Acts 5:1-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 5:1-11

The chapter begins with a melancholy but, which puts a stop to the pleasant and agreeable prospect of things which we had in the foregoing chapters; as every man, so every church, in its best state has its but. 1. The disciples were very holy, and heavenly, and seemed to be all exceedingly good; but there were hypocrites among them, whose hearts were not right in the sight of God, who, when they were baptized, and took upon them the form of godliness, denied the power of godliness, and stopped... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 5:12-16

We have here an account of the progress of the gospel, notwithstanding this terrible judgment inflicted upon two hypocrites. I. Here is a general account of the miracles which the apostles wrought (Acts 5:12): By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, many miracles of mercy for one of judgment. Now the gospel power returned to its proper channel, which is that of mercy and grace. God had come out of his place to punish, but now returns to his place, to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 5:1-11

5:1-11 A man called Ananias, together with his wife Sapphire, sold a bit of ground he had, and surreptitiously kept back part of the price, and his wife knew about it. He brought some part of the price and laid it at the feet of the apostles. Peter said to him, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you have deceived the Holy Spirit and kept back part of the price of your ground? While it remained yours did it not remain your own, and after it had been sold was it not entirely at... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 5:12-16

5:12-16 Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles; and they were all together in Solomon's colonnade. Of the others no one dared to meddle with them. But the people held them in the highest esteem; nay more, crowds of men and women believed in the Lord and attached themselves to them. The result was that they brought the sick to the streets and laid them on beds and pallets, so that, when Peter came, even his shadow might fall on some of them; and a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 5:1

But a certain man named Ananias ,.... A name common among the Jews, the same with Hananiah, Jeremiah 28:1 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 from חנן : there is no dependence on names; though this man's name signified one that was in the grace and favour of God; he was not so, but a graceless person, as appears by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 5:2

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, half of it, or a lesser part; some little part of it, so the phrase seems to signify, is not certain: and laid it at the apostles' feet ; as the rest did, thereby to make a show... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 5:3

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 much spirit and courage to act in such an impudent and audacious manner; so the phrase is used in Esther 7:5 see the Septuagint there, and often in Talmudic writings. "Says R. Joshua, I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 5:4

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 a voluntary thing; it was what no man was forced to; it was a pure act of liberality, and what was not enjoined by the apostles; every man was left to his liberty. And after it was sold,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 5:5

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 up the ghost ; which is an instance of what the Jews call death by the hand of heaven: and this was done either by an angel; or rather by an extraordinary gift bestowed on Peter, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 5:6

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 Jews: and carried him out : of the house where they were, and out of the city; for the burying places of the Jews were without the city: and buried him ; which was all done in a very... read more

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