13 And G1161 of the rest G3062 durst G5111 no man G3762 join himself G2853 to them: G846 but G235 the people G2992 magnified G3170 them. G846
So G1161 when they had further threatened them, G4324 they let G630 them G846 go, G630 finding G2147 nothing G3367 how G4459 they might punish G2849 them, G846 because G1223 of the people: G2992 for G3754 all G3956 men glorified G1392 God G2316 for G1909 that which was done. G1096
For G1063 if G1487 after they have escaped G668 the pollutions G3393 of the world G2889 through G1722 the knowledge G1922 of the Lord G2962 and G2532 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 they are G1707 again G3825 entangled G1707 therein, G5125 and G1161 overcome, G1096 G2274 the latter end G2078 is worse G5501 with them G846 than the beginning. G4413 For G1063 it had been G2258 better G2909 for them G846 not G3361 to have known G1921 the way G3598 of righteousness, G1343 than, G2228 after they have known G1921 it, to turn G1994 from G1537 the holy G40 commandment G1785 delivered G3860 unto them. G846 But G1161 it is happened G4819 unto them G846 according to G3588 the true G227 proverb, G3942 The dog G2965 is turned G1994 to G1909 his own G2398 vomit G1829 again; G1994 and G2532 the sow G5300 that was washed G3068 to G1519 her wallowing G2946 in the mire. G1004
And G1161 after G3326 this G5023 Joseph G2501 of G575 Arimathaea, G707 being G5607 a disciple G3101 of Jesus, G2424 but G1161 secretly G2928 for G1223 fear G5401 of the Jews, G2453 besought G2065 Pilate G4091 that G2443 he might take away G142 the body G4983 of Jesus: G2424 and G2532 Pilate G4091 gave him leave. G2010 He came G2064 therefore, G3767 and G2532 took G142 the body G4983 of Jesus. G2424
Nevertheless G3676 G3305 among G1537 the chief rulers G758 also G2532 many G4183 believed G4100 on G1519 him; G846 but G235 because G1223 of the Pharisees G5330 they did G3670 not G3756 confess G3670 him, lest G3363 they should be G1096 put out of the synagogue: G656
These G5023 words spake G2036 his G846 parents, G1118 because G3754 they feared G5399 the Jews: G2453 for G1063 the Jews G2453 had agreed G4934 already, G2235 that G2443 if G1437 any man G5100 did confess G3670 that he G846 was Christ, G5547 he should be G1096 put out of the synagogue. G656
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Behold, we die, H1478 we perish, H6 we all perish. H6 Whosoever cometh any thing near H7131 unto the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD H3068 shall die: H4191 shall we be consumed H8552 with dying? H1478
And when he G846 was come nigh, G1448 even G1161 now G2235 at G4314 the descent G2600 of the mount G3735 of Olives, G1636 the whole G537 multitude G4128 of the disciples G3101 began G756 to rejoice G5463 and praise G134 God G2316 with a loud G3173 voice G5456 for G4012 all G3956 the mighty works G1411 that G3739 they had seen; G1492 Saying, G3004 Blessed G2127 be the King G935 that cometh G2064 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord: G2962 peace G1515 in G1722 heaven, G3772 and G2532 glory G1391 in G1722 the highest. G5310
If any G1536 man come G2064 to G4314 me, G3165 and G2532 hate G3404 not G3756 his G1438 father, G3962 and G2532 mother, G3384 and G2532 wife, G1135 and G2532 children, G5043 and G2532 brethren, G80 and G2532 sisters, G79 yea, G2089 and G1161 his own G1438 life G5590 also, G2532 he cannot G3756 G1410 be G1511 my G3450 disciple. G3101 And G2532 whosoever G3748 doth G941 not G3756 bear G941 his G846 cross, G4716 and G2532 come G2064 after G3694 me, G3450 cannot G3756 G1410 be G1511 my G3450 disciple. G3101 For G1063 which G5101 of G1537 you, G5216 intending G2309 to build G3618 a tower, G4444 sitteth G2523 not G3780 down G2523 first, G4412 and counteth G5585 the cost, G1160 whether G1487 he have G2192 sufficient to G4314 finish G535 it? Lest G3363 haply, G3379 after he G846 hath laid G5087 the foundation, G2310 and G2532 is G2480 not G3361 able G2480 to finish G1615 it, all G3956 that behold G2334 it begin G756 to mock G1702 him, G846 Saying, G3004 This G3754 G3778 man G444 began G756 to build, G3618 and G2532 was G2480 not G3756 able G2480 to finish. G1615 Or G2228 what G5101 king, G935 going G4198 to make G4820 war G4171 against G1519 another G2087 king, G935 sitteth G2523 not G3780 down G2523 first, G4412 and consulteth G1011 whether G1487 he be G2076 able G1415 with G1722 ten G1176 thousand G5505 to meet G528 him that cometh G2064 against G1909 him G846 with G3326 twenty G1501 thousand? G5505 Or else, G1490 while the other G846 is G5607 yet G2089 a great way off, G4206 he sendeth G649 an ambassage, G4242 and desireth G2065 conditions G4314 of peace. G1515 So G3779 likewise, G3767 whosoever G3956 he be of G1537 you G5216 that G3739 forsaketh G657 not G3756 all G3956 that he hath, G5224 G1438 he cannot G3756 G1410 be G1511 my G3450 disciple. G3101 Salt G217 is good: G2570 but G1161 if G1437 the salt G217 have lost his savour, G3471 wherewith G1722 G5101 shall it be seasoned? G741 It is G2076 neither G3777 fit G2111 for G1519 the land, G1093 nor yet G3777 for G1519 the dunghill; G2874 but men cast G906 it G846 out. G1854 He that hath G2192 ears G3775 to hear, G191 let him hear. G191
In G1722 the mean time, G3739 when there were gathered together G1996 an innumerable multitude G3461 of people, G3793 insomuch that G5620 they trode G2662 one upon another, G240 he began G756 to say G3004 unto G4314 his G846 disciples G3101 first of all, G4412 Beware G4337 ye G1438 of G575 the leaven G2219 of the Pharisees, G5330 which G3748 is G2076 hypocrisy. G5272 For G1161 there is G2076 nothing G3762 covered, G4780 that G3739 shall G601 not G3756 be revealed; G601 neither G2532 hid, G2927 that G3739 shall G1097 not G3756 be known. G1097
And Samuel H8050 did H6213 that which the LORD H3068 spake, H1696 and came H935 to Bethlehem. H1035 And the elders H2205 of the town H5892 trembled H2729 at his coming, H7125 and said, H559 Comest H935 thou peaceably? H7965 And he said, H559 Peaceably: H7965 I am come H935 to sacrifice H2076 unto the LORD: H3068 sanctify H6942 yourselves, and come H935 with me to the sacrifice. H2077 And he sanctified H6942 Jesse H3448 and his sons, H1121 and called H7121 them to the sacrifice. H2077
God H410 brought him forth H3318 out of Egypt; H4714 he hath as it were the strength H8443 of an unicorn: H7214 he shall eat up H398 the nations H1471 his enemies, H6862 and shall break H1633 their bones, H6106 and pierce H4272 them through with his arrows. H2671 He couched, H3766 he lay down H7901 as a lion, H738 and as a great lion: H3833 who shall stir him up? H6965 Blessed H1288 is he that blesseth H1288 thee, and cursed H779 is he that curseth H779 thee. And Balak's H1111 anger H639 was kindled H2734 against Balaam, H1109 and he smote H5606 his hands H3709 together: H5606 and Balak H1111 said H559 unto Balaam, H1109 I called H7121 thee to curse H6895 mine enemies, H341 and, behold, thou hast altogether H1288 blessed H1288 them these three H7969 times. H6471
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 5
Commentary on Acts 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Ac 5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira.
"The first trace of a shade upon the bright form of the young Church. Probably among the new Christians a kind of holy rivalry had sprung up, every one eager to place his means at the disposal of the apostles" [Olshausen]. Thus might the new-born zeal of some outrun their abiding principle, while others might be tempted to seek credit for a liberality which was not in their character.
2. kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it—The coolness with which they planned the deception aggravated the guilt of this couple.
brought a certain part—pretending it to be the whole proceeds of the sale.
3-6. why hath Satan filled—"why … fill—"why hast thou suffered him to fill"
thine heart—so criminally entertaining his suggestion? Compare Ac 5:4, "why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?" And see Joh 13:2, 27.
to lie to the Holy Ghost—to men under His supernatural illumination.
4. While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?—from which we see how purely voluntary were all these sacrifices for the support of the infant community.
not lied to men but God—to men so entirely the instruments of the directing Spirit that the lie was rather told to Him: language clearly implying both the distinct personality and the proper divinity of the Holy Ghost.
5. Ananias … gave up the ghost … great fear came on all that heard these things—on those without the Christian circle; who, instead of disparaging the followers of the Lord Jesus, as they might otherwise have done on the discovery of such hypocrisy, were awed at the manifest presence of Divinity among them, and the mysterious power of throwing off such corrupt matter which rested upon the young Church.
6. the young men—some of the younger and more active members of the church, not as office-bearers, nor coming forward now for the first time, but who probably had already volunteered their services in making subordinate arrangements. In every thriving Christian community such volunteers may be expected, and will be found eminently useful.
7-11. Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much—naming the sum.
9. How is it that ye have agreed together—(See on Ac 5:2).
to tempt the Spirit—try whether they could escape detection by that omniscient Spirit of whose supernatural presence with the apostles they had had such full evidence.
feet of them that buried thy husband are at the door—How awfully graphic!
10. buried her by her husband—The later Jews buried before sunset of the day of death.
11. And great fear came upon all the church, &c.—This effect on the Christian community itself was the chief design of so startling a judgment; which had its counterpart, as the sin itself had, in Achan (Jos 7:1-26), while the time—at the commencement of a new career—was similar.
Ac 5:12-26. The Progress of the New Cause Leads to the Arrest of the Apostles—They Are Miraculously Delivered from Prison, Resume Their Teaching, but Allow Themselves to Be Conducted before the Sanhedrin.
12. Solomon's Porch—(See on Joh 10:23).
13-16. of the rest durst no man join himself, &c.—Of the unconverted none ventured, after what had taken place, to profess discipleship; but yet their number continually increased.
15. into the streets—"in every street."
on beds and couches—The words denote the softer couches of the rich and the meaner cribs of the poor [Bengel].
shadow of Peter … might overshadow some of them—Compare Ac 19:12; Lu 8:46. So Elisha. Now the predicted greatness of Peter (Mt 16:18), as the directing spirit of the early Church, was at its height.
17-23. sect of the Sadducees—See on Ac 4:1 for the reason why this is specified.
19. by night—the same night.
20. all the words of this life—beautiful expression for that Life in the Risen One which was the burden of their preaching!
21. entered into the temple, &c.—How self-possessed! the indwelling Spirit raising them above fear.
called … all the senate, &c.—an unusually general convention, though hastily summoned.
23. the prison … shut … keepers … before the doors, but … no man within—the reverse of the miracle in Ac 16:26; a similar contrast to that of the nets at the miraculous draughts of fishes (Lu 5:6; Joh 21:11).
24-26. they doubted—"were in perplexity."
26. without violence, for they feared, &c.—hardened ecclesiastics, all unawed by the miraculous tokens of God's presence with the apostles, and the fear of the mob only before their eyes!
Ac 5:27-42. Second Appearance and Testimony before the Sanhedrin—Its Rage Calmed by Gamaliel—Being Dismissed, They Depart Rejoicing, and Continue Their Preaching.
27, 28. ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine—noble testimony to the success of their preaching, and (for the reason mentioned on Ac 4:4) to the truth of their testimony, from reluctant lips!
28. intend to bring this man's blood upon us—They avoid naming Him whom Peter gloried in holding up [Bengel]. In speaking thus, they seem to betray a disagreeable recollection of their own recent imprecation, His blood be upon us," &c. (Mt 27:25), and of the traitor's words as he threw down the money, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood" (Mt 27:4).
29, 30. Then Peter, &c.—(See on Ac 2:22, and Ac 3:13, &c.).
31. Prince and a Saviour—the first word expressing that Royalty which all Israel looked for in Messiah, the second the Saving character of it which they had utterly lost sight of. Each of these features in our Lord's work enters into the other, and both make one glorious whole (compare Ac 3:15; Heb 2:10).
to give—dispensing as a "Prince."
repentance and remission of sins—as a "Saviour"; "repentance" embracing all that change which issues in the faith which secures "forgiveness" (compare Ac 2:38; 20:21). How gloriously is Christ here exhibited; not, as in other places, as the Medium, but as the Dispenser of all spiritual blessings!
32, 33. we are his witnesses … and the Holy Ghost—They as competent human witnesses to facts, and the Holy Ghost as attesting them by undeniable miracles.
33. cut to the heart and took—"were taking."
counsel to slay them—How different this feeling and the effect of it from that "pricking of the heart" which drew from the first converts on the day of Pentecost the cry, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Ac 2:37). The words used in the two places are strikingly different.
34. Then stood up … Gamaliel—in all probability one of that name celebrated in the Jewish writings for his wisdom, the son of Simeon (possibly the same who took the infant Saviour in his arms, Lu 2:25-35), and grandson of Hillel, another celebrated rabbi. He died eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem [Lightfoot].
35-39. Theudas—not the same with a deceiver of that name whom Josephus mentions as heading an insurrection some twelve years after this [Antiquities, 20.5.1], but some other of whom he makes no mention. Such insurrections were frequent.
37. Judas of Galilee—(See on Lu 2:2, and Lu 13:1-3) [Josephus, Antiquities, 13.1.1].
38. if … of men, it will come to naught—This neutral policy was true wisdom, in the then temper of the council. But individual neutrality is hostility to Christ, as He Himself teaches (Lu 11:23).
40-42. beaten them—for disobeying their orders (compare Lu 23:16).
41. departed … rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name—"thought worthy by God to be dishonored by man" (Mt 5:12; 1Pe 4:14, 16) [Webster and Wilkinson]. This was their first taste of persecution, and it felt sweet for His sake whose disciples they were.
42. in every house—in private. (See on Ac 2:46).
ceased not to preach Jesus Christ—that is, Jesus (to be the) Christ.