Acts 5:40

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 5:40

Gamaliel convinced his fellow Sanhedrin members. They decided to settle for flogging the apostles, probably with 39 lashes (Deuteronomy 25:3; Acts 22:19; 2 Corinthians 11:24). The Mishnah contains a description of how the Jews normally did this. [Note: Mishnah Makkoth 3:10-15a.] This flogging was for disobeying their former order to stop preaching (Acts 4:18). This is the first instance of Christians receiving a physical beating for witnessing that Luke recorded in Acts. The rulers also... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 5:1-42

The Apostles Again Imprisoned1-16. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not keeping back part of the price, which they had a perfect right to do (Acts 5:4), but pretending that the money which they offered to the Apostles was the whole price of the possession sold, which was not the case. Their motive was vanity and ambition. They wished to have a greater reputation for liberality than they were entitled to.1. Ananias] i.e. ’Jehovah hath been gracious.’Sapphira] If the word is Greek it means... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 5:40

(40) And to him they agreed.—The Sadducees, after their manner, would probably have preferred a more violent course, but the Pharisees were strong in the Sanhedrin, and the via media recommended by Gamaliel was, under such circumstances, likely to command a majority, and was, therefore, apparently accepted without a division.And beaten them.—Here we trace the action of Caiaphas and the priests. They were not content without some punishment being inflicted, and the party of Gamaliel apparently... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Acts 5:1-42

Definite Religious Teaching (In St. Lawrence Jewry, to the Association of Head Masters, 11th January, 1907) Acts 5:12 What were they doing there? Worshipping is the answer which used to be made; holding the primitive Divine service out of which have grown our liturgies. The unlikeliness of this answer does not need drawing out. We shall most of us agree that the meetings of the groups of Christians in the Temple's cloister must have been for conference on the affairs of the community on some ... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Acts 5:38-40

Chapter 12GAMALIEL AND HIS PRUDENT ADVICE.Acts 5:38-40WE have set forth in these verses an incident in the second appearance before the council of the Apostle Peter and the other Apostles, conspicuous among whom must have been James the brother of John. It is almost certain that James the son of Zebedee was at this time very prominent in the public work of the Church, for we are told in the opening of the twelfth chapter that when Herod would vex and harass and specially weaken the Church, it... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Acts 5:1-42

CHAPTER 5 1. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10 ). 2. Signs and wonders by the Apostles (Acts 5:11-16 ). 3. The second arrest of the Apostles and their Deliverance (Acts 5:17-25 ). 4. Before the Council (Acts 5:26-33 ). 5. Gamaliel’s Advice (Acts 5:34-39 ). 6. The Apostles beaten and dismissed (Acts 5:40-42 ). With this chapter the scene changes. Beautiful is the ending of the previous chapter, Barnabas having sold his land, laid the money at the feet of the Apostles. He gave by it a... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 5:1-42

Where God is working, however, the opposition of Satan soon becomes apparent. The evil begins (as evil always does) in an underhand manner, but is quickly exposed by God. Ananias and Sapphira certainly did not expect to have their sin discerned as it was. Evidently because others were doing it, they sold land, bringing part of the price to the apostles on the understanding that it was the full price. The power of the Spirit of God present at the time did not allow the falsehood to pass. God... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Acts 5:1-42

VARIED EXPERIENCES UNITY OF LOVE (Acts 4:31-37 ) The quickening in the last lesson was associated with another outpouring of the Holy Spirit but not another “baptism,” and some who had been filled before were refilled, with results following: (1) courage in preaching (Acts 4:31 ); (2) unity of soul (Acts 4:32 ); (3) power in testimony (Acts 4:33 ); and (4) love in practical conduct (Acts 4:34-37 ). This last result has sometimes been quoted as favoring Christian communism, but it is to be... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Acts 5:12-42

Chapter 13 Prayer Almighty God, thou dost speak wonderful things unto the children of men. Thy voice is like none other. The sound of thy voice is heard in our heart like music from heaven, and it soothes and inspires, and warms our life with a new glow. All thy words are wonderful, but who shall tell the graciousness of thy promises, how sweet they are, how many in number, strong as a great host, many as the drops of the dew of the morning. And thou dost not withhold one of them from the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Acts 5:17-42

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... read more

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