V¹ W x 1,2. Ananais.
y 3,4. Remonstrance.
z 5-. Death.
X a -5. Fear.
b 6. Burial.
W x 7,8. Sapphira.
y 9. Remonstrance.
z 10-. Death.
X b -10. Burial.
a 11. Fear.
Acts 5)
1: But a certain man by name Ananias, with Sapphira his wife (names of grace and beauty attached to persons whose principles were bad. Note that Satan does this also), sold a possession,
2: And kept back part from the price, his wife also being conscious of it (i.e. they planned it), and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3: But Peter said (Peter didn't know this, the Holy Spirit informed him), “Ananias, why has Satan filled your mind to lie to the Holy Spirit (it was his [i.e. Ananias] mouth that said it), and to keep back part of the price of the land (it might have, the land, brought in more than they thought)
4: Whiles it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, belonged it not in your own power? (Lit. Is it not that, remaining, it remained to you, and sold, it belonged to your right) why is it that you have conceived (= did put, implying careful deliberation, not sudden temptation) this thing in your mind? you have not lied to men, but to the Holy Spirit.” (He didn't have to say it if he didn't mean it)
5: Now (or But) Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost (= expired. Only here, v.10; 12:23. A medical word. This gives another thumb print Acts was written by Luke, a medical doctor. Gr. ekpneô. Cp. Mark 15:37):
and great fear (compare "great grace", "great power", in 4:33) came upon all them that heard these things (text omits).
6: And the younger men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7: And it was about the space of three hours after (= as it were an interval. Another medical word, Gr. diastêma. 3 hours = 1 watch. Be on guard on your watch), an his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8: And Peter answered unto her, “Tell me if you all sold the land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” (She repeated the false price)
9: Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you all have agreed together (= were agreed together. Gr. sumphôneô, Cp. the English word "symphony") to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out.
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. (Never put your trust in earthly things. God is as firm today as He was here)
11: And great reverence (or love for God) came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
D² Y¹ 12-21-. Apostle's Activities.
Y² -21-42. Ruler's Opposition.
Y¹ c¹ 12-. Miracles.
d¹ -12. In the Temple.
c² 13-16. Miracles.
d² 17,18. In prison.
c³ 19,20. Miracles.
d³ 21-. In the Temple.12: And by (= through. By the Holy Spirit. The apostles didn't do the healing) the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders being wrought (cp. Mark.16,17) among the people (Gr. laos, in general, thus distinguishing from one's own people);
{and they were all with one accord (see 1:14) in Solomon's porch (According to Josephus [Ant.xx.9,§7], this was a relic from Solomon's temple. See 3:11).
13: And of the rest durst no one join himself (cp. Luke 15:15) to them (the un-believers ran): but the people magnified them (cp. Luke 1:46,58).
14: And believing ones were the more added to the Lord, multitudes (see 2:6) both of men and women (it was not normal at the time of this writing for women to attend service. In Christianity they were).}
15: So that (this depends upon the first clause of v.12, all that intervenes being in a parenthesis) they brought forth the sick along the streets (see John 11:1. Pointing to great weakness and exhaustion, the result of active disease, rather than the disease itself), and laid them upon beds and couches (or pallet, a poor man's bed. See mark 2:4), in order that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some one of them (= enveloped. See Luke 9:34).
16: There came a multitude also out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were beset (Gr. ochleô, to crowd. A medical word. Only here and Luke 6:18) by unclean spirits (= demons or evil spirit-beings): and they were healed all of them (Cp. Luke 5:15. God tests His servants. It wasn't Peter that brought it to pass, it was the Holy Spirit. This was no fluke, or circus. This was the real thing!).
17: But the high priest rose up(see v.6), and all they that were with him, {which is the sect (Gr. hairesis = a choosing, hence "heresy") of the Sadducees,} (Yahshua 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 a witness) and were filled with indignation (Gr. zêlos. Envy. They were schooled in their theology. They were mocking the Apostle's and calling their religion a fake),
18: And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison (= ward. Same word as in 4:3).
19: But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors (He didn't bring them through the walls. God will always protect), and brought them forth, and said,
20: “Go, stand and speak in the temple (= temple courts) to the people these words (Gr. rhêma, denotes a word, saying, or sentence in its outward form, as made up of words [i.e. Part of Speech]: whereas logos denotes a word or saying as the expression of thought: hence, the thing written or spoken, the account, &c.) of life.” (The life through resurrection so bitterly opposed by the Sadducees. Cp. 13:26)
21: And when they heard that, they entered into the temple towards daybreak (cp. Luke 24:1 John 8:2), and were teaching.
Y² e¹ -21-. Assembly.
f¹ -21-23. Apostles sent for.
e² 24,25. Alarm.
f² 26,27-. Apostles brought.
e³ -27,28. Investigation.
f³ 29-32. Apostle's Answer.
e4 33. Murders Design.
f4 34. Apostles excluded.
e5 35-39. Wise counsel.
f5 40-42. Apostles released.But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together (= the Sanhedren, the supreme national court), and all the senate (= assembly of elders) of the sons of Israel
and sent to the prison (= place of bonds) to have them brought.
22: But when the officers came(= attendants, the Temple guards), and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told (same as "reported, 4:23),
23: Saying, “The prison indeed found we locked with all safety, and the guards standing outside (the text omits) before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.” (the Holy Spirit had put a slumber on them)
24: Now when the high priest and (the text omits) the captain (= officers of the Levitical Temple guards. Cp. Jer.20:1) of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were doubting of them what this might come to be. (How were they going to shut them up?)
25: Then came some one (or a certain person) and told them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you all put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.” (The teaching of Christianity went from outside to inside)
26: Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence (Lit. not with violence, i.e. please come with us): for they feared the people, in order that they should have been stoned. (Why? the Apostles had done nothing but good)
27: And when they had brought them, they set them in the council:
and the high priest asked them,
28: Saying, “Did not we straightly command (Lit. command with a command, a Hebraism) you that you all should not teach in this name? (see 2:38) and, behold, you all have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine ("you're trying to make us look guilty"), and intend to bring the blood (cp. their own invocation in Matt.27:25) of this Man upon us.” (EMPHATIC)
29: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “It is necessary to obey the Holy Spirit rather than men. (everything comes to pass as God declares. Why would you want to listen to man?)
30: The Holy Spirit of our fathers raised up Jesus (no ifs, ands or buts), whom you all laid hands on having hanged on a tree.
31: This One (it is emphatic, and so placed first in the sentence) the Holy Spirit exalted at (or to) His right hand to be a Prince (= Leader: One Who stands at the Head of Beginning of a list, or rank) and a Savior (see Luke 1:47, where it is the God Who is the Savior of me), for to give repentance to Israel (= a real change of mind and attitude toward sin itself, and the cause of it [not merely the consequences of it], which affects the whole life and not merely a single act. It has been defined as a change in our principle of action from what is by nature the exact opposite), and forgiveness of sins. (To everyone who asks and believes)
32: And we are witnesses (see John 1:7) of these words (as in v.20); and so is also the Holy Spirit, Whom God gave to them that obey Him.”
33: When they having heard that, they were cut to the heart (Gr. diapriomai), and were consulting to slay them (see 2:23).
34: Then rose up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel (the grandson of the famous Hillel. He was Saul's instructor [22:3], and is said to have died about 52 A.D.), a doctor of the law (= a teacher of God's Word. See Luke 5:17), honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space (Lit. make...outside, i.e. put out of court);
35: And said to them, “Men, Israelites (see 1:1), take heed to yourselves what you all about to to do upon (or in the case of) these men.
36: For before these days rose up Theudas, saying that he was somebody (Super-preacher, fake. The name is not uncommon in the Talmud. Form of Judas, but not the one who betrayed Yeshua); to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves (cp. v.13): who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered (Gr. dialuô, a medical word), and brought (Lit. came to be) to nothing.
37: After this one rose up Judas of Galilee (His revolt is recorded by Josephus, Ant.xviii.1.§ 1) in the days of the taxing, and caused to revolt (or apostatize) much people after him: he also perished (Gr. apollumi. Used of the doom of the sinner. One of the strongest words in the Greek language to express final and irretrievable destruction); and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38: And now I say to you, Stand away from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be out of men, it will be overthrown (Gr. kataluô):
39: But if it be of the Holy Spirit, you all are not able to overthrow it; lest haply you all be found even God-fighters.” (Gr. Theomachos. It [i.e. the Word of God] is proved right by those who study)
40: And to him they agreed (as in v.36): and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them (cp. Deut.25:1-3. Mark 13:9), they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go (see 4:21. How long do you think this will work?).
41: They indeed therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored (or counted unworthy) for His name (makes you stronger in Him).
42: And daily in the temple, and at home (see 2:26), they ceased not to teach and preach (Gr. euangelizô = to announce a joyful message) Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah, i.e. the name of, v.41. They never stopped, even to this day).