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 5:39 mean?

Explanation

[Acts 5:39] poses a stark warning about the consequences of opposing a movement that is truly ordained by God. Literally, this verse implies that if a particular endeavor is genuinely part of God's divine plan, then no human effort can disrupt it.

Moreover, there's a cautionary note that in attempting to thwart such a movement, one might inadvertently find themselves in opposition to God Himself.

The deeper meaning here can also be interpreted as a call to discernment: one must carefully consider what they resist, lest their actions go against a purpose far greater than their understanding.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 5:39 comes from the Book of Acts in the New Testament, which details the early history of the Christian church following Jesus Christ's ascension.

This verse is a part of the narrative describing the apostles' persecution for preaching about Jesus.

The Sanhedrin, a ruling council of Jewish leaders, wanted to stop the apostles.

Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee and teacher of the law, advises caution and moderation to the Sanhedrin, essentially telling them that if this movement (Christianity) is of human origin, it will fail on its own, but if it is of God, they would not be able to stop it and would be risking opposition to God.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 5:39 is often seen in the context of divine providence and sovereignty. It raises the concept that God's plans cannot be thwarted by human means.

The verse also suggests a sense of humility and submission to God's overarching will, recognizing that human perception of God's work is limited.

Different denominations may have varying interpretations, but many agree on the omnipotence of God and the importance of aligning one's actions to His will.

Practical Applications

Acts 5:39 can guide individuals in their decision-making processes and reactions to new religious movements or ideologies. It encourages believers to carefully discern the origin of the movements before taking a stance against them.

Furthermore, it inspires a patient faith in the unfolding of God's plan, advocating for tolerance and caution when assessing the actions and beliefs of others.

Cross-References

Proverbs 21:30: "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD."
Isaiah 46:10: "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
Job 42:2: "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."
Daniel 4:35: "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text for Acts 5:39 is "εἰ ἐκ Θεοῦ ἐστιν" (ei ek Theou estin), which translates to "if it be of God." The term "Θεοῦ" (Theou) refers to God, which in this context implies divine origin.

The preposition "ἐκ" (ek) denotes origin or source.

By considering the original language, we understand that the verse speaks of an initiative or doctrine's sourced above human contrivance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The idea that divine will is unstoppable when compared to human designs can be found in various cultural and religious contexts.

In the Bahá'í Faith, for example, there is the concept that God's purpose will ultimately prevail.

In Hinduism, the concept of Dharma aligns with a cosmic law that cannot be altered by human wishes.

These and other religious traditions often share the belief in a higher power or order that supersedes human intentions and actions.

Scientific Perspectives

While the scientific method does not typically engage with claims of divine action, the principle of acknowledging what can be known and what lies beyond human understanding resonates with scientific humility.

In a way, the verse's caution about presuming to know the outcome of all actions aligns with the scientific approach of observing and learning rather than asserting absolute certainty about complex systems, such as societal movements.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians throughout history have commented on Acts 5:39.

Notable ones include John Chrysostom, who emphasized Gamaliel's wisdom in cautioning the Sanhedrin.

Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that what God wills cannot be overthrown, and that it is vanity and a snare to fight against God.

Modern commentators focus on the verse's implications for religious tolerance and the role of discernment in evaluating spiritual phenomena.

They underscore the importance of aligning oneself with what is perceived to be God's action in the world rather than hastily condemning or attempting to stop it.

Acts 5

Acts 5

What does Acts 5:39 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 5:39 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?