CHAPTER V. _The hypocrisy of Ananias and his wife Sapphira, and their_ _awful death_, 1-11. _The apostles work many miracles, and the Church of God is_ _increased_, 12-16. _The high priest and the Sadducees, being incensed against the_ _apostles, seize and put them in prison_, 17, 18. _The an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:2. _KEPT BACK_ PART _OF THE PRICE_] Ananias and Sapphira were evidently persons who professed faith in Christ with the rest of the disciples. While all were making sacrifices for the present necessity, they came forward among the rest, pretending to bring _all_ the money they had got f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:3. _WHY HATH SATAN FILLED THINE HEART_] The verb πληροειν, which we translate _to fill_, Kypke has showed by many examples to signify, to _instigate, excite, impel_, c., and it was a common belief, as well among the heathens as among the Jews and Christians, that, when a man did evil,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:4. _WHILES IT REMAINED, WAS IT NOT THINE OWN?_] Acts 5:2, Acts 5:2, and Acts 2:44, Acts 2:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:5. _FELL DOWN, AND GAVE UP THE GHOST_] πεσων εξεψυξε, _Falling down, he expired, breathed his last_: "Gave up the ghost" is a very improper translation here. Genesis 25:8, and Matthew 27:50. Two things may be remarked here: 1. That the sin of this person was of no ordinary magnitude, e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:6. _THE YOUNG MEN AROSE_] Some of the stout young men belonging to the disciples then present, who were the fittest to undertake a work of this kind, which required considerable bodily exertion. _BURIED HIM._] This was on the same day in which he died. It was a clear case that he was d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:9. _TO TEMPT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD?_] So the _Holy Ghost,_ _God_, and the _Spirit of the Lord_, are the same person.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:10. _YIELDED UP THE GHOST_] See Acts 5:5. It was not by Peter's _words_, nor through Peter's _prayers_, nor through _shame_, nor through _remorse_, that this guilty pair died, but by an immediate judgment of God. The question of the salvation of Ananias and Sapphira has not been a litt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:11. _GREAT FEAR CAME UPON ALL THE CHURCH_] This judgment answered the end for which it was inflicted; a deeply religious fear occupied every mind, and hypocrisy and deception were banished from this holy assembly. On the word _Church_, see the observations at the end of Matthew 16. Matt... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:12. _BY THE HANDS OF THE APOSTLES_] This verse should be read with the 15th, to which it properly belongs. Acts 5:15 _SOLOMON'S PORCH._] John 10:23, John 10:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:13. _AND OF THE REST, DURST NO MAN JOIN HIM SELF TO THEM_] Who were these called _the rest_, των λοιπων? Dr. Lightfoot thinks the 120 are intended, of which he supposes Ananias to have been one; who, all seeing such wonders wrought by the _apostles_, were afraid to associate themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:14. _AND BELIEVERS WERE THE MORE ADDED TO THE LORD_] Believers: 1. Those who credited the Divine mission of Christ. 2. That he was the Messiah. 3. That he died for their sins. 4. That he rose again. 5. That he ascended into heaven. 6. That he sent down the gift of the Holy Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:15. _INSOMUCH THAT THEY BROUGHT FORTH THE SICK_] This verse is a continuation of the subject begun in the 12th. Acts 5:12 The following is the order in which all these verses should be read, from the 11th to the 15th. Acts 5:11 Verse Acts 5:11. And great fear came upon all the Church,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:16. _SICK FOLKS, AND THEM WHICH WERE VEXED WITH UNCLEAN_ _SPIRITS_] Here it is evident that _sick people_ are distinguished from those who were _vexed with unclean spirits_; and therefore they were not one and the same thing. The same distinction is made Matthew 4:24; Matthew 10:1; Mar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:17. _THE HIGH PRIEST - AND - THE SECT OF THE SADDUCEES_] αιρεσις των σαδδουκαιων, _The heresy of the Sadducees_. In this place, as well as in several others, the word αιρεσις, _heresy_, has no _evil_ meaning in itself; it is a word of distinction, and may receive either a _good_ or _ba... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:18. _PUT THEM IN THE COMMON PRISON._] It being too late in the evening to bring them to a hearing. To this verse the _Codex_ _Bezae_ adds, και επορευθη εἱς ἑκαστος εις τα ιδια, _And each of them_ _went to his own house_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:19. _BUT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - OPENED THE PRISON DOORS_] This was done: 1. To increase the confidence of the apostles, by showing them that they were under the continual care of God; and, 2. To show the Jewish rulers that they were fighting against Him while persecuting his follower... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:20. _ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE._] All the doctrines of life eternal, founded on the _word, death_, and _resurrection_ of Christ Jesus. This is another periphrasis for _Gospel_. _Go to the_ _temple_-the most public place, and _speak to the people_-who come there to worship according to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:21. _CALLED THE COUNCIL TOGETHER_] συνεδριον The _sanhedrin,_ _all the senate_; την γερουσιαν, the _elders_, or what we would call _the aldermen_. How these differed from the πρεσβυτεριον, _presbytery_, if they did differ, is not now known.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:23. _THE PRISON TRULY FOUND WE SHUT_] All the doors were properly bolted, and the keepers at their post; _but when we had_ _opened_, for it appears they were alone in possession of the keys; how much must this have increased their astonishment when they found that the doors were not _br... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:24. _THEY DOUBTED OF THEM WHEREUNTO THIS WOULD GROW._] They did not know what to think of the _apostles_, whether they had saved themselves by magic, or whether they were delivered by a real miracle; and they were at a loss to tell what the _issue_ of these things would be.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:25. _THEN CAME ONE AND TOLD THEM_] While they were in the perplexity mentioned above, a messenger surprised them with the information that the very men whom they had imprisoned the preceding night were standing in the temple and teaching the people!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:26. _BROUGHT THEM WITHOUT VIOLENCE_] On receiving the information mentioned above, proper officers were sent to seize and bring them before the council. The officers, on reaching the temple, found the multitude gladly receiving the doctrine of the apostles, and so intent on hearing _all... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:28. _DID NOT WE STRAITLY COMMAND YOU_] ου παραγγελια παρηγγειλαμεν, _With commanding did we not command you_; a Hebraism-another proof of the accuracy and fidelity of St. Luke, who seems always to give every man's speech _as he delivered it_; not the _substance_, but the _very words_. S... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN._] The same answer they gave before, Acts 4:19, founded on the same reason, which still stood good. We have received our commission from GOD; we dare not lay it down at the desire or command of _men_. Acts 4:19, Acts 4:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS RAISED UP JESUS_] It was well to introduce this, that the council might at once see that they preached no strange God; and that _he_ who so highly honoured the patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets, had yet more highly honoured Jesus Christ in raising him from the dea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _HIM HATH GOD EXALTED WITH HIS RIGHT HAND_] By a supereminent display of his _almighty power_, for so the _right hand_ of God often means; he has raised him from the dead, and raised his human nature to the throne of his glory. Instead of δεξια, the _right hand_, the _Codex Bezae_ has δοξη... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _WE ARE HIS WITNESSES_] The word αυτου, _his_, is omitted by AD, and several others of good note; the _Syriac_, all the _Arabic, AEthiopic_, and _Vulgate_. It does not seem to be necessary. _OF THESE THINGS_] των πηματων τουτων, _Of these transactions_: i.e. of Christ's life and miracles,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _THEY WERE CUT_ TO THE HEART] διεπριοντο, Literally, _they were sawn through_, from δια _through_, and πριω, _to_ _saw_. They were stung to the heart, not with _compunction_ nor _remorse_, but with _spite, malice_, and _revenge_: for, having the murder of Christ thus brought home to their... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _A PHARISEE, NAMED GAMALIEL, A DOCTOR OF THE LAW_] "This," says Dr. Lightfoot, "was _Rabban Gamaliel_ the _first_; commonly, by way of distinction, called _Rabban Gamaliel the elder_. He was president of the council after the death of his own father, _Rabban Simeon_, who was the son of _Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _WHAT YE INTEND TO DO_] τι μελλετε πρασσειν, _What ye are_ _about to do_: they had already _intended_ to destroy them; and they were now _about to do_ it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _ROSE UP THEUDAS_] Josephus, Ant. lib. xx. cap. 4, sect. 1, mentions one named _Theudas_ who was the author of an insurrection; about whom there has been much controversy whether he were the person spoken of here by Gamaliel. Every circumstance, as related by Josephus agrees well enough w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _JUDAS OF GALILEE_] Concerning Judas of Galilee, Rabbi Abraham, in _Jucasin_, fol. 139, writes thus: "In this time there were three sects: for, besides the _Pharisees_ and _Sadducees_, _Judas_ _of Galilee_ began another sect, which was called _Essenes_. They caused the Jews to rebel again... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _REFRAIN FROM THESE MEN_] Do not molest them, leave them to God; for if this counsel and work be of man it will come to nought, like the rebellion of Theudas, and that of Judas of Galilee: for whatever pretends to be done in the name of God, but is not of him, will have his _curse_ and not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _BUT IF IT BE OF GOD, YE CANNOT OVERTHROW IT_] Because his counsel cannot fail; and his work cannot be counteracted. If he be determined that this doctrine shall prevail, it is vain for us to attempt to suppress it. _LEST HAPLY YE BE FOUND-TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD._] Μηποτε και θεομαχοι εὑρε... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 40. _TO HIM THEY AGREED_] That is, not to _slay_ the apostles, nor to attempt any farther to _imprison_ them; but their malevolence could not be thus easily satisfied; and therefore they _beat_ _them_-probably gave each of them thirty-nine stripes; and, having commanded them not to speak in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 41. _REJOICING THAT THEY THERE COUNTED WORTHY_, c.] The whole verse may be read thus: _But they departed rejoicing from the_ _presence of the sanhedrin, because they there deemed worthy to be_ _dishonoured on account of THE NAME_. The word, αυτου, _his_, is omitted by ABCD, several others Erp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 5:42. _DAILY IN THE TEMPLE_] That is at the hours of morning and evening prayer; for they felt it their duty to worship God in _public_, and to help others to make a profitable use of the practice. Every man that professes Christianity should, in this respect also, copy their conduct: nor... [ Continue Reading ]