Bible Commentaries
Acts 5

Verse 1

certain. App-123 .

man. App-123 .

named = by name.

Ananias. Ananias and Sapphira, names of grace and beauty attached to persons whose principles were bad.

Verse 2

kept back. Greek. noaphizomai. Only here, Acts 5:3 . Tit 9:10 .

of = from. App-104 .

being privy to = being conscious of. Greek. suneidon. Only here, Acts 12:12 ; Acts 14:6 . 1 Corinthians 4:4 .

at. App-104 .

apostles'. App-189 .

Verse 3

the Holy Ghost. Two arts. App-101 .: Compare Acts 1:16 .

land. Greek. chorion, as in Acts 1:18 , Acts 1:19 ; Acts 4:31 , not ktema possession, as in Acts 5:1 ; Acts 2:45 .Matthew 19:22 .

Verse 4

Whiles . . . power? Literally Is it not (Greek. ouchi) that, remaining, it remained to thee, and sold, it belonged to thy right?

was = belonged. Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .

power. App-172 .

why = why is it that.

hast. . . conceived = didst put, implying careful deliberation, not sudden temptation.

unto = to.

men. App-123 .

God. App-98 .

Verse 5

And = Now, or But.

words. App-121 .

gave up tho ghost = expired. Only here, Acts 5:10 ; Acts 12:23 . A medical word. Compare ekpneo. Mark 15:37 .

great fear. Compare "great grace", "great power", in Acts 4:33 .

on = upon. App-104 .

these things. The texts omit.

Verse 6

young men = younger (men).

arose. App-178 .

wound . . . up. Greek. sustello. Only here and 1 Corinthians 7:29 .

Verse 7

about the space. after = as it were an interval. Greek. dia stema. Only here. A medical word.

when = and. not. App-105 .

knowing. App-132 .

Verse 8

answered. App-122 .

whether = if. App-118 .

Verse 9

unto. Greek. pros. App-104 . How = Why.

have agreed together = were agreed together. Greek. sumphoneo. Here, Acts 15:15 , and four times in the Gospels. Compare Engl, "symphony".

Spirit. App-101 .

behold. App-133 . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

husband. App-123 .

at. App-104 .

shall = they shall.

Verse 10

straightway. Greek. parachrema. See note on Acts 3:7 .

at. Greek. para, as in Acts 5:2 , but the texts read pros.

yielded up the ghost. Same as in Acts 5:5 .

young men. App-108 .

dead. App-139 .

by. App-104 .

Verse 11

upon. Greek. epi.

church. App-180 .

as many as = all those who.

Verse 12

signs. App-176 .

wonders. App-176 .

wrought = being wrought. Compare Mark 16:17 , Mark 16:18 .

among. App-104 .

people. Greek. laoa. See note on Acts 2:47 .

with one accord. See note on Acts 1:14

Solomon's porch. See note on John 10:23 .

Verse 13

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

join himself. Greek. kollaomai. See note on Luke 15:15 .

magnified. Greek. megaluno. Compare Luke 1:46 , Luke 1:58 .

Verse 14

believers = believing (ones). App-150 .

multitudes. Greek. ptethos.

women. Compare Acts 1:14 .

Verse 15

Insomuch that = So that. This depends upon the first clause of Acts 5:1 , Acts 5:2 , all that intervenes being in a parenthesis.

sick. See note on John 11:1 .

into = along.

on = upon. App-104 .

couches. Greek. krabbatos. See note on Mark 2:4 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

at the least = even if (it might be).

overshadow. Greek. episkiazo. See note on Luke 9:34 .

some = some one. App-123 .

Verse 16

also, &c. = a multitude also.

round about. Greek. perix. Only here.

unto. App-104 .

vexed = beset. Greek. ochleo, to crowd. Only here and Luke 6:18 . A medical word.

with = by. App-104 .

spirits. App-101 .

healed. Greek. therapeuo. See note on Luke 6:17 , Luke 6:18 .

every one = all of them,

Verse 17

Then = But.

high priest. Greek. archiereus .

rose up. App-178 . See Acts 5:6 .

sect. Greek. hairesis = a choosing, hence "heresy". Occurs here Acts 15:5 ; Acts 24:5 , Acts 24:14 ; Acts 26:5 ; Acts 28:22 . 1 Corinthians 11:19 . Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:20 . 2 Peter 2:1 .

Sadducees. App-120 . Compare Acts 4:1 .

indignation. Greek. zelos. Only other occurance in Acts in Acts 13:45 . Used in a good sense in Joh 2:17 . 2 Corinthians 11:2 , &c.

Verse 18

common = public. Greek. demosios. Only here, Acts 16:37 ; Acts 18:28 ; Acts 20:20 .

prison. Same as "hold" in Acts 4:3 .

Verse 19

prison. Greek. phulake, the common word for "prison".

Verse 20

speak. App-121 .

temple. See Acts 2:46 .

the words, &c. = these words of life. Figure of speech Hypallage. App-6 .

words. Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .

life. App-170 . The life through resurrection so bitterly opposed by the Sadducees. Compare Acts 13:26 .

Verse 21

into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

early in the morning = towards ( App-104 ) daybreak. Greek. tou orthrou. Compare Luke 24:1 . Joh 8:2 .

taught = were teaching.

senate = assembly of the elders. Only here in NT but frequent in Septuagint for "elders".

children = sons. App-108 .

sent. App-174 .

to = unto App-104 .

prison = place of bonds. Only here, Acts 5:23 ; Acts 16:26 Matthew 11:2 . Used in Septuagint in Genesis 39:22 , &c

Verse 22

officers. App-190 . See note on 2 John 1:7; 2 John 1:7 :32 ; John 18:3 .

told. Same as "reported", Acts 4:23 .

Verse 23

truly = indeed.

shut = locked. Greek. kleio.

keepers = guards. Greek. phulax. Only here and Acts 12:6 , Acts 12:19 .

without. The texts omit.

before. App-104 .

Verse 24

the high priest and. The texts omit.

captain. See note on Acts 4:1 .

things = words. App-121 .

doubted = were doubting Greek. diaporeo. See note on Luke 9:7 .

whereunto, &c. = what this might come to be.

Verse 25

one. App-123 .

Verse 26

without. Literally not ( App-105 .) with ( App-104 .) violence (Greek. bia ; here, 21, 35; Acts 24:7 ; Acts 27:41 ).

lest = in order that (Greek. hina) .

Verse 27

before = In. App-104 .

asked. See note on Acts 1:6 .

Verse 28

straitly command. Literally command with a command. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . A Hebraism.

name. See note on Acts 2:38 .

intend. Greek. boulomai. App-102 .

bring Greek. epago. Only here and 2 Peter 2:1 , 2 Peter 2:5 . Compare their own invocation in Matthew 27:25 .

this, &c. = the blood of this Man (Emph.)

Verse 29

obey. Greek. peitharcheo. Only here, Acts 5:32 ; 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 3:1 .

Verse 30

raised up. Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

Jesus. App-98 .

slew = laid hands on. Greek. diacheirizomai. Only here and Acts 26:21 .

and = having.

tree. App-162 .

Verse 31

him = This One. It is emphatic, and so placed first in the sentence.

hath. Omit.

exalted. Greek. hupsoo. See note on John 12:32 .

with = at, or to. See Acts 2:33 .

Prince. Greek. archegos. See note on Acts 3:15 .

Saviour. Greek. Soter. Occurs twenty-four times. First occurance Luke 1:47 .

repentance. App-111 .

forgiveness. Greek. aphesis. More frequently translated "remission". See Acts 2:38 . Luke 4:18 ; Luke 24:47 . Compare App-174 .

sins. Greek. hamartia. App-128 .

Verse 32

His. Omit.

witnesses. See note on Acts 1:8 .

things = words. Greek. rhema, as in Acts 5:20 .

the Holy Ghost. App-101 .

hath given = gave.

Verse 33

When, &c. = Now they having heard.

cut to the heart. Greek. diapriomai. Only here and Acts 7:54 .

took counsels = were consulting. Greek. bouleuo.

slay. Greek. anaireo. See note on Acts 2:23 .

Verse 34

stood there up = rose up. Greek. anistemi. App-178 . 1, as in verses: Act 6:17 .

Pharisee. App-120 .

Gamaliel. The grandson of the famous Hillel. He was Saul's instructor (Acts 22:3 ), and is said to have died about 52 A.D.

a doctor of the law. See note on Luke 5:17 .

had in reputation = honoured. Greek. timios. Generally translated "precious".

among = by (dative case).

put . . . forth. Literally make . . . outside, i.e. put out of court.

Verse 35

Ye men of Israel = Men, Israelites. See note on Acts 1:11 .

intend = are about.

as touching = upon, or in the case of. App-104 .

Verse 36

Theudas. The name is not uncommon in the Talmud.

boasting, &c. = saying that he was.

somebody. Greek. tis. App-123 . Figure of speech Tapeinosis. App-6 .

joined themselves. Greek. proskollaomai. Only here, Matthew 19:5 .Mark 10:7 . Ephesians 5:31 . Compare Acts 5:13 .

obeyed. App-150 .

scattered. Greek. dialuo Only here. A medical word.

brought. Literally came to be.

Verse 37

After. Greek. meta. App-104 .

this man = this one.

Judas of Galilee. His revolt is recorded by Josephus, Antiquities xviii. 1,1.

taxing. Greek. apographe. Only here and Luke 2:2 , which see.

drew away = caused to revolt or apostatize.

after. Greek. opiso.

he also. App-124 .

perished Greek. apollumi. Only here in Acts. See note on John 17:12 .

Verse 38

Refrain = Stand away. Greek. Mid. of aphistemi (Acts 5:37 ).

if. App-118 .

counsel. Greek. boule. App-102 .

of = out of. Greek. ek . App-104 .

will come to nought = will be overthrown. Greek. kataluo, translated "dissolve" in 2 Corinthians 5:1 .

Verse 39

if. Greek. ei . App-118 .

cannot = are not ( App-105 .) able to.

overthrow. Greek. kataluo, as in Acts 5:38 .

lest haply. Greek. mepote, compound of me . App-105 .

to fight against God = God-fighters. Greek. Theomachos.

Verse 40

agreed , as Acts 5:36 .

beaten. Compare Deuteronomy 25:1-3 .Mark 13:9 .

let them go. See on Acts 4:21 .

Verse 41

And they = They indeed therefore.

counted worthy. Greek. kataxioomai. Here, Luke 20:35 ; Luke 21:36 . 2 Thessalonians 1:5 .

suffer shame = be dishonoured or counted unworthy. Greek. atimazo. Here, Luke 20:11 . Joh 8:49 . Romans 1:24 ; Romans 2:23 .James 2:6 . Figure of speech Oxymoron. App-6 .

His = the.

Verse 42

in every house. Greek. kat' ( App-104 .) oikon = at home. See on Acts 2:46 .

preach. App-121 .

Jesus Christ = Jesus as the Christ ( App-98 ), the name of Acts 5:41 .