Acts 5

1 Ananias by reason by his hypocrisie and lying is reproved by Peter, and by God punished with a sudden death. 2 Likewise also Sapphira his wife. 12 Many miracles are done on the sick and possessed by the Apostles, and also by the shadow of Peter. 17 The Apostles are imprisoned, 19 and delivered by an Angel. 21 The Jewish counsell being assembled send to fetch them, but finde the prison empty. 25 They that fetcht out of the Temple and brought again before the counsel , 29 before which they defend themselves, and bear witness of Christ and his resurrection. 33 The Council intendeth to put them to death, 34 but on Gamaliels warning they are set free. 40 Yet first being scourged, 41 whereat they rejoyce, and go forward in preaching as boldly as before.

1. And a certain man by name Ananias, with Sapphira his wife sold an estate? [Gr.a possession.ver. 3.it is called a Land or Farm.]

2. And subtracted from the price, [That is, withheld by subtilty, concealed it and brought it not forth] with the privity of his wife also, and brought a certain part and laid (that) at the Apostles feet. [see Acts 4:34.]

3. And Peter said, Ananias, wherefore hath Satan filled thine heart, [That is, wholly possessed with covetuousness and hypocrisie. Or wherefore hast thou given Satan place in thy heart] that thou shouldst ly to the Holy Ghost, [that is, contrary to thy conscience and conviction of the Holy Ghost, say with untruth that the Land which was sold yielded no more. Or deceive, i.e.shouldst endeavour to deceive, as thinking that the Holy Ghost knew not this, and should not reveal the same unto us] and subtract from the price of the Land?

4. If it had remained, [Gr.remaining, namely, unsold] did it not remain thine [That is, was is not at thy pleasure to have kept the same for thyself, without being necessitated to sell it] and being sold, was it not in thy power, [namely, to do with the money what thou thoughtest good; to keep the same for thy self or bring it hither, whereby it appears that this communion of goods was not in respect of the property, but in respect of the use, in time of need, see Acts 2:44.] what is it that thou hast purposed [Gr.put or set] this deed in thy heart? Thou hast not lyed unto men; [that is, not so much, or not only as thou hast lyed unto the Holy Ghost, v.3.who is the true God with the Father and the Son. See 1 Cor. 3. 16.compared with 1 Cor.6.19.]

5. And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the Ghost.[Gr.gave forth the breath. Peter thus punished the hypocrisie of this man with a sudden death for a warning to all other hypocrites, by a special inspiration of God, and by an extraordinary power with which the Apostles were furnished. See the like Acts 13:11.which therefore they must not, nor may not imitate, who have such inspiration and power] And there came great fear upon all that heard this.

6. And the young men, [Namely, which were there in the Congregation] arising, sitted him, [namely, by pulling off his cloathes; wrapping him in gravecloaths, and otherwise to bury him. Or took him away] and carried (him) forth and buried (him)

7. And it was about three hours after, [Gr.an interspace of about three hours] that his wife also came in: [Namely, into the place where the Apostles with the Church were assembled, Acts 2:46.] not knowing what there was done. [namely, to her husband.]

8. And Peter answered her, [That is, spake to her and said.Hebr.] Tell me, did you sell the Land for so much? [Peter without doubt expressed the price which he had understood by the husband] And she said, yea for so much.

9. And Peter said unto her, what is it that ye have consented among you to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? [That is, contrary to your knowledge to do things which God hath forbidden, as if ye would try whether the spirit of God be righteous and omniscient] behold the feet of those that have buried thy husband are before the door, and shall carry thee out. [namely, after that thou also shalt presently be fallen down and dead.]

10. And she fell down straightway before his feet, and gave up the Ghost. And the young men being come in found her dead, and carried (her) forth, and buried (her) by her husband.

11. And there came great fear upon the whole Church, and upon all that heard this.

12. And by thy hands of the Apostles, [That is, by the ministry of the Apostles, for they were but ministers and Instruments; the power came from the Lord, Acts 3:12.and chapter 4. 30.and 7. 35.] many signes and wonders were done among the people: And they were all with one accord in Solomons Court. [see of this Court, 1 Kings 6:3. John 10:23. Acts 3:11.]

13. And of the other, [Namely, which were of any account, and had not yet betaken themselves to the Church] no man durst join himself unto them, but the people held them in great esteem. [Gr.magnified them, Luke 1:46. 2 Cor 10. 15.]

14. And more and more were added; [Or so much the more namely, notwithstanding this judgement was happened to Ananias and his wife: or besides the fromer multitude, Acts 2 v. 47.and chapter 4. 4.] which believed the Lord, multitudes both of men and of women .

15. So that they carried forth the sick on the streets: [Or from streets to streets , i.e. every where on the streets] and laid (them) on beds and couches, that as Peter came, [that is, passed thereby] even but the shadow might overshadow any one of them. [namely, to be healed thereby, John 14:12.]

16. And also the multitude out of the Cities lying about came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick, and those that were troubled with unclean spirits, [See the like, Luke 6:18.] which were all healed.

17. And the high Priest stood up, and all that were with him (which was the sect [Gr.Hairesis, by which word is signified a manner of Religion, which any one hath chosen for himself and followeth, Acts 26:5.and 28. 22.and this word in the beginning seemeth to have been taken as well in good as in evill part, but afterward it was taken always in evill part, for a dales Religion; from whence cometh the word heresie and heretick] of the Sadduces) [see of them, Matthew 3:7.and chapter 22. 23. Acts 23:8.] and were filled with envy, [or zeal, namely a perverse zeal for the Law, Rom 10 . 2.]

18. And laid their hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19. But the Angel of the Lord by night opened the doors of the prison, [Understand, and afterwards shut them again; v. 23.] and led them forth, and said.

20. Go your way and stand, [That is, shew yourselves there openly and boldly] and speak in the Temple to the people all the words of this life. [or all these words of life, i.e.this Evangelical doctrine, whereby is shewn unto men the right way to come to everlasting life, John 6:68.]

21. Now when they had heard (this) they went towards the morning into the Temple and taught. But the high priest, and they that were with him being come, called the Council together; [Gr.Synederion, see thereof Matthew 5:22.] and all the Elders of the children of Israel, [or assembly of the ancients of the children of Israel] and sent to the prison to fetch them.

22. But when the Officers came thither, they found them not in the prison, but returned and reported (this.)

23. Saying, we found indeed the prison shut with all assurance, [Gr.in all certainty] and the watch-men standing without before the doors, but when we had opened (them) we found no man within.

24. Now when the (high-) Priest [Gr.the Priest, whereby the high Priest is understood, seeing he was the head of this Council, v.27. See the like 2 Kings 12:2. 2 Chron. 24. 2.] and the Captain of the Temple, and the chief Priests herad these words, they were doubtfull minded about them what this would be.

25. And there came one and tol them saying, behold, the men whom ye put in prison stand in the Temple, and teach the people.

26. Then the Captain went his way with the Officers, and brought them (but) not with violence: (for they feared the people lest they should be stoned.)

27. And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council, [Gr.in] and the high Priest asked them and said:

28. Did we not earnestly charge you , [Gr.with charging charge you, Hebr.] that ye should not teach in this name? [that is, of this Jesus. See Acts 4:18.] and behold ye will bring the blood of this man, [that is, the punishment of the blood that we have shed by putting this Jesus to death, as if we had shed his blood unjustly. See Mat. 27.v. 24, 25.] upon us.

29. But Peter and the Apostles answered and said, we must be more obedient to God then unto men.

30. The God of our Fathers hath raised up Jesus? [Namely, from the dead; or appointed and sent him for a saviour, Acts 13:23.] whom ye made away with hanging (him) on the wood.

31. Him hath God by his right (hand) exalted (for) a Prince and Saviour. [Or being a Prince and Saviour] to give Israel, [that is, the true Israelites, Romans 9:6. Galatians 6:16.] repentance and forgiveness of sins.

32. And we are his witnesses of these words, That is, of these things. Hebr. See Luke 1:37. Acts 10:37.] and also the holy Ghost [that is, the powerfull working of the holy Ghost in the hearts of men to their conversion, together with these visible gifts of the same] which God hath given to them who are obedient unto him.

33. Now when they heard (this) their (heart) burst: [Gr.they were as it were cut or sawed into two, namely, in the heart for madness and wrath. See Acts 7:54.] and they consulted to put them to death.

34. But a certain Pharisee stood up in the Council, by name Gamaliel, [This is thought to be the same at whose feet the Apostle Paul was instructed in the Law, Acts 22:3.] a Doctor of the Law, held in esteem by all the people, and commanded that the Apostles should be caused to(stand) without a little. [Gr.a short, namely while.]

35. And said unto them ye Israelitish men, take heed to your selves what ye are about to do concerning these men.

36. For before these daies, [That is, before this time, for it was some years since] rose up Theudas, [the Historian Josephus, Antiq.lib.20.cap.2.makes mention of a seditious Theudas who made insurrection when Cuspius Fadus was Governour over Judea under the Emperor Claudius; but that happened after this time, and after the death of Herod Agrippa. So that Gamaliel therefore here speaks of another Theudas, who was in the times of the Emperour Augustus or Tiberias] saying, that he was somewhat, [that is, some great one, as Acts 8:9.] to whom a number of about four hundred man adhered, [Gr.cleaved unto] who was destroyed, and all that gave ear unto him were scattered, and came to nought.

37. After him, [That is, after this Theudas] rose up Judas of Galilee, [he was otherwise called Judas Gaulonites, who made an uproar among the people, when Archelaus being deposed and banished, the Romanes made a province of the Land of Judea, and let it be governed by their Lieutenants from thenceforward, and for this end caused the Land to be enrolled. See Joseph. Antiq.lib.18.1.and.lib.20.cap.3.Josephus makes mention yet of another seditious Judas, the son of the murderer Ezechias, which raised an uproar before this, when Archelaus was gone to Rome, to be settled in his Father Herods place. Joseph.ant.lib.17.cap.12.and be bello Jud.lib.2.cap.2.] in the daies, [that is, in the time] of the enrolling, [this enrolling is not the same whereof is spoken, Luke 2.v.1.2.for that was done without uproar, and is called the first in respect for his second, which was made afterwards throughout Judea, and was accompanied with uproar which was raised by this Judas, Joseph, and.lib.18.cap.1.] and caused much people to fall away after him: and he also perished, and all that gave ear to him were scattered abroad.

38. And now I say unto you keep off from these men, [Namely, that ye do them no more evil] and let them (go,) for if this Council [that is, this undertaking or action of the Apostles] or this work, be of men, [that is, taken up by men, and by humane authority, Matthew 21:25.] it will be broken. [Gr.loosed.]

39. But if it be of God, [That is, began by divine authority and command] ye cannot break it, [Gr.loose it] least perhaps, [or at any time] ye be found even to strive against God.

40. And they gave ear to him: [That is, they suffered themselves to be moved, and perswaded that they followed his counsel] and when they had called the Apostles unto them, they scourged (them,) [Gr.smote, namely, with rods or scourges. This was foretold them by Christ, Mat.10, 17.and 23. 24. The same was also done to Paul, 2 Cor. 11. 24.] and commanded (them) that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, [see Acts 4:18.] and let them go.

41. Then they went away from the face of the Council, being joyfull that they had been accounted worthy [Namely, by God, who of grace had given them this honour and dignity, Philippians 1:29.] to suffer reproach for his names sake; [that is, for the cause and doctrine of Christ.]

42. And they ceased no every day, to teach in the Temple, and in the houses, [Or from house to house. See Acts 2:46.and 20.20.] and preach Jesus Christ.