23 Saying, G3004 G3754 The prison G1201 truly G3303 found we G2147 shut G2808 with G1722 all G3956 safety, G803 and G2532 the keepers G5441 standing G2476 without G1854 before G4253 the doors: G2374 but G1161 when we had opened, G455 we found G2147 no man G3762 within. G2080
He that sitteth H3427 in the heavens H8064 shall laugh: H7832 the Lord H136 shall have them in derision. H3932
Who is he that saith, H559 and it cometh to pass, when the Lord H136 commandeth H6680 it not?
I called H7121 upon thy name, H8034 O LORD, H3068 out of the low H8482 dungeon. H953 Thou hast heard H8085 my voice: H6963 hide H5956 not thine ear H241 at my breathing, H7309 at my cry. H7775 Thou drewest near H7126 in the day H3117 that I called H7121 upon thee: thou saidst, H559 Fear H3372 not. O Lord, H136 thou hast pleaded H7378 the causes H7379 of my soul; H5315 thou hast redeemed H1350 my life. H2416
And whoso H4479 falleth H5308 not H3809 down H5308 and worshippeth, H5457 that he should be cast H7412 into the midst H1459 of a burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 There are H383 certain H1400 Jews H3062 whom H3487 thou hast set H4483 over H5922 the affairs H5673 of the province H4083 of Babylon, H895 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego; H5665 these H479 men, H1400 O king, H4430 have H7761 not H3809 regarded H2942 thee: H5922 they serve H6399 not H3809 thy gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which thou hast set up. H6966 Then H116 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 in his rage H7266 and fury H2528 commanded H560 to bring H858 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego. H5665 Then H116 they brought H858 these H479 men H1400 before H6925 the king. H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 spake H6032 and said H560 unto them, Is it true, H6656 O Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 do not H3809 ye H383 serve H6399 my gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which I have set H6966 up? Now H3705 if H2006 ye be H383 ready H6263 that at what time H5732 ye hear H8086 the sound H7032 of the cornet, H7162 flute, H4953 harp, H7030 H7030 sackbut, H5443 psaltery, H6460 and dulcimer, H5481 and all H3606 kinds H2178 of musick, H2170 ye fall down H5308 and worship H5457 the image H6755 which I have made; H5648 well: but if H2006 ye worship H5457 not, H3809 ye shall be cast H7412 the same hour H8160 into the midst H1459 of a burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace; H861 and who H4479 is that God H426 that shall deliver H7804 you out of H4481 my hands? H3028 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 answered H6032 and said H560 to the king, H4430 O Nebuchadnezzar, H5020 we H586 are not H3809 careful H2818 to answer H8421 thee in H5922 this H1836 matter. H6600 If H2006 it be so, our God H426 whom we H586 serve H6399 is H383 able H3202 to deliver H7804 us from H4481 the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace, H861 and H4481 he will deliver H7804 us out of H4481 thine hand, H3028 O king. H4430 But if H2006 not, H3809 be it H1934 known H3046 unto thee, O king, H4430 that we will H383 not H3809 serve H6399 thy gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which thou hast set up. H6966 Then H116 was Nebuchadnezzar H5020 full H4391 of fury, H2528 and the form H6755 of his visage H600 was changed H8133 against H5922 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego: H5665 therefore he spake, H6032 and commanded H560 that they should heat H228 the furnace H861 one H2298 seven times H7655 more H5922 than H1768 it was wont H2370 to be heated. H228 And he commanded H560 the most H2429 mighty H1401 men H1400 that were in his army H2429 to bind H3729 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 and to cast H7412 them into the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 Then H116 these H479 men H1400 were bound H3729 in their coats, H5622 their hosen, H6361 H6361 and their hats, H3737 and their other garments, H3831 and were cast H7412 into the midst H1459 of the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 Therefore H3606 H6903 because H4481 H1836 the king's H4430 commandment H4406 was urgent, H2685 and the furnace H861 exceeding H3493 hot, H228 the flame H7631 of the fire H5135 slew H6992 those H479 men H1400 H1994 that took up H5267 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego. H5665 And these H479 three H8532 men, H1400 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 fell down H5308 bound H3729 into the midst H1459 of the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 Then H116 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 the king H4430 was astonied, H8429 and rose up H6966 in haste, H927 and spake, H6032 and said H560 unto his counsellors, H1907 Did not H3809 we cast H7412 three H8532 men H1400 bound H3729 into the midst H1459 of the fire? H5135 They answered H6032 and said H560 unto the king, H4430 True, H3330 O king. H4430 He answered H6032 and said, H560 Lo, H1888 I H576 see H2370 four H703 men H1400 loose, H8271 walking H1981 in the midst H1459 of the fire, H5135 and they have H383 no H3809 hurt; H2257 and the form H7299 of the fourth H7244 is like H1821 the Son H1247 of God. H426
My God H426 hath sent H7972 his angel, H4398 and hath shut H5463 the lions' H744 mouths, H6433 that they have not H3809 hurt H2255 me: forasmuch as H3606 H6903 before H6925 him innocency H2136 was found H7912 in me; and also H638 before H6925 thee, O king, H4430 have I done H5648 no H3809 hurt. H2248 Then H116 was the king H4430 exceeding H7690 glad H2868 for him, H5922 and commanded H560 that they should take H5267 Daniel H1841 up H5267 out of H4481 the den. H1358 So Daniel H1841 was taken up H5267 out of H4481 the den, H1358 and no H3809 manner H3606 of hurt H2257 was found H7912 upon him, because he believed H540 in his God. H426 And the king H4430 commanded, H560 and they brought H858 those H479 men H1400 which had accused H399 H7170 Daniel, H1841 and they cast H7412 them into the den H1358 of lions, H744 them, H581 their children, H1123 and their wives; H5389 and the lions H744 had the mastery H5705 H7981 of them, and brake H1855 all H3606 their bones H1635 in pieces H1855 or ever H3809 they came H4291 at the bottom H773 of the den. H1358
Saying, G3004 Sir, G2962 we remember G3415 that G3754 that G1565 deceiver G4108 said, G2036 while he was yet G2089 alive, G2198 After G3326 three G5140 days G2250 I will rise again. G1453 Command G2753 therefore G3767 that the sepulchre G5028 be made sure G805 until G2193 the third G5154 day, G2250 lest G3379 his G846 disciples G3101 come G2064 by night, G3571 and steal G2813 him G846 away, G2813 and G2532 say G2036 unto the people, G2992 He is risen G1453 from G575 the dead: G3498 so G2532 the last G2078 error G4106 shall be G2071 worse than G5501 the first. G4413 G1161 Pilate G4091 said G5346 unto them, G846 Ye have G2192 a watch: G2892 go your way, G5217 make it as sure G805 as G5613 ye can. G1492 So G1161 they went, G4198 and made G805 the sepulchre G5028 sure, G805 sealing G4972 the stone, G3037 and setting G3326 a watch. G2892
And G2532 when they were assembled G4863 with G3326 the elders, G4245 and G5037 had taken G2983 counsel, G4824 they gave G1325 large G2425 money G694 unto the soldiers, G4757 Saying, G3004 Say ye, G2036 G3754 His G846 disciples G3101 came G2064 by night, G3571 and stole G2813 him G846 away while we G2257 slept. G2837 And G2532 if G1437 this G5124 come G191 to G1909 the governor's G2232 ears, G191 we G2249 will persuade G3982 him, G846 and G2532 secure G275 G4160 you. G5209 So G1161 they took G2983 the money, G694 and did G4160 as G5613 they were taught: G1321 and G2532 this G3778 saying G3056 is commonly reported G1310 among G3844 the Jews G2453 until G3360 this day. G4594
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 5
Commentary on Acts 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Ac 5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira.
"The first trace of a shade upon the bright form of the young Church. Probably among the new Christians a kind of holy rivalry had sprung up, every one eager to place his means at the disposal of the apostles" [Olshausen]. Thus might the new-born zeal of some outrun their abiding principle, while others might be tempted to seek credit for a liberality which was not in their character.
2. kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it—The coolness with which they planned the deception aggravated the guilt of this couple.
brought a certain part—pretending it to be the whole proceeds of the sale.
3-6. why hath Satan filled—"why … fill—"why hast thou suffered him to fill"
thine heart—so criminally entertaining his suggestion? Compare Ac 5:4, "why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?" And see Joh 13:2, 27.
to lie to the Holy Ghost—to men under His supernatural illumination.
4. While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?—from which we see how purely voluntary were all these sacrifices for the support of the infant community.
not lied to men but God—to men so entirely the instruments of the directing Spirit that the lie was rather told to Him: language clearly implying both the distinct personality and the proper divinity of the Holy Ghost.
5. Ananias … gave up the ghost … great fear came on all that heard these things—on those without the Christian circle; who, instead of disparaging the followers of the Lord Jesus, as they might otherwise have done on the discovery of such hypocrisy, were awed at the manifest presence of Divinity among them, and the mysterious power of throwing off such corrupt matter which rested upon the young Church.
6. the young men—some of the younger and more active members of the church, not as office-bearers, nor coming forward now for the first time, but who probably had already volunteered their services in making subordinate arrangements. In every thriving Christian community such volunteers may be expected, and will be found eminently useful.
7-11. Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much—naming the sum.
9. How is it that ye have agreed together—(See on Ac 5:2).
to tempt the Spirit—try whether they could escape detection by that omniscient Spirit of whose supernatural presence with the apostles they had had such full evidence.
feet of them that buried thy husband are at the door—How awfully graphic!
10. buried her by her husband—The later Jews buried before sunset of the day of death.
11. And great fear came upon all the church, &c.—This effect on the Christian community itself was the chief design of so startling a judgment; which had its counterpart, as the sin itself had, in Achan (Jos 7:1-26), while the time—at the commencement of a new career—was similar.
Ac 5:12-26. The Progress of the New Cause Leads to the Arrest of the Apostles—They Are Miraculously Delivered from Prison, Resume Their Teaching, but Allow Themselves to Be Conducted before the Sanhedrin.
12. Solomon's Porch—(See on Joh 10:23).
13-16. of the rest durst no man join himself, &c.—Of the unconverted none ventured, after what had taken place, to profess discipleship; but yet their number continually increased.
15. into the streets—"in every street."
on beds and couches—The words denote the softer couches of the rich and the meaner cribs of the poor [Bengel].
shadow of Peter … might overshadow some of them—Compare Ac 19:12; Lu 8:46. So Elisha. Now the predicted greatness of Peter (Mt 16:18), as the directing spirit of the early Church, was at its height.
17-23. sect of the Sadducees—See on Ac 4:1 for the reason why this is specified.
19. by night—the same night.
20. all the words of this life—beautiful expression for that Life in the Risen One which was the burden of their preaching!
21. entered into the temple, &c.—How self-possessed! the indwelling Spirit raising them above fear.
called … all the senate, &c.—an unusually general convention, though hastily summoned.
23. the prison … shut … keepers … before the doors, but … no man within—the reverse of the miracle in Ac 16:26; a similar contrast to that of the nets at the miraculous draughts of fishes (Lu 5:6; Joh 21:11).
24-26. they doubted—"were in perplexity."
26. without violence, for they feared, &c.—hardened ecclesiastics, all unawed by the miraculous tokens of God's presence with the apostles, and the fear of the mob only before their eyes!
Ac 5:27-42. Second Appearance and Testimony before the Sanhedrin—Its Rage Calmed by Gamaliel—Being Dismissed, They Depart Rejoicing, and Continue Their Preaching.
27, 28. ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine—noble testimony to the success of their preaching, and (for the reason mentioned on Ac 4:4) to the truth of their testimony, from reluctant lips!
28. intend to bring this man's blood upon us—They avoid naming Him whom Peter gloried in holding up [Bengel]. In speaking thus, they seem to betray a disagreeable recollection of their own recent imprecation, His blood be upon us," &c. (Mt 27:25), and of the traitor's words as he threw down the money, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood" (Mt 27:4).
29, 30. Then Peter, &c.—(See on Ac 2:22, and Ac 3:13, &c.).
31. Prince and a Saviour—the first word expressing that Royalty which all Israel looked for in Messiah, the second the Saving character of it which they had utterly lost sight of. Each of these features in our Lord's work enters into the other, and both make one glorious whole (compare Ac 3:15; Heb 2:10).
to give—dispensing as a "Prince."
repentance and remission of sins—as a "Saviour"; "repentance" embracing all that change which issues in the faith which secures "forgiveness" (compare Ac 2:38; 20:21). How gloriously is Christ here exhibited; not, as in other places, as the Medium, but as the Dispenser of all spiritual blessings!
32, 33. we are his witnesses … and the Holy Ghost—They as competent human witnesses to facts, and the Holy Ghost as attesting them by undeniable miracles.
33. cut to the heart and took—"were taking."
counsel to slay them—How different this feeling and the effect of it from that "pricking of the heart" which drew from the first converts on the day of Pentecost the cry, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Ac 2:37). The words used in the two places are strikingly different.
34. Then stood up … Gamaliel—in all probability one of that name celebrated in the Jewish writings for his wisdom, the son of Simeon (possibly the same who took the infant Saviour in his arms, Lu 2:25-35), and grandson of Hillel, another celebrated rabbi. He died eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem [Lightfoot].
35-39. Theudas—not the same with a deceiver of that name whom Josephus mentions as heading an insurrection some twelve years after this [Antiquities, 20.5.1], but some other of whom he makes no mention. Such insurrections were frequent.
37. Judas of Galilee—(See on Lu 2:2, and Lu 13:1-3) [Josephus, Antiquities, 13.1.1].
38. if … of men, it will come to naught—This neutral policy was true wisdom, in the then temper of the council. But individual neutrality is hostility to Christ, as He Himself teaches (Lu 11:23).
40-42. beaten them—for disobeying their orders (compare Lu 23:16).
41. departed … rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name—"thought worthy by God to be dishonored by man" (Mt 5:12; 1Pe 4:14, 16) [Webster and Wilkinson]. This was their first taste of persecution, and it felt sweet for His sake whose disciples they were.
42. in every house—in private. (See on Ac 2:46).
ceased not to preach Jesus Christ—that is, Jesus (to be the) Christ.