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 5:24 mean?

Explanation

Acts 5:24 details the reactions of the Jewish high priest, the captain of the temple guard, and the chief priests upon hearing perplexing news regarding the Apostles. Earlier in this chapter, these Apostles had been arrested and placed in public jail for preaching about Jesus Christ.

However, an angel of the Lord freed them during the night, commanding them to continue their teachings in the temple courts.

When the temple authorities learned that the Apostles were not in jail but instead teaching in the temple, they were deeply confused and concerned about the implications and consequences of this miraculous escape and continued preaching.

They wondered what this event signified and what further developments might arise from it.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament and was written by Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke.

Acts 5:24 occurs during a time when the early Christian church was expanding in Jerusalem, not long after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Apostles were actively preaching and converting many to Christianity, which threatened the established religious authorities of the day, the Sadducees, who were closely associated with the Temple, and the Pharisees, a sect known for strict adherence to the Law of Moses.

The high priest mentioned in this verse would have been a leading figure within the Sadducees, and the captain of the temple guard would have been responsible for maintaining order within the temple precincts.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, Acts 5:24 highlights the conflict between the Jewish religious authorities and the newly forming Christian community.

For many Christians, this event reflects the spiritual reality that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human authority or power.

It showcases a divine endorsement of the Apostles' mission to spread the teachings of Jesus, emphasizing the belief in God's active intervention in the world to further the Christian message.

Additionally, the uncertainty and doubt of the chief priests can be seen as a lack of recognition or understanding of God's work through Jesus and his Apostles.

Practical Applications

The verse can serve as a reminder that when facing difficulties or opposition, one can find confidence in the belief that a higher power can provide unexpected solutions.

For those in positions of authority, it can also be a cautionary tale about the limitations of human control and the importance of being open to spiritual guidance and surprising developments.

In daily life, this might translate to an openness to change, a humility to recognize when events are beyond personal control, and a faith that, sometimes, unexpected developments can lead toward positive outcomes.

Cross-References

Acts 5:17-23: The immediate context describing the arrest, miraculous escape, and temple teaching.
Acts 4:1-3: Another instance where the priests and captain of the temple arrested the Apostles.
Acts 12:5-10: An angel helps Peter escape from prison.
John 12:19: The Pharisees' realization of the spreading influence of Jesus' teachings.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, certain words stand out for their significance:

"High Priest" (ἀρχιερεὺς, archiereus): The chief religious authority in Judaism.
"Captain" (στρατηγὸς, strategos): A commander or leading officer, here in charge of the temple guard.
"Heard" (ἀκούω, akouo): To listen or receive information.
"Doubted" (διαπορέω, diaporeo): Describes a state of perplexity or uncertainty.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions, stories of divine intervention, escape from captivity, and conflicts between religious authorities and new religious movements are also present.

For example, in Greco-Roman mythology, gods often interceded on behalf of mortals.

Similarly, in early Roman history, Christianity's spread was met with skepticism and opposition from established pagan religious authorities, resembling the tensions seen between the Jewish authorities and the early Christians.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, one might approach the events described as requiring investigation and explanation.

Modern perspectives would likely classify the angelic intervention as a phenomenon outside the scope of empirical observation, thus remaining a matter of faith.

The psychological aspect, particularly the chief priests’ reaction of doubt and confusion, can be analyzed in terms of cognitive dissonance when beliefs are challenged by new, contradictory information.

Commentaries

Commentators on this verse from varying backgrounds offer insights:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes the fulfillment of God's purpose and the protection over his servants.
The Expositor's Greek Testament suggests the concerns of the Jewish authorities were both political (fear of Roman response) and theological (challenge to their authority).
John Calvin in his commentaries speaks of God's providence and the impossibility of stopping God’s work.
Contemporary scholars such as N.T.

Wright might focus on how the early Christian community's experiences defined their collective identity in the face of opposition.

Acts 5

Acts 5

What does Acts 5:24 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 5:24 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?