New Testament Commentary - Acts 5

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 5 Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Lord and lose their lives—Apostles continue the miracles of Jesus— Peter and John are arrested; an angel delivers them from prison; they testify of Christ—Gamaliel counsels moderation.
1 BUT a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, ^asold a possession, 2 And ^akept back ^bpart of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain ^cpart, and laid it at the apostles' feet.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to ^alie to the Holy Ghost, and to ^bkeep 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 ^alied unto men, but unto ^bGod^a.	4^a thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God This was a similar circumstance to those of the early restored church in Kirtland, Ohio. They too cut corners in living the united order established among them. In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, the Lord took action similar to the God of the Old Testament in such instances of the sons of Aaron and those who bore the Holy of Holies in their immediate deaths. That this was not the immediate fate of those who violated their commitment to God in the early restored church might be considered to be more of a social circumstance, that if such early members of the American era might have met such immediate demise, the uproar of the enemies of the church could have caused a much greater persecution that what did actually result agianst the early restored church. Men of the later era would stand in less awe of such an event and they would more accuse the church of wrongful doing to the extend of being the cause of such deaths. But it ought to be noted, that great is the punishment for those who lie unto God from whom no thing can be hid. A pretence of compliance to the laws of God is not acceptable. It must need be a full commitment unto God.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and ^agave 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.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
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.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to ^atempt 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 ^astraightway 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 ^asigns and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13 And of the ^arest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more ^aadded 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 ^ashadow 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 ^ahealed 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 ^aindignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But the ^aangel of the Lord by night opened the ^bprison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the ^awords 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 ^acommand you that ye should not teach in this ^bname? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's ^cblood upon us.
29 ¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to ^aobey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and ^ahanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted ^awith his right hand to be a ^bPrince and a ^cSaviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and ^dforgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his ^awitnesses of these things; and so is also the ^bHoly Ghost, whom God hath ^cgiven to them that obey him.
33 ¶ When they heard that, they were ^acut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named ^aGamaliel, 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 ^aobeyed 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, ^aRefrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of ^bmen, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; ^alest haply ye be found even to ^bfight 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, ^arejoicing that they were counted worthy to ^bsuffer ^cshame for his ^dname. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and ^apreach Jesus Christ.