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Acts Chapter 5

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Viewing the Standard King James Version (Pure Cambridge). Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of Acts Chapter 5


Acts Chapter 5: Death of Ananias
Death of Ananias
Acts 5:1-6

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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,

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 prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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;

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

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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

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

 


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Matthew Henry's Acts Chapter 5 Bible commentary...



The death of Ananias and Sapphira. (1-11) The power which accompanied the preaching of the gospel. (12-16) The apostles imprisoned, but set free by an angel. (17-25) The apostles testify to Christ before the council. (26-33) The advice of Gamaliel, The council let the apostles go. (34-42)1-11 The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.

12-16 The separation of hypocrites by distinguishing judgments, should make the sincere cleave closer to each other and to the gospel ministry. Whatever tends to the purity and reputation of the church, promotes its enlargement; but that power alone which wrought such miracles by the apostles, can rescue sinners from the power of sin and Satan, and add believers to His worshippers. Christ will work by all his faithful servants; and every one who applies to him shall be healed.

17-25 There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must preach to the lowest, whose souls are as precious to Christ as the souls of the greatest. Speak to all, for all are concerned. Speak as those who resolve to stand to it, to live and die by it. Speak all the words of this heavenly, divine life, in comparison with which the present earthly life does not deserve the name. These words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth. The words of the gospel are the words of life; words whereby we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot but see that the word and power of the Lord are against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.

26-33 Many will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward, or to have it charged upon them. We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by Christ, unless we give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith takes the Saviour in all his offices, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. Had Christ been exalted to give dominion to Israel, the chief priests would have welcomed him. But repentance and remission of sins are blessings they neither valued nor saw their need of; therefore they, by no means, admitted his doctrine. Wherever repentance is wrought, remission is granted without fail. None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, but those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin; who are turned from it, and turned against it. Christ gives repentance, by his Spirit working with the word, to awaken the conscience, to work sorrow for sin, and an effectual change in the heart and life. The giving of the Holy Ghost, is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him to reign over them.

34-42 The Lord still has all hearts in his hands, and sometimes directs the prudence of the worldly wise, so as to restrain the persecutors. Common sense tells us to be cautious, while experience and observation show that the success of frauds in matters of religion has been very short. Reproach for Christ is true preferment, as it makes us conformable to his pattern, and serviceable to his interest. They rejoiced in it. If we suffer ill for doing well, provided we suffer it well, and as we should, we ought to rejoice in that grace which enabled us so to do. The apostles did not preach themselves, but Christ. This was the preaching that most offended the priests. But it ought to be the constant business of gospel ministers to preach Christ: Christ, and him crucified; Christ, and him glorified; nothing beside this, but what has reference to it. And whatever is our station or rank in life, we should seek to make Him known, and to glorify his name.

 


Comments for Acts Chapter 5...


Rita's Acts Chapter 5 comment about verse 30 on 3/11/2013, 1:35pm...

I think Jesus was nailed to a tree, not a cross, and he was nail in his wrist to support his body.

 


Susan Dalton's Acts Chapter 5 comment about verse 28 on 7/09/2012, 5:31pm...

"Did not we straigtly 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." Acts 5:28.

We have been affected by the Derecho and extreme heat; many have loss electrical power, and some have been out of power for nine days.

At least in some cases, clearance has to be documented on de-energized lines over 600 volts. This clearance document states that all lines or equipment have been isolated from all sources of hazardous energy. Lower voltage lines or equipment may only require a lock out/tag out procedure.

The apostles had received a clearance from the Lord. They were separated by the Holy Ghost for the work the Lord had called them unto. In essence, they were separated from worldly, hazardous powers which would keep them from fulfilling the Lord's work. They were not kept from those powers seeking to stop them, yet, they knew they had clearance from the Lord, and even if men sought to stop that work, they were to obey God: a hazardous work indeed.

In another way of looking at it, some who call on the name of the Lord, may be low voltage disciples. The world may have isolated them from their main power source to such a degree that they are received by the world; they may be locked out or tagged out while they work in certain areas - meaning they cannot in word make mention of the Lord. Others may be low voltage due to sin, or lack of obedience to God's word. Some may be low voltage because they are a babe in Christ; still, others, may be low voltage by God's will to be able to perform a specific work according to His will; but, the power to perform any work for Christ must come from His power.

The apostles, here,in Acts 5:28, were a live, hot wire for the Lord. The opposers of the gospel tried to enforce their clearance upon them. They sought to isolate the apostles from the power that enpowered them, yet, the apostles were a live, hot wire unto their death. They had received clearance from the Lord that His work might be done.

Working on downed, energized lines can be hazardous to the worker of the Lord; but, thanks be unto God, He insulates His workers for the work He has cleared them to do.

 


Miriam's Acts Chapter 5 comment on 2/22/2012, 5:52am...

Acts 5V20 whatever "prison" you are in right now, your time or your season has come to come out from it BUT when God sets you free do not forget to acknowledge his Name

 


Bane's Acts Chapter 5 comment on 2/14/2012, 12:28am...

TO REV.DELTAMcNEISH Respectable, if I understood well Your last sentence, You pointed to the same center of my vision of Jesus. "Jesus the Son of God left the Church with mandate to know God and Himself...". Best regards and GOD BLESS US ALL

 


Rev. Delta McNeish's Acts Chapter 5 comment on 2/12/2012, 4:08pm...

When I was much younger I wondered how two people could lose their lives right in the Church in the day of "grace." At 66 years of age the answer has come to me loud and clear. Holy Spirit was in charge of the early Church;He is not now. That is why we see so much corruption in what is called the "Church" today. However, there is a last wave of God's grace that is being given. Jesus said, Holy Spirit will tell us about Himself and guide us into all Truth etc. Yet (He)Holy Spirit has been totally ignored by most. This is a real problem. If Jesus the Son of God left the Church with a mandate to know God and Himself how are those who call themselves "Christians" knowing God experientially without Holy Spitit.

 


Martina ajie azaah's Acts Chapter 5 comment about verse 17 on 11/15/2011, 2:26am...

The determination of these religious rulers to obscure the truth of the gospel is an indication that they did not even believe in God in the first place.They were merely hiding behind the Law of Moses to make a name for themselves.Woe betides any one who calls the name of the lord in vain.

 


Madeleine's Acts Chapter 5 comment about verse 30 on 9/08/2011, 9:40am...

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Acts 5:30 shows that the Jesus was hung on a tree. if you look at a Greek translation, the word stavros appear. and this word meant the right to delete an upright pole or stake. encyclopedia "The Imperial Bible-Dictionary" confirms it. also among the Romans was the word "crux" (the word comes from the cross) originally has been an upright pale. The book "The non-Cristian Cross by JD Parsons says" there is not a single sentence in any of the writings that make up the New Testament, the Greek show, either directly or indirectly, that the stauros used in connection with Jesus , was anything but an ordinary stauros, and there is nothing to suggest that it consisted of more than a stick. Jesus was seen on a crime and criminals at the time was hung on a log, pole. and the cross was used on a symbol of the god Tammuz, as it had the same shape as the first initial of his name.

 


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Test Your Knowledge of Acts Chapter 5

1.  To whom did Ananias lie when he made a contribution to the apostles?


Peter
God
His wife
Annas


 



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