Acts 5

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

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 lied unto men, but unto God.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Then fell she down straightway 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.

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

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 healed every one.

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,

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

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.

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

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.

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.

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

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 obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

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.

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

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.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

What does Acts 5:12 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 5:12 speaks to the early days of the Christian church.

Here, the apostles are seen performing many signs and wonders among the people, indicating supernatural works that authenticated their message and ministry.

These were miracles and acts that were understood to be impossible by human effort alone and served as proof that the apostles were divinely empowered and endorsed by God.

The phrase "and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch" describes the unity and communal aspect of the early believers. Solomon's Porch, or Solomon's Colonnade, was a part of the Temple in Jerusalem, a public place where Jews often gathered.

It suggests that the early Christians were not isolating themselves but were actively engaging with the temple-attending population, sharing their message in a very public and central location.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 5:12 is set in Jerusalem shortly after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The early Christian community was still largely Jewish and was engaging with the Jewish practices and locations of worship.

Solomon's Porch was a covered area on the eastern side of the Temple's Outer Court, part of the original temple structure that was attributed to King Solomon.

The setting implies that the apostles remained connected to their Jewish roots even as they proclaimed the risen Christ.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 5:12 demonstrates the continuity between Jesus' ministry and that of the apostles.

Just as Jesus performed miracles, so too did his followers by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This not only validated their ministry but also helped establish the Church's divine authority.

There's also an implicit insight that unity (being "with one accord") is integral for the Christian community, consistent with the teachings of the New Testament regarding fellowship and communal prayer.

Practical Applications

Acts 5:12 encourages believers to seek unity and community within their faith practices.

It also underscores the importance of being visible and engaged in the broader society, not retreating into seclusion.

This passage could inspire believers today to harness collective prayer and action within their communities and to seek God's power in their lives to manifest in various forms of service and ministry.

Cross-References

John 14:12: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
Mark 16:17-18: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;"
Acts 2:43: "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles."

Language Study

"Signs" (σημεῖα, sēmeia): In the original Greek, this word refers to a "sign," often a miraculous event beyond human capability that points to divine intervention.
"Wonders" (τέρατα, terata): Another Greek term meaning "wonders" or "marvels," often coupled with "signs" to denote miracles that elicit astonishment.
"With one accord" (ὁμοθυμαδόν, homothymadon): This adverb conveys the idea of being unanimous, having one mind, or being in full agreement.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of divine beings or agents performing miracles is common in many religious traditions.

For example, Egyptian and Greco-Roman mythology include gods and demi-gods performing wondrous acts.

Within the Jewish context, the miracles of prophets like Elijah and Elisha are reminiscent of the apostles' acts, establishing a continuation of God's power at work through chosen individuals.

Scientific Perspectives

While science demands empirical evidence and repeatability for validation, criteria that miracles by definition do not meet, modern discussions often revolve around the extent to which science can explain historical accounts of supernatural events.

While some might seek natural explanations for the biblical miracles, from a faith perspective, these events are considered to be outside natural law and therefore not explainable by science.

Commentaries

Commentators have noted that the apostles' ability to perform miracles served as both a witness to the resurrection of Jesus and a means of drawing attention to the gospel message.

Recognizing that not all early Christian leaders performed miracles, scholars often point to the unique role of the apostolic ministry during the Church's foundation.

The communal aspect emphasized in the verse has been discussed as integral to the power of the early Church, suggesting that their unity was essential to their effectiveness and resilience.

Acts 5

Acts 5

What does Acts 5:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 5:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?