Acts 5

Acts 5 narrates a series of dramatic events within the early Christian community and their interactions with Jewish authorities. The chapter begins with the stark contrast between genuine generosity and deceitful display in the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who suffer divine judgment for lying to the Holy Spirit. The narrative then shifts to the apostles’ miraculous works, increasing popularity among the people, and subsequent arrest. The apostles' miraculous escape from prison, followed by their bold testimony before the Sanhedrin and their strategic release advised by Gamaliel, highlights the unstoppable spread of the gospel despite opposition.

Verse 1: "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,"

Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, decided to sell a property, paralleling the earlier account of Barnabas who also sold land and donated the proceeds to the church.

Verse 2: "And 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."

While it appeared they were donating the entire amount from the sale, Ananias, with his wife's knowledge, deceitfully withheld a portion of the money while presenting the rest as the total sum to the apostles.

Verse 3: "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

Peter confronts Ananias, attributing his action to satanic influence. He accuses Ananias not merely of lying to human leaders but to the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the spiritual severity of his deceit.

Verse 4: "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

Peter clarifies that Ananias was under no obligation to sell the land or donate any of the proceeds. The issue was not the withholding of money but the deceit that implied total donation, which Peter equates with lying to God.

Peter said to lie to the Spirit of God is to lie to God Himself because it is His Spirit. God's Spirit revealed to Peter that Ananias had lied and so he had not lied to man but to God as it was God Himself through His spirit that revealed the lie. Paul also said, “no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11).

Verse 5: "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."

Upon hearing Peter's rebuke, Ananias collapses and dies instantly. This severe judgment serves as a divine warning, instilling fear of God’s holiness and the seriousness of sin among the community.

Verse 6: "And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him."

Young men in the community quickly manage Ananias’ body, following the burial customs of that time, which typically involved immediate burial.

Verse 7: "And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in."

Three hours later, Sapphira arrives, unaware of her husband’s death and the circumstances surrounding it.

Verse 8: "And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much."

Peter tests Sapphira by asking her to confirm the amount for which they sold the land. She lies, corroborating the deceptive figure her husband had presented.

Verse 9: "Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out."

Peter exposes Sapphira’s complicity in the deceit, questioning why she conspired with Ananias to test the Spirit of the Lord. He then ominously informs her that she will share her husband’s fate.

Verse 10: "Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband."

Like her husband, Sapphira instantly dies at Peter's words. The same young men bury her alongside Ananias, marking a grim end to their deceitful act.

Verse 11: "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."

The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira spread fear throughout the Christian community and among all who heard about it, underlining the seriousness of integrity and honesty in one’s dealings with God and the community.

Verse 12: "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."

Despite the grim events, the apostles continue performing miracles, further solidifying the faith of the believers. They regularly meet in Solomon’s Porch, a part of the Temple, indicating their ongoing connection to Jewish worship spaces.

Verse 13: "And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them."

The severity of the judgment against Ananias and Sapphira deters others from casually associating with the apostles, though the general populace holds them in high regard.

Verse 14: "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)"

Despite—or perhaps because of—the fear and respect generated by these events, the Christian community continues to grow rapidly, attracting many new believers.

Verse 15: "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."

The apostles’ power is so renowned that people believe even Peter’s shadow might heal the sick. Crowds bring the afflicted to the streets on beds and couches, hoping for healing as he passes by.

Verse 16: "There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."

The apostles’ reputation spreads beyond Jerusalem, drawing people from neighboring cities. Those suffering from various ailments and demonic afflictions come to them and are healed.

Verse 17: "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,"

The growing influence of the apostles provokes the high priest and his associates, particularly the Sadducees, who are incensed by the apostles’ teachings and the signs and wonders they perform.

Verse 18: "And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."

In response to their frustration, the religious leaders arrest the apostles and imprison them, hoping to curb their influence and halt the spread of their teachings.

Verse 19: "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,"

An angel of the Lord miraculously frees the apostles from prison, an act that underscores divine approval of their mission and God’s direct intervention on their behalf.

Verse 20: "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."

After freeing them, the angel instructs the apostles to continue their ministry without hesitation, specifically telling them to go to the Temple and openly declare the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Verse 21: "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."

Obedient to the angel’s command, the apostles go to the Temple at dawn to teach. Meanwhile, unaware of the miraculous escape, the high priest and his council convene, intending to bring the apostles from the prison for trial.

Verse 22: "But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,"

The officers sent to retrieve the apostles find the prison securely locked but the apostles missing, a confusing and alarming discovery that they report back.

Verse 23: "Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within."

They explain that despite the prison being secure and the guards in place, the apostles were nowhere to be found inside, deepening the mystery and the sense of supernatural involvement.

Verse 24: "Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow."

The religious leaders are perplexed and concerned about the implications of the apostles’ escape, unsure of what further developments might occur and how it would affect their authority.

Verse 25: "Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people."

While they are deliberating, someone arrives with the surprising news that the apostles are back in the Temple, openly teaching the people, further defying the authorities and continuing their divine mission.

Verse 26: "Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned."

The captain and his officers go to the Temple to bring the apostles back to the council. They do so without using force, cautious of the public’s favorable opinion towards the apostles, fearing a violent backlash.

Verse 27: "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,"

The apostles are once again presented before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest begins to question them, setting the stage for a confrontation between the religious authorities and the apostles.

Verse 28: "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 to bring this man's blood upon us."

The high priest accuses the apostles of disobeying the explicit command to stop teaching in the name of Jesus. He also expresses his frustration that they have spread their doctrine throughout Jerusalem and accuses them of trying to blame the Sanhedrin for Jesus’ death.

Verse 29: "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."

Peter and the apostles respond with a declaration of their commitment to obey God’s commands over human authority, reaffirming their dedication to their divine mission regardless of the consequences.

Verse 30: "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."

Peter boldly accuses the Sanhedrin of killing Jesus, stating that God has raised Him from the dead, which directly challenges their authority and the validity of their actions.

Verse 31: "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

He further declares that Jesus is exalted by God as both a Prince and a Savior, emphasizing His divine appointment to bring repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel, underscoring the spiritual and messianic implications of their message.

Verse 32: "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

Peter concludes by affirming that they are witnesses to these truths, along with the Holy Spirit, who is given to those who obey God, establishing their authority and testimony as divinely endorsed.

Verse 33: "When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."

The apostles’ testimony infuriates the council members, who are deeply offended and begin to consider killing them, reflecting the intense hostility between the Jewish leaders and the emerging Christian movement.

Verse 34: "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;"

Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee and teacher of the law, intervenes, asking for the apostles to be temporarily removed from the council chamber so he can address his peers privately.

Verse 35: "And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men."

Gamaliel cautions the council to consider carefully their next actions regarding the apostles, advising prudence and restraint.

Verse 36: "For before these days rose up Theudas, 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."

He cites the example of Theudas, a previous self-declared leader whose movement collapsed after his death and his followers dispersed, suggesting that false movements naturally fail.

Verse 37: "After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed."

Gamaliel references another failed leader, Judas of Galilee, who led a revolt that also fizzled out after his death, reinforcing his point about the natural dissolution of movements founded on false pretenses.

Verse 38: "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:"

He advises the council to leave the apostles alone, arguing that if their movement is merely human, it will fail without their intervention, just as previous movements have.

Verse 39: "But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."

Conversely, if the apostles’ work is divinely ordained, it will prove unstoppable, and opposing it would mean opposing God Himself, a prospect Gamaliel suggests they should avoid to not be on the wrong side of divine will.

Verse 40: "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go."

The council accepts Gamaliel’s advice, but not without first punishing the apostles with beatings and reiterating the command not to speak in Jesus’ name, then they release them.

Verse 41: "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Despite the beatings, the apostles leave the Sanhedrin rejoicing, feeling honored to have suffered for proclaiming Jesus’ name, reflecting their deep commitment and joy in their mission.

Verse 42: "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

Unwavering, the apostles continue to teach and preach about Jesus every day, both in the Temple and from house to house, demonstrating their relentless dedication to spreading the gospel regardless of the risks.