Actschapter 5

A.Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Holy Spiritvv. 1-11

1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? 4 Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!” 5 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.” 9 “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.

B.Healed by Peter's Passing Shadowvv. 12-16

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them. 14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

C.Prison Doors Opened by an Angel at Nightvv. 17-26

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out 18 and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.” 21 At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening. 25 Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!” 26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.

D.We Must Obey God Rather Than Menvv. 27-32

27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” 29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. 31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

E.Gamaliel's Counsel; Beaten, They Rejoicevv. 33-42

33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time. 35 “Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Ananias and Sapphira.

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Ananias and Sapphira. Signs and wonders; healing by Peter's shadow. Apostles imprisoned and delivered by an angel. Gamaliel's counsel: 'if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

History · Luke — Acts overview

A. 1–11 Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Holy Spirit
B. 12–16 Healed by Peter's Passing Shadow
C. 17–26 Prison Doors Opened by an Angel at Night
D. 27–32 We Must Obey God Rather Than Men
E. 33–42 Gamaliel's Counsel; Beaten, They Rejoice

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Acts 48 verses
- Acts 4:1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
- Acts 4:3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.
- Acts 4:4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
- Acts 4:17But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”
- Acts 4:18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
- Acts 4:19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
- Read Acts 4: 2 more there →
Acts 55 verses
- Acts 5:3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
- Acts 5:5On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.
- Acts 5:10At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
- Acts 5:13Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
- Acts 5:26At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
- Read Acts 5 →
Acts 25 verses
- Acts 2:33Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
- Acts 2:37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- Acts 2:43A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
- Acts 2:46With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
- Acts 2:47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- Read Acts 2 →
Hebrews 23 verses
- Hebrews 2:3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
- Hebrews 2:4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
- Hebrews 2:10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
- Read Hebrews 2 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Acts 73 verses
- Acts 7:9Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
- Acts 7:52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
- Acts 7:54On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
- Read Acts 7 →
Acts 223 verses
- Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
- Acts 22:26On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
- Acts 22:30The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
- Read Acts 22 →
2 Peter 22 verses
- 2 Peter 2:2Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.
- 2 Peter 2:14Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.
- Read 2 Peter 2 →
1 Corinthians 102 verses
- 1 Corinthians 10:9We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
- 1 Corinthians 10:11Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
- Read 1 Corinthians 10 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.