But a certain man named Ananias A name common among the Jews, the same with Hananiah, it signifies not the humility of the Lord, or the affliction of the Lord, or the answer of the Lord, as say some, as if it was derived from (ענה) ; but the grace of the Lord, or the Lord’s gracious one, coming…

And kept back part of the price At which the possession was sold; he reserved it for his own use, after he had given out that he sold it for the service of the church: his wife also being privy to it; to this private reserve: and brought a certain part; whether the greater part, or an equal part,…

But Peter said, Ananias Peter, by divine revelation, or by a spirit of discerning, such as Elisha had, who knew what his servant Gehazi had done, knowing what a reserve Ananias had made, calls him by his name, and says to him, why hath Satan filled thine heart? or emboldened thee, given thee so…

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own Before it was sold, it was his own proper estate; he had the sole propriety in it, and could have kept it, or disposed of it as he pleased: he was not obliged to sell it, he might have kept it as his own property; for selling of possessions at this time was…

And Ananias hearing these words Of Peter’s; by which he found his sin was detected, and by which he was convicted of it: and which set forth the evil nature of it, with its aggravated circumstances; and such power went along with them, and they cut so deep, as that immediately he fell down and gave…

And the young men arose The younger brethren of the church, who were robust, and strong, and fit for the following service: these rose up from their seats at once, not willing that such an awful spectacle should lie long before them: and wound him up; in linen clothes, as was the manner of the…

And it was about the space of three hours after The death of Ananias. So much time was taken up in burying of him; and in less time it could not well be, since the burying places of the Jews were without the city, as before observed: and if they were as distant from other cities, as they were from…

And Peter answered unto her Who might be inquiring for her husband; though such a way of speaking was common with the Jews, when nothing goes before to which the answer is made; of which there are frequent instances in the sacred writings: tell me whether ye sold the land for so much; naming the…

Then Peter said unto her, how is it that ye have agreed together For husband and wife to agree together in what is good, in things civil, honest, and lawful, and in religious matters, is very commendable; but to agree in a fraud, in a lie, is very dreadful: to tempt the Spirit of the Lord; to try…

Then fell she down straightway at his feet In like manner, and by the same hand of God as her husband before: and yielded up the ghost; died directly: and the young men came in and found her dead; the young men who had been to inter her husband came into the house at that instant, and found her…

And great fear came upon all the church Which was still more increased by this instance of Sapphira’s death: and upon as many as heard these things; who were not of the church; (See Gill on Acts 5:5).

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought That is, by their means, or by them as instruments, or through the imposition of their hands on persons, many miraculous and wonderful cures, as well as other extraordinary actions, were performed: among the people; the common…

And of the rest durst no man join himself to them By the rest are meant, either those that were without the church, and those either the profane and persecuting sort, who durst not come nigh the apostles to touch them, or say one word to them, for fear of being struck dead; and so the Ethiopic…

And believers were the more added to the Lord That is, to the church, as in over which Christ was Lord and head; for they were added to the Lord before, by believing in him, when they gave up themselves to him, to be saved by him; and now to the apostles, and the church by the will of God; and this…

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, &c.] These words are to be read in connection with the former part of the twelfth verse. Such miraculous cures being wrought by the apostles, the people who had sick persons in their houses, hearing of it brought them out; either “into the…

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about, &c.] The fame of the apostles’ miracles spread in the cities round about Jerusalem; those that were at some distance as well as near, and large numbers of people came from thence, unto Jerusalem; where the apostles were: the Syriac version…

Then the high priest rose up Annas, or rather Caiaphas; (See Gill on Acts 4:6) he having heard what miracles were wrought by the apostles, and what additions were made to them, rose up from his seat and went out of the sanhedrim, in great haste, and in much wrath and passion: and all they that were…

And laid their hands on the apostles That is, laid hold on them, and took them, and carried them away; at least their servants did so, by their orders: and put them in the common prison; where malefactors were put; and this both for greater security, and for greater disgrace.

But the angel of the Lord Or “of God”, as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, whether Michael, as some have thought, or Gabriel, or what particular angel, is not material to know.

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people They were not delivered out of prison, in order to go and secure themselves from danger; but to go about the work they were called to, to preach the Gospel “in the temple”, the place of worship; and a proper place to meet with persons to preach to,…

And when they heard that Or “his word”, as the Arabic version supplies; that is, the word of the angel, the orders enjoined them by him, to go to the temple, and there preach the Gospel; this clause is left out in the Syriac version: they entered into the temple early in the morning; they were…

But when the officers came The Arabic version adds, “to it”; that is, to the prison; and found them not in the prison. The Vulgate Latin version reads, “the prison being opened they found them not”; when they came to the prison, they opened the doors of it, or the keepers for them; for though the…

Saying, the prison truly found we shut with all safety, &c.] Locked, barred and bolted; and the keepers standing without before the doors; both inner and outer in their proper places, diligently discharging their office: but when we had opened we found no man within; that is, none of the apostles,…

Now when the high priest Or “the priests”, as it is read in most copies; the Complutensian edition reads, “the high priest”; and he is certainly designed, since he is distinguished from the chief priests after mentioned: the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, leave out this word; as does…

Then came one and told them, saying Who this man was, is of no consequence to know; it can hardly be thought that he was one of the number of the disciples, or a member of the church, or a professor of the Christian religion; but rather an enemy, and one that sought his own interest, and to obtain…

Then went the captain with the offcers That is, the captain of the temple, who had the command of it; he went thither attended with the officers and servants of the chief priests, the same that had been sent to the prison, to fetch the apostles: and brought them without violence; they did not lay…

And when they had brought them From the temple, to the place where the sanhedrim sat, which, by this, seems to have been not in the room Gazith, nor in the shops, which were both in the temple, but in some part of the city of Jerusalem: they set them before the council; whereby was fulfilled what…

Saying, did not we straitly command you Or give you strict orders, with severe threatenings, that you should not teach in this name? the Ethiopic version reads, “in the name of Jesus”; which is what is meant, but was not expressed by the sanhedrim; see and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your…

Then Peter, and the other apostles, answered and said Peter began, as the mouth of the apostles, being the eldest man, and very bold and zealous; and the rest followed, or joined, with him in what he said: we ought to obey God rather than men; this is said in answer to the charge of disobedience to…

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus Not from the dead, though this was true; but called him to the work and office of a Saviour, inverted him with that office, and sent him to perform that work; so that this refers rather to the incarnation of Christ, in consequence of the ancient council and…

Him hath God exalted with his right hand Not at his right hand, though he is exalted to it, and is set down at it, but with, or by his right hand; that is, by his power: for being by him raised from the dead, he was exalted to the highest heavens, and placed in human nature at the right hand of…

And we are his witnesses of these things Of the incarnation of Christ, of his crucifixion and death, of his resurrection from the dead, of his exaltation by the right hand of God, and of his offices as a Prince and a Saviour, and of the influences of his grace, in giving repentance and remission of…

When they heard that This defence of the apostles, in which they still insisted upon it, that they had been the crucifiers of Christ, and yet that he was raised from the dead, and exalted in heaven, and was a spiritual Saviour of men: they were cut; to the heart, as if they had been cut asunder…

Then stood there up one in the council Or “in the sanhedrim”, which the high priest had called together; this phrase is left out in the Syriac version: yet certain it is, that the great council was now assembled, and the disciples were now before them, and this man, who was one of the members of…

And said unto them, ye men of Israel This he said after the apostles were put out, when the council was by themselves; and he addressed them as “men of Israel”; not as distinct from the priests and Levites in the council, but because they were all of the stock of Israel; for this council did not…

For before these days rose up Theudas . There is one of this name Josephus [[3]] speaks of, who set up for a prophet, and drew a large number of people after him; pretending, that if they would follow him to the river Jordan, and take their goods along with them, he would but give the word, and the…

After this man rose up, Judas of Galilee Of whom Josephus thus says [[9]]: “there was a man of Galilee, by name Judas, who led his countrymen into rebellion, declaring it an evil, should they suffer tribute to be paid to the Romans, and introduce mortal rulers after God.” And not unlike this is…

And now I say unto you This is the sum of my advice upon the observation of these and other instances: refrain from these men, and let them alone; keep your hands off of them, do not attempt to take away their lives, but dismiss them quietly, nor go about to hinder them, in what they are concerned:…

But if it be of God If it is according to the counsel of his will; if it is a scheme of his forming, and a work to which he has called these men, and they proceed in it on good principles, and with a view to the honour and glory of God: ye cannot overthrow it; it will proceed and get ground, and…

And to him they agreed They were convinced and persuaded by his reasonings, approved of his advice, and agreed to follow it: and when they had called the apostles; into the council again, having sent their servants for them, or ordered them to be brought in: and beaten them; or scourged and whipped…

And they departed from the presence of the council Having been threatened and beaten by them: rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name; Beza’s ancient copy, and others; the Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions read, “for the name of Jesus”; in which name they were forbid…

And daily in the temple, and in every house Every day, with great constancy and assiduity, both publicly and privately; in the temple, the place of public worship, where the Jews resorted on that account; and in each of their private houses, as often as they had opportunity: they ceased not to…