land and give all the money to the Church. Ananias not doing this was the same as Ananias lying to the Holy Spirit.
4While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Commentary · verse 4
Peter said that Ananias had lied not to men, but to God.
Verses 3 and 4 used Holy Spirit and God interchangeably, supporting the truth that the Holy Spirit is God.
5And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.
5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Commentary · verse 5
Ananias was cast down by God.
6And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.
7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Commentary · verses 6-7
Within three hours, Ananias died and was buried and Sapphira came looking for him.
8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.
9But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.
10And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Commentary · verses 8-10
Sapphira also lied and died.
11And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people: and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Again, great respect for God was upon everyone in the Church and many signs and wonders continued to happen. Once again, the believers were present in Solomon's porch, the site of their first miracle done through Peter and John.
13But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; 14and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women: 15insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
16And there also came together the multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Commentary · verses 13-16
Sick people from the surrounding areas came to the temple to get healed.
17But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, 18and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward.
17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Commentary · verses 17-18
The high priest had the Apostles put into prison because the religious leaders were jealous.
19But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,
19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Commentary · verse 19
An angel of the Lord opened the prison.
20Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.
20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Commentary · verse 20
The angel told them to stand in the temple and speak all of this to the people.
21And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought.
22But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, 23saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow.
25And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.
21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Commentary · verses 21-25
When the religious leaders looked for them, they were not in prison. The religious leaders were told the men were in the temple teaching.
26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.
26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Commentary · verses 26-29
Peter and the other Apostles feared God more than man. The religious leaders feared the people most.
30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree.
31Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
32And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Commentary · verses 30-32
They directly accused the religious leaders of killing Jesus. Believers are Jesus' witnesses and so is the Holy Spirit.
33But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them.
33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Commentary · verse 33
The religious leaders were so upset with this response, they wanted to kill them.
34But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while.
34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
Commentary · verse 34
Gamaliel was a very well respected Pharisee because of his understanding of the Law. In Acts 22, Paul stated his teacher was Gamaliel.
35And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.
36For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought.
37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: 39but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.
35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Commentary · verses 35-39
Gamaliel was willing to consider these men were doing God's work. Gamaliel was contrastive: if these men represented God, you would not be fighting them, you would be fighting God. Gamaliel also stated that if it was not of God it would eventually come to an end.
40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Commentary · verses 40-41
The leaders still beat the believers and told them not to speak in the Name of Jesus. Those who were beaten rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for the Name of Jesus. They recognized they had achieved the highest level of spiritual maturity according to Christ: Matthew 5:11-12. They were exceedingly glad for being persecuted for Jesus' sake.
42And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.
42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Commentary · verse 42
They taught daily in the temple and in every house. They did not stop teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession and kept back part of the money. Ananias laid the rest at the Apostles' feet.