Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 5:12

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 Lord commanded by the hand (ἐν χειρὶ) of Moses.’ But as in the description of our Lord’s miracles we very often read ‘He laid His hands upon a few sick folk’ (Mark 6:5, &c.), and as it is said of the Apostles (Mark 16:18) ‘they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover,’ it seems better to understand the words here of such acts of imposition of hands, though we presently find (Acts 5:15) that the multitudes believed that a cure could be wrought without such an act.

ἐγίνετο. The imperfect tense, probably to indicate that such occurrences were numerous at the first.

ἅπαντες. The reference in this sentence must be to such assemblies as were held by the Apostles for conference and instruction when they went up at the usual times of prayer. Thus ἄπαντες will signify the whole company assembled on some such occasions, and not embrace every person who had joined the new teaching.

ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος, in Solomon’s porch. Probably this became a recognized meeting-place of those who wished to tell and to hear more of the new teaching.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 5:12

Old Testament

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