1.
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
And = Now.
spake. Greek. laleo. App-121 .
unto. Greek. pros. App-104 .
people. See Acts 2:47 .
captain. See note on Luke 22:4 .
temple. See Acts 2:46 .
Sadducees. App-120 . The Lord was opposed by the Pharisees. Now the opponents are the Sadducees, because of their hatred of the truth of the resurrection, of which the Apostles were witnesses. See note on Acts 1:22 ; Acts 23:6-8 .
2.
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
grieved = exasperated. Greek. diaponeomai. Only here, and Acts 16:18 .
that = because. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 4:2 .
preached. Greek. katangello. App-121 .
through = in. Greek. en . App-104 .
Jesus. App-98 .
resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178 .
from the dead. Greek. ek nekron. App-139 .
3.
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
in. App-104 .
hold = ward. Greek. teresis Only here, Acts 5:18 , and 1 Corinthians 7:19 .
now = already.
4.
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Howbeit = But.
word. Greek. logos. App-121 .
believed. App-150 .
men. Greek. aner. App-123 .
5.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
it came to pass. A Hebraism, very common in Luke, about fifty times in his Gospel, and some fifteen times in the Acts.
rulers, &c. An assembly of the Sanhedrin. Compare Matthew 26:3 .Mark 14:53 , and see note on Matthew 2:4 .
6.
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
Annas. See note on Luke 3:2 .
Caiaphas. See note on John 11:49-53 ; John 18:13 .
John. Nothing certainly known of him. Dr. John Lightfoot supposes he was Johanan Ben Lacoai, a famous Rabbi of that time. Works, viii. p. 392.
of. Greek. ek. App-104 .
kindred = race. Greek. genos. Not the same word as in Acts 3:25 .
kindred of the high priest = high-priestly race. Greek. archieratikos. Only here.
7.
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
in. Greek. en. App-104 .
asked = were enquiring. Greek. punthanomai, as in Matthew 2:4 .
By = In, as above.
what = what kind of.
power. Greek. dunamis. App-172 .
have ye done = did ye.
8.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
filled, &c. See Acts 2:4 .
Holy Ghost. App-101 .
9.
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
If. Greek. e i . App-118 .
be examined. Greek. anakrino. App-122 :2. Compare Luke 23:14 .
of. Greek. epi . App-104 .
good deed = benefit. Greek. euergesia. Only here and 1 Timothy 6:2 .
done to = of. Genitive of relation. App-17 .
man. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
what means = whom.
he = this one.
is made whole = has been saved. Greek. sozo. Compare John 11:12 .
10.
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
known. See note on Acts 1:19 .
unto = to.
the name. See Acts 2:38 .
Jesus Christ. App-98 .
of Nazareth = the Nazarene. Compare Acts 2:22 .
crucified. See Acts 2:23 .
God. App-98 .
raised. Greek. egeiro. App-178 .
this man = this one.
before you = in your presence.
whole. Greek. hugies. Only here in the Acts. Twelve times in the Gospels. Compare Matthew 12:13 . Occurs Titus 2:8 ; fourteen occurences in all.
11.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
the Stone, &c. A reference to Psalms 118:22 .
set at nought = treated with contempt. Greek. exoutheneo. Compare Luke 18:9 ; Luke 23:11 .
of = by Gr hupo. App-104 .
the head, &c. Literally unto (Greek. eis.) a head of a corner, i.e. a corner-stone. Compare Isaiah 28:16 .
12.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Neither is there, &c. = And there is not ( App-105 ) in any (Greek. oudeis) . A double negative, for emphasis.
other. Greek. allos. App-124 .
there is none = neither is there. Greek. oude.
other. Greek. heteros. App-124 .
under. Greek. hupo.
heaven = the heaven. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
among. App-104 .
whereby = in ( App-104 .) which.
be saved. Greek. sozo, as in Acts 4:9 .
13.
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Now when they saw = And beholding. Greek theoreo. App-133 .
boldness = outspokenness. Greek. parrhesia. Same word as "freely", in Acts 2:29 .
perceived. Greek. katalambano. Compare John 1:5 .Ephesians 3:18 .
unlearned = illiterate. Greek. agrammatos. Only here. Compare John 7:15 .
ignorant = obscure. Greek. idiotes. Literally private, i.e. unprofessional. Only here, 1 Corinthians 14:16 , 1 Corinthians 14:23 , 1 Corinthians 14:24 ; 2 Corinthians 11:6 .
took knowledge = recognized. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .
with Greek. sun. App-104 .
Jesus. App-98 .
14.
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
beholding. Greek. blepo. App-133 .
was = had been.
could, &c. = had nothing (Greek. oudeis) to say against it (Greek. antepo. Only here and Luke 21:15 ).
15.
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
council = Sanhedrin. Greek. sunedrion. See note on Matthew 5:22 .
conferred. Greek. sumballo. Only used by Luke, here, Acts 17:18 ; Acts 18:27 ; Acts 20:14 .Luke 2:19 ; Luke 14:31 .
among themselves = towards (Greek. pros . App-104 .) one another.
16.
Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17.
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
spread. Greek. dianemomai. Only here.
no further = not (Greek. me) for (Greek. epi) more.
among = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .
straitly threaten = threaten with threats. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .
threaten. Greek. apeileo. Only here and 1 Peter 2:23 . The noun apeile occurs here, Acts 4:29 ; Acts 9:1 .Ephesians 6:9 .
that they speak, &c. = Literally no longer to speak to no man. A double negative, for emphasis.
18.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
not. Greek. me. App-105 .
speak = speak forth. Greek. phthengomai. Only here, and 2 Peter 2:16 , 2 Peter 2:18 . Compare Acts 2:4 .
at all. Greek. katholou. Only here.
nor. Greek. mede.
19.
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
answered and said. App-122 .
Whether = If. Greek. ei . App-118 .
more = rather.
judge. Gr . krino. App-122 . Figure of speech Anacoenosis. App-6 .
20.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
but = not. As Acts 4:17 .
have seen and heard = saw (Greek. eidon. App-133 .) and heard.
21.
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22.
For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
was shewed = had been wrought.
23.
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24.
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
with one accord. See note on Acts 1:14 .
Lord. Greek. Despotes. App-98 .
art God. The texts omit
hast made = rnadest.
earth. Greek. ge App-129 .
25.
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
servant. Greek. pai s. App-108 and App-190 .
hast said = saidst. This quotation is from Psalms 2:1 , Psalms 2:2 See notes there.
heathen = nations. Greek. ethnos Hence our word "heathen".
rage. Greek. phuasso . Only here in N.T. Used in Septuagint of Psalms 2:1 , as translation of Hebrew. ragash
imagine = meditate. Greek. meletao. Here, Mark 13:11 . 1 Timothy 4:15 .
26.
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
The kings. i.e. Gentiles.
rulers. i.e. Jews.
together. See note on Acts 1:15 .
Christ. i.e. Messiah. App-98 .
27.
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28.
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
counsel. App-102 . Compare Acts 2:23 .
determined before. Greek. proorizo. Generally translated "predestinate". See Romans 8:29 , Romans 8:30 ; 1 Corinthians 2:7 . Ephesians 1:5 , Ephesians 1:11 .
to be done. Figure of speech Hypo-zeugma ( Zeugma. App-6 ). As "hand" could not determine.
29.
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
now = as to the present. Greek. tanun. A strong form of num . Only here, Acts 5:38 ; Acts 17:30 ; Acts 20:32 ; Acts 27:22 .
behold. Greek. epeidon. App-133 . Only here and Luke 1:25 .
grant = give.
servants = bond-servants. App-190 .
with. App-104 .
30.
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
when they had = while they.
prayed. App-134 .
shaken. Greek. saleuo. Compare Acts 16:26 .
where = in which.
the Holy Ghost. App-101 .
32.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
the multitude, &c. = of the full number (Greek. plethos) of the believing ones.
soul. App-110 . Acts 4:1 .
neither = and not even.
any = one.
ought = any one. Greek. tis. App-123 .
the things which he possessed = his possessions. Greek. huparcho. Compare Luke 9:48 with Luke 12:15 .
33.
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
gave = were giving forth.
apostles. App-189 .
witness = the testimony. Greek. marturion. First occurance Matthew 8:4 .
grace. App-184 .
34.
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Neither = For neither.
was = were. Greek. huparchc. See note on Luke 9:48 . The texts read en was.
that lacked = in need. Only here. Compare App-134 .
possessors. Greek. ktetor. Only here. lands. Greek. chorion. See note on Matthew 26:36 .
35.
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
distribution, &c. = it was distributed.
he = any one. Greek. tis , as in Acts 4:34 .
36.
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
The next chapter should begin here.
Joses. Texts read Joseph, as in Acts 1:23 .
Barnabas. It is possible that Joseph Barnabas, or
Barnabas. It is possible that Joseph Barnabas, or Barnabbas, is the same as Joseph Barsabbas of Acts 1:23 , and that he was reserved for a better lot by the Holy Spirit.
son. App-108 . See note on Acts 3:25 .
consolation. Greek. exhortation. Greek. paraklesis has both meanings. See Luke 2:25 ; Luke 6:24 . 1 Corinthians 14:3 .
of the country of Cyprus = a Cypriote by race.
37.
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
land Literally a field, as in Luke 14:18 .