Acts 5:1-11. ACCOUNT OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA The narrative with which this chapter commences is one which none but a veracious narrator would have inserted where it stands. The last chapter concludes with a description of the unity of heart and soul which prevailed among the brethren, and expressly... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΑΝΊΑΣ. The name was common. See Acts 9:10-17; Acts 23:2; Acts 24:1. It is the same as _Hananiah_, Jeremiah 28:1; Daniel 1:6-7, &c., where it is the Hebrew name of Shadrach, which is spelt _Ananias_ in the _Benedicite_, and that form of the name is found Tob 5:12. It signifies ‘one to whom Jehovah... [ Continue Reading ]
αὐτοῦ omitted with אABD. 2. ἘΝΟΣΦΊΣΑΤΟ, _kept back, withheld_, bringing only a part and pretending it was the whole. The portion withheld can hardly have been large, or the disproportion between what was offered and the value of the property sold and represented as sacrificed to the common cause wo... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΑΤΊ. Stronger probably than the simple τί. ‘On what account? to what temptation have you listened?’ It may be an indication that it would have been possible to resist the evil influence, had Ananias desired to do so. ἘΠΛΉΡΩΣΕΝ, _filled_. The idea seems to be that of complete occupation. The heart... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΧῚ ΜΈΝΟΝ ΣΟῚ ἜΜΕΝΕΝ. To bring out the force of the repeated verb render, _whiles it remained, did it not remain thine own?_ that is, there was no compulsion on Ananias to sell it, the only thing expected from him being that, if he were moved to sell, he should honestly set forth what he had done.... [ Continue Reading ]
ταῦτα omitted with אABD. So also _Vulg_. and other versions. 5. ἈΚΟΎΩΝ. The present tense seems to indicate the immediate result of the Apostle’s words, spoken in the power of the Spirit with which he was filled. Here is no description of a death from apoplexy or mental excitement under the rebuke... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΝΕΏΤΕΡΟΙ, _the younger men_. Some have thought that already an organized body had been formed whose business it was to take charge of funerals. But it seems unlikely that, at a time when assistance had not been provided to relieve the Apostles from ‘serving tables’ and distributing the funds to t... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΡΩ͂Ν ΤΡΙΩ͂Ν ΔΙΆΣΤΗΜΑ, _the space of three hours_. This was time enough for the bestowal of the dead body, but yet so short that news of the death of her husband had not reached Sapphira. It may have been that their home was in the country at a distance from Jerusalem, and that the husband alone cam... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡῸΣ ΑΥ̓ΤῊΝ for αὐτῇ with אABD. 8. ἈΠΕΚΡΊΘΗ, _answered_. This verb is not unfrequently used both in LXX. and N.T. where no question has preceded, and often where no remark has gone before (see Deuteronomy 26:5; Deuteronomy 27:14; Daniel 2:14; Daniel 2:26; Matthew 11:25; Luke 3:16). The peculiarity... [ Continue Reading ]
εἶπε omitted with אBD. _Vulg_. has ‘Petrus autem ad eam.’ 9. ΤΊ ὍΤΙ. This form, which occurs also in Acts 5:4, is to be explained by the ellipsis of ἐστὶ. ‘Why is it that …’ ΠΕΙΡΆΣΑΙ, _to tempt_. They would make trial whether the Spirit of the Lord would make their deception known. Nothing could r... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡῸΣ for παρὰ with אABD. 10. ΠΡῸΣ ΤΟῪΣ ΠΌΔΑΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂, _at his feet_. Close to the place where the money, for which they had sinned, had been laid, and where perhaps it was still lying. For we cannot think that St Peter would be willing to mix an offering given in such a hypocritical spirit with the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ Κ.Τ.Λ., _and great fear came upon the whole Church, and upon all that heard these things_. To produce such a fear as should deter others from a like offence was God’s intention in this miracle of punishment. And St Luke seems to have pointed to the reason by making here for the first ti... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΈΡΑΤΑ ΠΟΛΛᾺ ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΛΑΩ͂Ι with אABDE. _Vulg_. has ‘prodigia multa in plebe.’ 12. ΔΙᾺ ΔῈ ΤΩ͂Ν ΧΕΙΡΩ͂Ν, _and by the hands_. This may be only a Hebrew mode of expressing _by_, and need not necessarily be pressed to imply _imposition of hands_. Cf. (Joshua 14:2) ‘By lot was their inheritance, as the Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
MIRACULOUS POWERS OF THE APOSTLES. CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE CHURCH... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΩ͂Ν ΔῈ ΛΟΙΠΩ͂Ν, _but of the rest_, &c., i.e. of those not yet interested in the movement. The sense is that the assemblies of Christians made the porch of Solomon their special rendezvous when they went up to the Temple, seeing that it was there that the first addresses in the Temple-precincts had... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΕΤΊΘΕΝΤΟ, _were added_. And the tense implies the continuous growth of the Church. The addition of this verse makes clear what has just been said about the sense of κολλᾶσθαι, that it implied insincere intrusion into the Christian assemblies. For the number of the faithful went on increasing.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕἸΣ for κατὰ with אABD. _Vulg_. has ‘ita ut in plateas.’ ΚΛΙΝΑΡΊΩΝ for κλινῶν with אABD. ΚΡΑΒΆΤΤΩΝ as in אABD. _Vulg_. has ‘grabatis.’ 15. ὬΣΤΕ ΚΑῚ ΕἸΣ ΤᾺΣ ΠΛΑΤΕΊΑΣ, _so that even into the streets_. These words are a description of one way in which the new believers gave evidence of their fai... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰς omitted with אAB. The _Vulg_. has no preposition. 16. ΤῸ ΠΛΗ͂ΘΟΣ Κ.Τ.Λ., _the multitude of the cities round about_. The word πόλις is not unfrequently used of places which are comparatively small. So of Nazareth (Matthew 2:23), Nain (Luke 7:11) and Arimathea (Luke 23:51). With τῶν πέριξ πόλεων... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΑΣΤᾺΣ ΔΈ. The ‘rising up’ is due to the indignation caused by the spread of the Christian teaching. The word ἀναστάς has this sense of movement in opposition. See below, of the insurrections of Theudas and Judas (Acts 5:36-37) and in Acts 6:9 of the disputants with Stephen. The rendering should b... [ Continue Reading ]
ARREST OF THE TWELVE. THEIR MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE AND THEIR DEFENCE BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN... [ Continue Reading ]
αὐτῶν omitted with אABD. The _Vulg_. has no pronoun. 18. ἘΠῚ ΤΟῪΣ�. The whole twelve are now arrested. The new teachers must be put down. It is clear from this, though St Luke has only mentioned the speeches of Peter, with some slight notice that John also was a speaker, that all the Apostles were... [ Continue Reading ]
τῆς before ΝΥΚΤῸΣ omitted with אABD. 19. ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ ΔῈ Κ.Τ.Λ., _but an angel of the Lord by night_, &c. As if for a protest against the actions of those who taught that ‘there was neither angel nor spirit.’ There is no possibility of explaining St Luke’s words into anything but a miraculous deliverance... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΡΕΎΕΣΘΕ ΚΑῚ ΣΤΑΘΈΝΤΕΣ Κ.Τ.Λ., _go ye and stand and speak_. There was to be no attempt made to conceal their escape. They were to go back to the same place where their most frequent teachings had been given before, and were to continue the same teaching. They are not directed to appeal to the multi... [ Continue Reading ]
ὙΠῸ ΤῸΝ ὌΡΘΡΟΝ, _at break of day_. The words indicate a time as soon as possible after day dawn. They lost no time in obeying the command. How early it was possible for them to come to the Temple we find from the directions in the Talmud concerning the morning sacrifice. It is said (Mishna _Joma_ II... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΔῈ ΠΑΡΑΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΟΙ ὙΠΗΡΈΤΑΙ with אAB. The _Vulg_. has ‘cum autem venissent ministri.’ 22. ΟἹ ΔῈ ΠΑΡΑΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΟΙ ὙΠΗΡΈΤΑΙ, _but the officers that came_. The word may refer to some military body, or it may have been only some of the Levitical guard who were sent. The same word is used (Luke 4:20) for... [ Continue Reading ]
μὲν omitted with אABD. ἔξω omitted with אABDEP. It is not represented in _Vulg_. ἘΠῚ for πρὸ with אABD. _Vulg_. has ‘ante.’ 23. ΤΟῪΣ ΦΎΛΑΚΑΣ, _the guards_, who were of course unconscious that their prisoners were gone. ἘΠῚ ΤΩ͂Ν ΘΥΡΩ͂Ν. This, the oldest reading, is not the usual mode of expressin... [ Continue Reading ]
ἱερεὺς καὶ ὁ omitted as in אABD. _Vulg_. has only ‘magistratus templi.’ 24. ἬΚΟΥΣΑΝ ΤΟΥ͂Σ ΛΌΓΟΥΣ ΤΟΎΤΟΥΣ, _heard these words_, i.e. the report of the officers who had been to the prison. Ὁ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓῸΣ ΤΟΥ͂ ἹΕΡΟΥ͂. On this officer see on Acts 4:1, and on ἈΡΧΙΕΡΕΙ͂Σ Acts 4:23. ΔΙΗΠΌΡΟΥΝ, _they doubted... [ Continue Reading ]
λέγων omitted with אABDEP. It is not represented in _Vulg_. 25. ΠΑΡΑΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΟΣ ΔΈ ΤΙΣ, _and there came one_, &c. The Apostles made no attempt at concealment, and the judgment-hall was at no great distance from the place in which they were teaching. ΕἸΣῚΝ ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ἹΕΡΩ͂Ι Κ.Τ.Λ. Render, _are in the Te... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ ΜΕΤᾺ ΒΊΑΣ, _without violence_. Nor can we suppose that the Apostles were at all likely to offer resistance, for their examination before the council would afford them an opportunity of proclaiming the message of the Gospel. On this verse Chrysostom says ὦ τῆς�· ἐφοβοῦντό, φησι, τὸν ὄχλον. τί γὰ... [ Continue Reading ]
οὐ omitted with אAB, also unrepresented in _Vulg_. 28. ΠΑΡΑΓΓΕΛΊΑΙ Κ.Τ.Λ., _we strictly charged you_. The charge had been given (Acts 4:18) only to Peter and John, but the magistrates assume that it has been conveyed by them to their companions. For this manner of expressing _intensity_, by the da... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΟἹ�, _and the Apostles_. It is quite like the style of the New Testament to say ‘Peter and the Apostles’ (cf. Mark 16:7). It is not implied hereby that Peter was excluded from the number of the Apostles, but, as he probably was the chief speaker, his name is singled out for prominence in the nar... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΘΕῸΣ ΤΩ͂Ν ΠΑΤΈΡΩΝ ἩΜΩ͂Ν. The Apostles point out, just as Peter did (Acts 3:13), that there is no severance of themselves from the worship of the Covenant God of Israel. On the contrary they were teaching that His promise through Moses had now been fulfilled, since in Jesus the promised prophet had... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΡΧΗΓῸΝ ΚΑῚ ΣΩΤΗ͂ΡΑ, _a prince and a Saviour_. If Christ seeks to rule it is that He may save those who take His yoke upon them. ΤΗ͂Ι ΔΕΞΙΑ͂Ι, _by His right hand_, as in Acts 2:33. The right hand is the symbol of might. Cf. ‘His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory’ (Psalms 98:... [ Continue Reading ]
αὐτοῦ omitted with אAD. _Vulg_. ‘et nos sumus testes horum verborum.’ 32. ΚΑῚ ἩΜΕΙ͂Σ ἘΣΜῈΝ ΜΆΡΤΥΡΕΣ ΤΩ͂Ν Ῥ. Τ., _and we are witnesses of these things_, i.e. of the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. ΚΑῚ ΤῸ ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ ΤῸ ἌΓΙΟΝ, _and so is the Holy Ghost_. Christ had said, while alive, concerning... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΕΠΡΊΟΝΤΟ. The active voice of this verb is used (LXX. 1 Chronicles 20:3) in its literal sense of ‘to saw asunder,’ the passive generally in the figurative sense of the rending of the heart. In Acts 7:54, where the word occurs again, ταῖς καρδίαις is added, and it is necessary to supply those words... [ Continue Reading ]
EFFECT OF THE APOSTLES’ DEFENCE. COUNSEL OF GAMALIEL. RELEASE AND SUBSEQUENT CONDUCT OF THE TWELVE... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΘΡΏΠΟΥΣ for ἀποστόλους with אAB. _Vulg_. ‘homines.’ 34. ἈΝΑΣΤᾺΣ ΔΈ ΤΙΣ, _but there stood up one_, &c. See note on Acts 5:25. Gamaliel rose to oppose the plan or wish. ΦΑΡΙΣΑΙ͂ΟΣ. It may very well be believed that some small sympathy towards the Christian teachers would be roused in the breast of... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΈΧΕΤΕ ἙΑΥΤΟΙ͂Σ. The phrase implies the need of thought. _Attendite vobis_ (Vulg.). It is not a warning against some danger that might result. ‘Think well over what ye mean to do.’ ἘΠΊ. The preposition seems to go better with προσέχετε than with πράσσειν. ‘Think well _upon_ these men,’ rather th... [ Continue Reading ]
ὯΙ ΠΡΟΣΕΚΛΊΘΗ� with אABC. 36. ΘΕΥΔΑ͂Σ, _Theudas_. Gamaliel proceeds to give illustrations that mere pretenders will come to nought. But about the mention of Theudas much discussion has been raised, because it is declared that the statements of Gamaliel contradict the facts recorded by Josephus, and... [ Continue Reading ]
ἱκανὸν omitted with אAB. _Vulg_. has only ‘populum.’ 37. ἸΟΎΔΑΣ Ὁ ΓΑΛΙΛΑΙ͂ΟΣ. With this account agrees the history of Josephus (_Ant_. XVIII. 1. 1), except, as has been already noticed, he calls Judas Γαυλανίτης, but as when speaking of the same man again (xx. 5. 2) he calls him Γαλιλαῖος, and in t... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΦΕΤΕ for ἐάσατε with אABC. 38. ἘᾺΝ ἮΙ. This construction, = ‘_if it should be_ (and we do not yet know whether it may be) _of men_’ is followed by εἰ with the indicative ἐστί in the next verse. The latter form is often used to mean ‘_if it is_ (as indeed it is)’; but we can hardly suppose this to... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΥΝΉΣΕΣΘΕ with אBCDE. _Vulg_. ‘poteritis.’ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ for αὐτό with אABCDE. _Vulg_. ‘illud.’ 39. ΟΥ̓ ΔΥΝΉΣΕΣΘΕ ΚΑΤΑΛΥ͂ΣΑΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ, _ye will not be able to overthrow them_. ΜΉΠΟΤΕ, _lest haply_. The construction looks back to Acts 5:35, προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς.... [ Continue Reading ]
αὐτούς omitted with אABC. _Vulg_. ‘eos.’ 40. ΠΡΟΣΚΑΛΕΣΆΜΕΝΟΙ Κ.Τ.Λ., _having called the Apostles_, i.e. to return again into the judgment-hall. ΔΕΊΡΑΝΤΕΣ, _having beaten them_, as being the guilty parties. (See Deuteronomy 25:1-3.)... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΗΞΙΏΘΗΣΑΝ ὙΠῈΡ ΤΟΥ͂ ὈΝΌΜΑΤΟΣ� with אABC. _Vulg_. ‘digni habiti sunt pro nomine Jesu contumeliam pati.’ 41. ΚΑΤΗΞΙΏΘΗΣΑΝ ὙΠῈΡ ΤΟΥ͂ ὈΝΌΜΑΤΟΣ�. The Apostles count as glory what the world would count as shame. Cf. Galatians 6:14, ‘God forbid that I should _glory_ save in the _cross_ of our Lord Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸΝ ΧΡΙΣΤῸΝ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂Ν with אAB. _Vulg_. ‘Christum Jesum.’ 42. ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ἹΕΡΩ͂Ι ΚΑῚ ΚΑΤ' ΟἾΚΟΝ. Render, _in the Temple and at home_, as in Acts 2:46. These are the two fields of labour; in the Temple, where they had apparently come to be expected by the converts, and after that public teaching there wer... [ Continue Reading ]