THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER. OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 5: I. The Deception And Deaths Of Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:1-10 II. The Effects And Aftermath: Acts 5:11-16 III. The Second Wave Of Persecution: Acts 5:17-42 II. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS: 'The story of the d... [ Continue Reading ]
But. certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold. possession, 'BUT'-In contrast to the true generosity manifested in the previous verses (Acts 4:32-37). Carefully note that no information is missing between these two Chapter s. 'A CERTAIN MAN'-a real person. This chapter isn't. parable... [ Continue Reading ]
and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought. certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 'KEPT BACK PART OF THE PRICE'-The phrase "kept back" means to "appropriate wrongfully" (Vincent p. 466). 'Sometimes carries the idea of "surreptitiously" or "clandestinely... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 'BUT PETER SAID, ANANIAS'-Possibly Ananias brought the money by himself. For Sapphira doesn't enter the picture until three hours later (Acts 5:7). 'WHY HATH SATAN FI... [ Continue Reading ]
While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. 'WHILE IT REMAINED'-i.e. remained unsold. This verse virtually removes any excuse that Ananias could... [ Continue Reading ]
And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. 'FELL DOWN AND GAVE UP THE GHOST'-'fell down dead' (Wey); 'collapsed and died' (Phi); 'fell down and breathed his last' (NASB). Points to Note: Now some commentators claim that nothing mir... [ Continue Reading ]
And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him. 'WRAPPED HIM ROUND'-'Poor men simply had their own garments wrapped tightly about their bodies as. preparation for burial. Among the richer classes..the body would be wound in many layers of linen before it was... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 'WHEN HIS WIFE, NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS DONE, CAME IN'-How she remained ignorant of her husband's death for three hours, we are not informed. 'CAME IN'-Prepared to act out her part in the hypocrisy.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 'TELL ME WHETHER YE SOLD THE LAND FOR SO MUCH'-Notice how God is merciful. God gives Sapphira. chance to repent. 'The moment Peter's question struck her conscience, she would have an inner str... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 'TRY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD?'-'put the Spirit of the Lord to the test' (Wey). 3985. peirazo pi-rad'-zo... [ Continue Reading ]
And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 'AND FOUND HER DEAD'-'Can we imagine how awe-stricken they must have been as they buried Ananias?..And then can we imagine what the... [ Continue Reading ]
And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things. 'GREAT FEAR CAME UPON THE WHOLE CHURCH'-This event impressed the Christians with the authority the apostles possessed. Many realized, that God knew their "secrets" also. 'Men's conduct is likely to be much more wholeso... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 'BY THE HANDS OF THE APOSTLES'-Again, let it be noted that such infers that only the Apostles had been baptized in the Holy Spirit. 'AMONG THE PEOPLE'-Furthe... [ Continue Reading ]
But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; 'BUT THE REST'-i.e. non-Christians. 'DURST NO MAN JOIN HIMSELF TO THEM'-The "them" of this verse could be the apostles (for they possessed the miraculous powers). But in light of Acts 5:12 "all with one accord",... [ Continue Reading ]
and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women; 'WERE THE MORE ADDED'-'Imperfect, signifying the continuous growth of the Church.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 146) 'were constantly added' (NASV) 'TO THE LORD'-Compare with Acts 2:47. To be. member of the church was to be in. r... [ Continue Reading ]
insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them. 'INSOMUCH THAT'-Here we find the continued answer to the prayer of Acts 4:30, and Luke is giving us detailed informati... [ Continue Reading ]
And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bring sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 'CITIES ROUND ABOUT JERUSALEM'-Such as Hebron, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Jericho, Lydda, and Joppa. What we are probably also s... [ Continue Reading ]
But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, 'ROSE UP'-i.e. began active opposition again. 'It is high time for him and friends...to be up and doing, if they wished to stop the spreading of the faith of Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward. 'LAID HANDS'-We aren't told when or where they were arrested, but Acts 1:26 may suggest that they had been arrested when the crowds weren't present. 'PUBLIC WARD'-'They were not merely put into custody, but they were roughly treated as c... [ Continue Reading ]
But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, 'OPENED THE PRISON DOORS'-'An angel, whose very existence was denied by the Sadducees who had arrested the apostles, is the one who did it!' (Reese p. 214) (Acts 23:8) Seeing that the guards were completely i... [ Continue Reading ]
Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life. 'SPEAK IN THE TEMPLE TO THE PEOPLE'-not only boldly, but publicly. 'IN THE TEMPLE'-'If the authorities wish to arrest them again, they will have to do it publicly.' (Reese p. 215) 'ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE'-Which... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, 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-house to have them brought. 'THEY ENTERED INTO THE TEMPLE'-... [ Continue Reading ]
But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told,... [ Continue Reading ]
saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 'SHUT IN ALL SAFETY'-'securely locked up' (Gspd) 'Every precaution had been taken to prevent the apostles from escaping...There were no marks to indicate the... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow. 'WHEREUNTO THIS WOULD GROW'-'what would come of this' (NASV); 'were at. loss to know what had become of them' (Knox); 'wondering what would happen next' (W... [ Continue Reading ]
And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people. 'CAME ONE AND TOLD THEM'-Probably one who had just come from the temple area. 'STANDING THE TEACHING THE PEOPLE'-'implying. calm, fearless attitude of the men.' (P.P. Com... [ Continue Reading ]
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 'BUT WITHOUT VIOLENCE'-Does this imply that the first arrest (Acts 5:18) had involved some "rough" treatment? 'FOR THEY FEARED THE PEOPLE, LEST THEY SHOULD BE ST... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,... [ Continue Reading ]
saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 'WE STRICTLY CHARGED YOU'- Acts 4:18. Carefully note the "weakness" of this accusation. There is and has been no argument from Scripture... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. 'AND THE APOSTLES'-A united front is presented. 'WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN'-This isn't. "pat" answer. For the "evidence" was overwhelming that God wanted them to continue preaching in the name of Jesus. Point t... [ Continue Reading ]
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on. tree. 'GOD OF OUR FATHERS'-The apostles were serving the True God, the God Who revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 'WHO YE SLEW'-Hence it was only right for the apostles to bring the "blood" of Jesus upon the heads of... [ Continue Reading ]
Him did God exalt with his right hand to be. Prince and. Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 'PRINCE AND. SAVIOUR'-(Acts 3:15; Isaiah 2:6 'Prince of Peace'.) 'GIVE REPENTANCE TO ISRAEL, AND REMISSION OF SINS'-Jesus didn't force anyone to repent, rather, through His death,... [ Continue Reading ]
And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 'SO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT'-Who was giving His witness in the form of miracles taking place and the inspired teaching coming through the apostles (Hebrews 2:3). 'WHOM GOD HATH GIVEN TO THEM THAT... [ Continue Reading ]
But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them. 'CUT TO THE HEART'-'The verb, originally, to saw asunder.. strong figure for exasperation.' (Vincent p. 471) -(Acts 7:54). "touched..on the raw" (NEB). 'MINDED TO SLAY THEM'-as they had slain Jesus. 'Here we have not... [ Continue Reading ]
But there stood up one in the council,. Pharisee, named Gamaliel,. doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth. little while. 'BUT THERE STOOD UP ONE IN THE COUNCIL'-'"Stood up" pictures Gamaliel as rising to speak in the council..Gamaliel is probably to be... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do. 'TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES'-'be careful' (Wey); 'think well' (Knox); 'be cautious in deciding what to do with these men' (NEB) 'Let's give this thing. good thinking through before we act.'... [ Continue Reading ]
For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom. number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought. 'FOR BEFORE THESE DAYS'-'Gamaliel's advice is somewhat akin to the old proverb... [ Continue Reading ]
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 'JUDAS OF GALILEE'-This particular man is mentioned by Josephus. 'He says the revolt took place under Quirinius... [ Continue Reading ]
And now. say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown:... [ Continue Reading ]
but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God. Points to Note: As we read these verses we should remember that they are an accurate record of what Gamaliel said. But what he said wasn't inspired of God. 'The Bible gives. differen... [ Continue Reading ]
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 'THEY BEAT THEM'-A common mode of punishment among the Jews. One was beaten 39 times (2 Corinthians 11:24). Carefully note that they agreed wi... [ Continue Reading ]
They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. 'REJOICING THAT THEY WERE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER DISHONOR FOR THE NAME'-They did exactly what Jesus had told them to do when persecuted, i.e. rejoice (Matthew 5:10; L... [ Continue Reading ]
And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ. 'EVERY DAY'-This beating didn't take any "life" out of them. 'IN THE TEMPLE'-They continued to teach the exact same message (nothing was watered down) right under the noses of the Jewish rulers.... [ Continue Reading ]