1.
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
certain. App-123 .
man. App-123 .
named = by name.
Ananias. Ananias and Sapphira, names of grace and beauty attached to persons whose principles were bad.
2.
And 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.
kept back. Greek. noaphizomai. Only here, Acts 5:3 . Tit 9:10 .
of = from. App-104 .
being privy to = being conscious of. Greek. suneidon. Only here, Acts 12:12 ; Acts 14:6 . 1 Corinthians 4:4 .
at. App-104 .
apostles'. App-189 .
3.
But 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?
4.
Whiles 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.
Whiles . . . power? Literally Is it not (Greek. ouchi) that, remaining, it remained to thee, and sold, it belonged to thy right?
was = belonged. Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .
power. App-172 .
why = why is it that.
hast. . . conceived = didst put, implying careful deliberation, not sudden temptation.
unto = to.
men. App-123 .
God. App-98 .
5.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
And = Now, or But.
words. App-121 .
gave up tho ghost = expired. Only here, Acts 5:10 ; Acts 12:23 . A medical word. Compare ekpneo. Mark 15:37 .
great fear. Compare "great grace", "great power", in Acts 4:33 .
on = upon. App-104 .
these things. The texts omit.
6.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
young men = younger (men).
arose. App-178 .
wound . . . up. Greek. sustello. Only here and 1 Corinthians 7:29 .
7.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
about the space. after = as it were an interval. Greek. dia stema. Only here. A medical word.
when = and. not. App-105 .
knowing. App-132 .
8.
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
answered. App-122 .
whether = if. App-118 .
9.
Then 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.
unto. Greek. pros. App-104 . How = Why.
have agreed together = were agreed together. Greek. sumphoneo. Here, Acts 15:15 , and four times in the Gospels. Compare Engl, "symphony".
Spirit. App-101 .
behold. App-133 . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
husband. App-123 .
at. App-104 .
shall = they shall.
10.
Then 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.
11.
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
upon. Greek. epi.
church. App-180 .
as many as = all those who.
12.
And 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.
signs. App-176 .
wonders. App-176 .
wrought = being wrought. Compare Mark 16:17 , Mark 16:18 .
among. App-104 .
people. Greek. laoa. See note on Acts 2:47 .
with one accord. See note on Acts 1:14
Solomon's porch. See note on John 10:23 .
13.
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
join himself. Greek. kollaomai. See note on Luke 15:15 .
magnified. Greek. megaluno. Compare Luke 1:46 , Luke 1:58 .
14.
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
believers = believing (ones). App-150 .
multitudes. Greek. ptethos.
women. Compare Acts 1:14 .
15.
Insomuch 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.
Insomuch that = So that. This depends upon the first clause of Acts 5:1 , Acts 5:2 , all that intervenes being in a parenthesis.
sick. See note on John 11:1 .
into = along.
on = upon. App-104 .
couches. Greek. krabbatos. See note on Mark 2:4 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
at the least = even if (it might be).
overshadow. Greek. episkiazo. See note on Luke 9:34 .
some = some one. App-123 .
16.
There 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.
17.
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Then = But.
high priest. Greek. archiereus .
rose up. App-178 . See Acts 5:6 .
sect. Greek. hairesis = a choosing, hence "heresy". Occurs here Acts 15:5 ; Acts 24:5 , Acts 24:14 ; Acts 26:5 ; Acts 28:22 . 1 Corinthians 11:19 . Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:20 . 2 Peter 2:1 .
Sadducees. App-120 . Compare Acts 4:1 .
indignation. Greek. zelos. Only other occurance in Acts in Acts 13:45 . Used in a good sense in Joh 2:17 . 2 Corinthians 11:2 , &c.
18.
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
common = public. Greek. demosios. Only here, Acts 16:37 ; Acts 18:28 ; Acts 20:20 .
prison. Same as "hold" in Acts 4:3 .
19.
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
prison. Greek. phulake, the common word for "prison".
20.
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
speak. App-121 .
temple. See Acts 2:46 .
the words, &c. = these words of life. Figure of speech Hypallage. App-6 .
words. Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .
life. App-170 . The life through resurrection so bitterly opposed by the Sadducees. Compare Acts 13:26 .
21.
And 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.
into. Greek. eis. App-104 .
early in the morning = towards ( App-104 ) daybreak. Greek. tou orthrou. Compare Luke 24:1 . Joh 8:2 .
taught = were teaching.
senate = assembly of the elders. Only here in NT but frequent in Septuagint for "elders".
children = sons. App-108 .
sent. App-174 .
to = unto App-104 .
prison = place of bonds. Only here, Acts 5:23 ; Acts 16:26 Matthew 11:2 . Used in Septuagint in Genesis 39:22 , &c
22.
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
officers. App-190 . See note on 2 John 1:7; 2 John 1:7 :32 ; John 18:3 .
told. Same as "reported", Acts 4:23 .
23.
Saying, 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.
truly = indeed.
shut = locked. Greek. kleio.
keepers = guards. Greek. phulax. Only here and Acts 12:6 , Acts 12:19 .
without. The texts omit.
before. App-104 .
24.
Now 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.
25.
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
one. App-123 .
26.
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
without. Literally not ( App-105 .) with ( App-104 .) violence (Greek. bia ; here, 21, 35; Acts 24:7 ; Acts 27:41 ).
lest = in order that (Greek. hina) .
27.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
before = In. App-104 .
asked. See note on Acts 1:6 .
28.
Saying, 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.
straitly command. Literally command with a command. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . A Hebraism.
name. See note on Acts 2:38 .
intend. Greek. boulomai. App-102 .
bring Greek. epago. Only here and 2 Peter 2:1 , 2 Peter 2:5 . Compare their own invocation in Matthew 27:25 .
this, &c. = the blood of this Man (Emph.)
29.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
obey. Greek. peitharcheo. Only here, Acts 5:32 ; 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 3:1 .
30.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
raised up. Greek. egeiro. App-178 .
Jesus. App-98 .
slew = laid hands on. Greek. diacheirizomai. Only here and Acts 26:21 .
and = having.
tree. App-162 .
31.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
him = This One. It is emphatic, and so placed first in the sentence.
hath. Omit.
exalted. Greek. hupsoo. See note on John 12:32 .
with = at, or to. See Acts 2:33 .
Prince. Greek. archegos. See note on Acts 3:15 .
Saviour. Greek. Soter. Occurs twenty-four times. First occurance Luke 1:47 .
repentance. App-111 .
forgiveness. Greek. aphesis. More frequently translated "remission". See Acts 2:38 . Luke 4:18 ; Luke 24:47 . Compare App-174 .
sins. Greek. hamartia. App-128 .
32.
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33.
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34.
Then 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;
stood there up = rose up. Greek. anistemi. App-178 . 1, as in verses: Act 6:17 .
Pharisee. App-120 .
Gamaliel. The grandson of the famous Hillel. He was Saul's instructor (Acts 22:3 ), and is said to have died about 52 A.D.
a doctor of the law. See note on Luke 5:17 .
had in reputation = honoured. Greek. timios. Generally translated "precious".
among = by (dative case).
put . . . forth. Literally make . . . outside, i.e. put out of court.
35.
And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
Ye men of Israel = Men, Israelites. See note on Acts 1:11 .
intend = are about.
as touching = upon, or in the case of. App-104 .
36.
For 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.
Theudas. The name is not uncommon in the Talmud.
boasting, &c. = saying that he was.
somebody. Greek. tis. App-123 . Figure of speech Tapeinosis. App-6 .
joined themselves. Greek. proskollaomai. Only here, Matthew 19:5 .Mark 10:7 . Ephesians 5:31 . Compare Acts 5:13 .
obeyed. App-150 .
scattered. Greek. dialuo Only here. A medical word.
brought. Literally came to be.
37.
After 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.
After. Greek. meta. App-104 .
this man = this one.
Judas of Galilee. His revolt is recorded by Josephus, Antiquities xviii. 1,1.
taxing. Greek. apographe. Only here and Luke 2:2 , which see.
drew away = caused to revolt or apostatize.
after. Greek. opiso.
he also. App-124 .
perished Greek. apollumi. Only here in Acts. See note on John 17:12 .
38.
And 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:
Refrain = Stand away. Greek. Mid. of aphistemi (Acts 5:37 ).
if. App-118 .
counsel. Greek. boule. App-102 .
of = out of. Greek. ek . App-104 .
will come to nought = will be overthrown. Greek. kataluo, translated "dissolve" in 2 Corinthians 5:1 .
39.
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
if. Greek. ei . App-118 .
cannot = are not ( App-105 .) able to.
overthrow. Greek. kataluo, as in Acts 5:38 .
lest haply. Greek. mepote, compound of me . App-105 .
to fight against God = God-fighters. Greek. Theomachos.
40.
And 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.
agreed , as Acts 5:36 .
beaten. Compare Deuteronomy 25:1-3 .Mark 13:9 .
let them go. See on Acts 4:21 .
41.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And they = They indeed therefore.
counted worthy. Greek. kataxioomai. Here, Luke 20:35 ; Luke 21:36 . 2 Thessalonians 1:5 .
suffer shame = be dishonoured or counted unworthy. Greek. atimazo. Here, Luke 20:11 . Joh 8:49 . Romans 1:24 ; Romans 2:23 .James 2:6 . Figure of speech Oxymoron. App-6 .
His = the.
42.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.