Acts 5:1
SOLD (επωλησεν). Aorist active indicative again, for a single case.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOLD (επωλησεν). Aorist active indicative again, for a single case.... [ Continue Reading ]
KEPT BACK (ενοσφισατο). First aorist middle indicative of νοσφιζω, old verb from νοσφ, afar, apart, and so to set apart, to separate for oneself, but only here, verse Acts 5:3; Titus 2:10 in the N.T.HIS WIFE ALSO BEING PRIVY TO IT (συνειδυιης κα της γυναικος). Genitive absolute with second perf... [ Continue Reading ]
FILLED (επληρωσεν). The very verb used of the filling by the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). Satan the adversary is the father of lies (John 8:44). He had entered into Judas (Luke 22:3; John 13:27) and now he has filled the heart of Ananias with a lie.TO LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (ψευσασθα σε το πνευμα το... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILES IT REMAINED (μενον). Present active participle of mend, unsold, Peter means.AFTER IT WAS SOLD (πραθεν). First aorist passive of πιπρασκω, to sell.HOW IS THAT THOU HAST CONCEIVED (Τ οτ εθου). _Quid est quod_. See Luke 2:49. See also Acts 5:9. Second aorist middle indicative second perso... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARING (ακουων). Present active participle of ακουω, while hearing.FELL DOWN (πεσων). Second aorist active participle of πιπτω, fell all of a sudden while listening.GAVE UP THE GHOST (εξεψυξεν). First aorist active indicative of εκψυχω, late verb in LXX and Hippocrates, to breathe out, to ex... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNG MEN (ο νεωτερο). Literally the younger men (contrast with ο πρεσβυτερο, the elder men). Same as νεανισκο in verse Acts 5:10 and so no order in the young church. Perhaps these young men were acting as ushers or actual pallbearers.WRAPPED HIM ROUND (συνεστειλαν). First aorist active ind... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS ABOUT THE SPACE OF THREE HOURS AFTER (εγενετο δε ως ωρων τριων διαστημα). Literally "Now there came an interval (διαστημα, distance, space between) of about (ως) three hours."WHEN (κα). This use of κα after εγενετο is characteristic of Luke's style in the Gospel.NOT KNOWING (μη ειδ... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SO MUCH (τοσουτου). Genitive of price. Perhaps Peter pointed to the pile of money at the feet of the apostles (verse Acts 5:2). The use of ε in direct questions appears in Luke (Luke 13:23; Luke 22:49) as in the LXX like the Hebrew _im_ and in Acts 1:6; Acts 19:2, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE AGREED TOGETHER (συνεφωνηθη υμιν). First aorist passive indicative of συμφωνεω (to voice together, symphony), impersonal with dative; It was agreed together by you (or for you). "Your souls were allured together respecting this deceit" (Vincent).TO TEMPT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD (πειρασα... [ Continue Reading ]
IMMEDIATELY (παραχρημα). Hence her death was regarded as supernatural like that of Ananias.BY HER HUSBAND (προς τον ανδρα αυτης). Face to face to her husband.... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE WHOLE CHURCH (εφ' ολην την εκκλησιαν). Here εκκλησια for the first time in Acts of the believers in Jerusalem. Twice already in the Gospels, once of the whole body of believers or the Kingdom (Matthew 16:18), the other of the local body (Matthew 18:17). In Acts 7:38 it is used of the whol... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE WROUGHT (εγινετο). Imperfect middle, wrought from time to time.WITH ONE ACCORD (ομοθυμαδον). As already in Acts 1:14; Acts 2:46; Acts 4:24 and later Acts 7:57; Acts 8:6; Acts 12:20; Acts 15:25; Acts 18:21; Acts 19:29, old adverb and only in Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
DURST (ετολμα). Imperfect active of τολμαω, old verb, not to fear or shun through fear, boldly to take a stand. The fate of Ananias and Sapphira continued to hold many in check.JOIN (κολλασθα). Present middle infinitive of κολλαω, old verb to cleave to like glue as in Luke 15:15 which see. Seve... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE THE MORE ADDED (μαλλον προσετιθεντο). Rather (μαλλον) instead of decrease as one might expect. Imperfect passive indicative of προστιθημ common μ verb, kept on being added.BOTH OF MEN AND WOMEN (ανδρων τε κα γυναικων). The distinction between ανδρες and γυναικες and to be considered in con... [ Continue Reading ]
INSOMUCH THAT (ωστε). With the present infinitive εκφερειν and τιθενα, regular Greek idiom for result.INTO THE STREETS (εις τας πλατειας). Supply οδους (ways), into the broad ways.ON BEDS AND COUCHES (επ κλιναριων κα κραβαττων). Little beds (κλιναρια diminutive of κλινη) and camp beds or pall... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME TOGETHER (συνηρχετο). Imperfect middle, kept on coming.ROUND ABOUT (περιξ). Old adverb, strengthened form of περ, only here in the N.T.VEXED (οχλουμενους). Present passive participle of οχλεω, to excite a mob (οχλος) against one, to trouble, annoy. Old word, only here in the N.T., though... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS THE SECT OF THE SADDUCEES (η ουσα αιρεσις των Σαδδουκαιων). Literally, "the existing sect of the Sadducees" or "the sect which is of the Sadducees," η being the article, not the relative. Hαιρεσις means a choosing, from αιρεομα, to take for oneself, to choose, then an opinion chosen or te... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH JEALOUSY (ζηλου). Genitive case. Old word from zeo, to boil, our zeal. In itself it means only warmth, ardour, zeal, but for a bad cause or from a bad motive, jealousy, envy, rivalry results (Acts 13:45). Common in the epistles.IN PUBLIC WARD (εν τηρησε δημοσια). As in Acts 4:3 only with δ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STAND (κα σταθεντες). First aorist passive participle (intransitive, ingressive aorist), take a stand. Bold and pictorial command.ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE (παντα τα ρηματα της ζωης ταυτης). Not just a Hebraism for "all these words of life." Probably "this life" which the Sadducees deny an... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT DAYBREAK (υπο τον ορθρον). From ορνυμ, to stir up, to arouse, so the dawn (Luke 24:1; John 8:2). Old word, but in the N.T. only these three passages. "Under the dawn" or "about dawn." _Sub lucem_. The temple doors would be open for early worshippers and traffickers (John 2:14).TAUGHT (εδι... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OFFICERS (ο υπηρετα). Under-rowers, literally (Matthew 5:25). The servants or officers who executed the orders of the Sanhedrin.SHUT (κεκλεισμενον). Perfect passive participle of κλειω. Shut tight.STANDING AT THE DOORS (εστωτας επ των θυρων). Graphic picture of the sentinels at the prison... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE MUCH PERPLEXED (διηπορουν). Imperfect active of διαπορεω old verb by Luke only in the N.T. See already on Acts 2:12. They continued puzzled.WHEREUNTO THIS WOULD GROW (τ αν γενοιτο τουτο). More exactly,AS TO WHAT THIS WOULD BECOME . Second aorist middle optative of γινομα with αν, th... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT (ηγεν). Imperfect active of αγω, was bringing (leading), slowly no doubt, and solemnly.BUT WITHOUT VIOLENCE (ου μετα βιας). Literally, not with violence.FOR THEY FEARED (εφοβουντο γαρ). Imperfect middle, still feared, kept on fearing.LEST THEY BE STONED (μη λιθασθωσιν). Negative pur... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SET THEM (εστησαν). First aorist active indicative (transitive) of ιστημ.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE STRAITLY CHARGED (Παραγγελια παρηγγειλαμεν). Like the Hebrew idiom (common in the LXX), though found in Greek, with charging (instrumental case) we charged (cf. same idiom in Luke 22:15). Somewhat like the cognate accusative. The command referred to occurs in Acts 4:17; Acts 4:18 and the refus... [ Continue Reading ]
WE MUST (δε). Moral necessity left them no choice. They stood precisely where Peter and John were when before the Sanhedrin before (Acts 4:20).OBEY (πειθαρχειν). Old verb from πειθομα and αρχη, to obey a ruler. Only by Luke and Paul in the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SLEW (διεχειρισασθε). First aorist middle indicative of διαχειριζομα, old verb from δια and χειρ (hand), to take in hand, manage, to lay hands on, manhandle, kill. In the N.T. only here and Acts 26:21.HANGING HIM UPON A TREE (κρεμασαντες επ ξυλου). First aorist active participle of κρεμαννυμ... [ Continue Reading ]
EXALT (υψωσεν) In contrast to their murder of Christ as in Acts 2:23. Peter repeats his charges with increased boldness.WITH HIS RIGHT HAND (τη δεξια αυτου). So instrumental case, or at his right hand (locative case), or even "to his right hand" (dative case) as in Acts 2:33.PRINCE AND SAVIOUR... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE WITNESSES (ημεις εσμεν μαρτυρες). As in Acts 2:32.THINGS (ρηματων). Literally, sayings, but like the Hebrew _dabhar_ for "word" it is here used for "things."AND SO IS THE HOLY GHOST (κα το πνευμα το αγιον). The word for "is" (εστιν) is not in the Greek, but this is plainly the meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE CUT TO THE HEART (διεπριοντο). Imperfect passive of διαπριω old verb (δια, πριω), to saw in two (δια), to cut in two (to the heart). Here it is rage that cuts into their hearts, not conviction of sin as in Acts 2:37. Only here and Acts 7:54 (after Stephen's speech) in the N.T. (cf. Simeon's... [ Continue Reading ]
GAMALIEL (Γαμαλιηλ). The grandson of Hillel, teacher of Paul (Acts 22:3), later president of the Sanhedrin, and the first of the seven rabbis termed "Rabban." It is held by some that he was one of the doctors who heard the Boy Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:47) and that he was a secret disciple like... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED (προσεχετε εαυτοις). Hold your mind (νουν, unexpressed) for or on yourselves (dative case), the usual idiom.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEUDAS (Θευδας). Luke represents Gamaliel here about A.D. 35 as speaking of a man who led a revolt before that of Judas the Galilean in connection with the enrolment under Quirinius (Cyrenius) in A.D. 6. But Josephus (_Ant_. XX. 5, 1) tells of a Theudas who led a similar insurrection in the reign... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE ENROLMENT (της απογραφης). Described by Josephus (_Ant_. XV. 1, 1). The same word used by Luke of the first enrolment started by Augustus B.C. 8 to 6 (Luke 2:2). See the discussion on Luke 2:2. This is the second enrolment in the fourteen year cycle carried on for centuries as shown by num... [ Continue Reading ]
REFRAIN FROM (αποστητε απο). Second aorist (ingressive) active imperative of αφιστημ of verse Acts 5:37. Do ye stand off from these men. "Hands off" was the policy of Gamaliel.FOR IF--BE (οτ εαν--η). Hοτ gives the reason for the advice. Gamaliel presents two alternatives in terms of two conditi... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF IT IS OF GOD (ε δε εκ θεου εστιν). The second alternative is a condition of the first class, determined as fulfilled, ε with the present indicative. By the use of this idiom Gamaliel does put the case more strongly in favor of the apostles than against them. This condition _assumes_ that t... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM THEY AGREED (επεισθησαν αυτω). First aorist passive indicative of πειθω, to persuade, the passive to be persuaded by, to listen to, to obey. Gamaliel's shrewd advice scored as against the Sadducaic contention (verse Acts 5:17).NOT TO SPEAK (μη λαλειν). The Sanhedrin repeated the prohibit... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THEREFORE (ο μεν ουν). No answering δε.THEY WERE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER DISHONOUR FOR THE NAME (κατηξιωθησαν υπερ του ονοματος ατιμασθηνα). First aorist passive indicative of καταξιοω, old verb to count worthy. Three times in N.T. (Luke 20:35; Acts 5:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:5). First aorist... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY DAY (πασαν ημεραν). Accusative of extent of time, all through every day.IN THE TEMPLE AND AT HOME (εν τω ιερω κα κατ' οικον). This was a distinct triumph to go back to the temple where they had been arrested (verse Acts 5:25) and at home or from house to house, as it probably means (cf. A... [ Continue Reading ]