Acts 5:1
ANANIAS] i.e. 'Jehovah hath been gracious.' SAPPHIRA] If the word is Greek it means 'sapphire'; if Aramaic, 'beautiful.'... [ Continue Reading ]
ANANIAS] i.e. 'Jehovah hath been gracious.' SAPPHIRA] If the word is Greek it means 'sapphire'; if Aramaic, 'beautiful.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE APOSTLES AGAIN IMPRISONED 1-16. 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 mot... [ Continue Reading ]
The death of Ananias and Sapphira is to be regarded as an act of God, not of Peter, like the blinding of Elymas (Acts 13:9). Peter acts, not on his own authority, but under the direct inspiration of the Holy Ghost, who informs him of the secret sin, and authorises him to execute the divine vengeance... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS IT NOT THINE OWN?] Clear proof that the apostolic communism was voluntary. Unto God] Ananias _had_ lied unto men, but the sin against man was so insignificant, compared with the sin against God, that St. Peter rhetorically calls it no sin at all. 6. Wound him up] others render, 'composed his lim... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SOLOMON'S PORCH] see Acts 3:11. Solomon's portico was practically abandoned to the Christians, who made it their place of daily assembly, the Apostles teaching and working miracles there.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE REST] i.e. of the non-Christians.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHADOW] With this should be compared the faith of the Corinthians in the efficacy of the cloths that had touched St. Paul's body (Acts 19:12). Something of superstition probably mingled with this faith, but true faith predominated, and God accepted it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Second imprisonment of Peter and John. Speech of Gamaliel. 17. The Sadducees] see on Matthew 3:7; Acts 4:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
WORDS OF THIS LIFE] i.e. the new life in God which the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord had made possible for man.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BRING THIS MAN'S BLOOD UPON US] viz. by causing the people to rise up and avenge the murder of Jesus by slaying us. 29-32. Peter's speech is practically an epitome of previous speeches; see Acts 4:19; Acts 3:13; Acts 3:15; Acts 2:33; Acts 2:36; Acts 3:15; Acts 3:26; Acts 2:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE CUT] lit. 'were sawn asunder.' Took counsel] RV 'were minded.'... [ Continue Reading ]
GAMALIEL] St. Paul's teacher (Acts 22:3), grandson of Hillel and son of Rabbi Simeon, was by far the most influential rabbi of the time. He was the first of the seven teachers who received the title _Rabban_ (higher than Rab or Rabbi). Gamaliel's moderation on this occasion is to be explained, (1) b... [ Continue Reading ]
THEUDAS] The mention of this name is the greatest historical difficulty in the Acts. Gamaliel's speech was delivered 36 a.d. or earlier, but the insurrection of Theudas, according to Josephus, did not take place till some 10 years later (about 46 a.d.): see 'Antiq.' xx. 5, 1. Perhaps St. Luke allude... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAS OF GALILEE] raised an important rebellion in the days of the taxing, or 'enrolment' by Quirinius (6, 7 a.d.).... [ Continue Reading ]
BEATEN _them_] Probably with 'forty stripes save one,' a penalty inflicted upon St. Paul five times (2 Corinthians 11:24). They were punished for disobedience: see Acts 4:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN EVERY HOUSE] RV 'at home,' i.e. in the private Christian assemblies, held in 'the upper room' or elsewhere.... [ Continue Reading ]