But (1) a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, (1) Luke shows by contrary examples how great a sin hypocrisy is, especially in those who under a false pretence and cloak of zeal seem to shine and be of great importance in the Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
And (a) kept back [part] of the price, his wife also being privy [to it], and brought a certain part, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet. (a) Craftily took away.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan (b) filled thine heart (c) to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land? (b) Fully possessed. (c) For when they had appointed that farm or possession for the Church, they were foolish to keep away a part of the price, as though... [ Continue Reading ]
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou (d) conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (d) By this is meant an advised and purposeful deceit, and the fault of the man in listening to the devil... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to (e) tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the (f) door, and shall carry thee out. (e) Look how often men do things with an evil conscience; and so they pronounce sentence agai... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. (2) The Lord by his marvellous power bridles some so that they may not hurt the Church: others he keeps in awe and fear of him: and others he draws unto himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people (g) magnified them. (g) Highly praised them.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the (h) sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation, (3) The more that the Church increases, the more the rage os Satan increases, and therefore they proceed from threats to imprisonment. (h) The word which i... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, (4) Angels are made servants of the servants of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the (i) words of this life. (5) God therefore delivers his own, so that they may more vigorously provoke his enemies. (i) Words by which the way unto life is shown.... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) And when they heard [that], they entered into the temple early in the morning, 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 to have them brought. (6) God mocks his enemies... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. (7) The more openly that Christ's power shows itself, the more the madness of his enemies who conspire against him increases.... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. (8) Tyrants who do not fear God are forced to fear his servants.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend (k) to bring this man's blood upon us. (9) It is the characteristic of tyrants to set down their own commandments as right and proper, be they ever... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (10) We should obey man only in so far that in obeying him we also obey God.... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (11) Christ is appointed and indeed declared Prince and preserver of his Church, in spite of his enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (12) It is not sufficient for us that there is a proper goal, but we must also according to our calling go forward until we come to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
When they heard [that], they (l) were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them. (l) This shows that they were in a most vehement rage, and tremendously disquieted in mind, for it is a borrowed kind of speech taken from those who are harshly cut in pieces with a saw.... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; (13) Christ finds defenders of his cause, even in the very company of his enemies, as often as he thinks nece... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) For before these days rose up Theudas, (m) boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. (14) In matters of religion we must take good heed that we attempt n... [ Continue Reading ]
And now I say unto you, (n) Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of (o) men, it will come to nought: (n) He dissuades his fellows from murdering the apostles, neither does he think it good to refer the matter to the Roman magistrate, for the Jews could end... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (15) The apostles, accustomed to suffer and bear words, are eventually accustomed to bearing stripes, and yet in such a way that by means of them they become stronger.... [ Continue Reading ]
And daily in the (p) temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (p) Both publicly and privately.... [ Continue Reading ]