Acts Chapter 5 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Acts 5:1 & 2
But there was a man named Hananyah who, with his wife Shappirah, sold some property and, with his wife's knowledge, withheld some of the proceeds for himself; although he did bring the rest to the emissaries.
At the end of chapter 4, we saw the example of Barnabas selling land and giving the money to the apostles. He went on to be a great evangelist and companion of Paul. Here, we see a man and wife sell some property. That seems harmless enough and they even bring part of the proceeds from the sale and give it to the church.
Acts 5:3 & 4
Then Kefa said, "Why has the Adversary so filled your heart that you lie to the Ruach HaKodesh and keep back some of the money you received for the land? Before you sold it, the property was yours; and after you sold it, the money was yours to use as you pleased. So what made you decide to do such a thing? You have lied not to human beings but to God!"
Here, Peter tries to explain to Ananias what he has done wrong. You see, they had the right to sell the land and keep the money but the problem was in the lie. They wanted it to appear that they had sold it and given it to the Lord when, in fact, they had not given it all to the Lord. Peter explains that the lie was not only to the apostles but to God.
Acts 5:5 & 6
On hearing these words, Hananyah fell down dead; and everyone who heard about it was terrified. The young men got up, wrapped his body in a shroud, carried him out and buried him.
The fear that is described here comes with the understanding that God knows and sees all things. This made everyone who heard about this stop and think about the fact that nothing is hidden from God.
Acts 5:7 & 8
Some three hours later, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. Kefa challenged her: "Tell me, is it true that you sold the land for such-and-such a price?" "Yes," she answered, "that is what we were paid for it."
Isn't it great that each of us only has to answer for our own actions? You see, just like God, Peter knew the truth without asking Sapphira. Ananias had earlier received his punishment but she was still given the opportunity to tell the truth.
Acts 5:9-11
But Kefa came back at her, "Then why did you people plot to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too!" Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. The young men entered, found her there dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. As a result of this, great fear came over the whole Messianic community, and indeed over everyone who heard about it.
For agreeing with Ananias to lie to the Spirit of the Lord, Sapphira died as well. This passage goes on to tell us that, because of these events, great fear seized the people. This healthy fear is really respect and awe in that they knew that God could see into the hearts of men. These wolves had tried to undermine the church by making people believe that they could hide their sin from God. If you believe that you can hide sins from God, then, you do not know God and cannot trust in his payment for those sins.
Acts 5:12 & 13
Meanwhile, through the emissaries many signs and miracles continued to be done among the people. United in mind and purpose, the believers met in Shlomo's Colonnade; and no one else dared to join them. Nevertheless, the people continued to regard them highly;
In this passage, we are told that the believers gathered at Solomon's Colonnade. This was a porch on the east side of the temple in Jerusalem and it was the closest that a non-levite could get to the temple. It was a place where they gathered to worship and discuss the Word of God. It was sort of like what we would call a small group Bible study. We are told that others didn't dare to join them and this is talking about non-Christians. They did not join them for the talk about Yeshua because they had heard about the punishment for being a pretender (wolf in sheep's clothing).
Acts 5:14-16
and throngs of believers were added to the Lord, both men and women. They went so far as to bring the sick into the streets and lay them on mattresses and stretchers, so that at least Kefa's shadow might fall on them as he passed by. Crowds also gathered from the towns around Yerushalayim, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits; and every one of them was healed.
In spite of the persecution, people still came to know the Lord. Those that were Christians did not hide and tremble in fear but were out being an example and people noticed. God worked through Peter and people were healed. Word spread all around Jerusalem.
Acts 5:17 & 18
But the cohen hagadol and his associates, who were members of the party of the Tz'dukim, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the emissaries and put them in the public jail.
Now the religious establishment is angry. Many people came to believe in Yeshua from the signs and miracles that God performed through the apostles. Now, the religious leaders see their influence and power slipping away so they round up the apostles and throw them in jail.
Acts 5:19 & 20
But during the night, an angel of ADONAI opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said, "Go, stand in the Temple court and keep telling the people all about this new life!"
This first verse should be a reminder to us all that God is in control. No matter what the depth of our problems may be, he is still in control. The apostles were thrown into jail for telling the gospel and God sent an angel to get them out. The angel then tells them to go and preach the gospel. Many people (including Christians) are going around and wondering what their purpose is. This second verse tells us God's will for our lives.
Acts 5:21
After hearing that, they entered the Temple area about dawn and began to teach. Now the cohen hagadol and his associates came and called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (that is, of Isra'el's whole assembly of elders) and sent to the jail to have them brought.
What an example of obedience for us today. The apostles, disregarding fear of return to jail or death, obeyed the Lord and went back to teach the people. We may think that they were special but we can all have a faith like that. If you are sold out to Yeshua Messiah, there will be no fear of imprisonment or death in fact it will be seen as an opportunity. Are you truly sold out?
Acts 5:22 & 23
But the officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they returned and reported, "We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside!"
Isn't it awesome how God takes care of his people? Only he could take his people out of a locked jail cell and leave the captors wondering what had happened.
Acts 5:24
When the captain of the Temple police and the head cohanim heard these things, they were puzzled and wondered what would happen next.
Now, they know that they have a big problem. They started to wonder how this was going to affect their power. Talk was going to get around about how the prisoners were miraculously released from the prison.
Acts 5:25 & 26
Then someone came and reported to them, "Listen! The men you ordered put in prison are standing in the Temple court, teaching the people!" The captain and his officers went and brought them, but not with force; because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
Isn't this interesting? The apostles were teaching the people about Yeshua Messiah and it was working. Notice how we are told in this passage that the officers did not use force because they were afraid that the people would stone them. The people did not have a problem with the teaching, it was the religious establishment. Sadly, we face many of the same type of struggles in the church today.
Acts 5:27 & 28
They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name! Look here! you have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching; moreover, you are determined to make us responsible for this man's death!"
The high priest, instead of repenting, is trying to protect his reputation. If the apostles teaching that Yeshua is the Messiah is true, then, it makes the religious establishment guilty of murder. You see, Jesus was basically put on trial and executed for saying that he was the Son of God. If it was true (which was demonstrated by his resurrection), then, he was falsely accused by the Sanhedrin therefore his blood would be on their hands. They were also afraid of riots and losing their power when the people learned of what had happened.
Acts 5:29
Kefa and the other emissaries answered, "We must obey God, not men.
When brought before the rulers of Jerusalem, the apostles had to decide whether to do what they said and stop teaching about Yeshua or ignore them and do what God had told them to do. The above verse is the beginning of their reply. There are many times when we have the same choice to make in our daily lives. We must remember that God's word comes first because it is perfect. Other authorities can make laws but they are not perfect. When the two disagree, we must give the same reply as the apostles did here.
Acts 5:30-32
The God of our fathers raised up Yeshua, whereas you men killed him by having him hanged on a stake. God has exalted this man at his right handn as Ruler and Savior, in order to enable Isra'el to do t'shuvah and have her sins forgiven. We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh, whom God has given to those who obey him."
The apostles are giving the Sanhedrin an explanation of their actions. It was not normal for the people to defy an order from the Sanhedrin but the apostles had. Their explanation is pretty simple in that they explain that God sent Yeshua for the payment of our sins and, because of that, we are his. They go on to explain that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God.
Acts 5:33 & 34
On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were infuriated and wanted to put the emissaries to death. But one of the members of the Sanhedrin rose to his feet, a Parush named Gamli'el, a teacher of the Torah highly respected by all the people. He ordered the men put outside for a little while
Now, the Sanhedrin wants to sentence the apostles to death but Gamaliel, a Pharisee intervenes. This same Gamaliel is the one who taught Saul (Paul) before he became an apostle.
Acts 5:35-39
and then addressed the court: "Men of Isra'el, take care what you do to these people. Some time ago, there was a rebellion under Todah, who claimed to be somebody special; and a number of men, maybe four hundred, rallied behind him. But upon his being put to death, his whole following was broken up and came to nothing. After this, Y'hudah HaG'lili led another uprising, back at the time of the enrollment for the Roman tax; and he got some people to defect to him. But he was killed, and all his followers were scattered. So in the present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these people, but to leave them alone. For if this idea or this movement has a human origin, it will collapse. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them; you might even find yourselves fighting God!" They heeded his advice.
Gamaliel is speaking to the Sanhedrin in this passage. This same Gamaliel was the one that taught religion to Saul (Paul). Now, he is trying to get the Sanhedrin to understand that if the apostles are not from God they will fail. If they are from God, then his will be done. We too can have this assurance from God. If we are doing his will, who can stop us?
Acts 5:40-42
After summoning the emissaries and flogging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Yeshua, and let them go. The emissaries left the Sanhedrin overjoyed at having been considered worthy of suffering disgrace on account of him. And not for a single day, either in the Temple court or in private homes, did they stop teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Yeshua is the Messiah.
The Sanhedrin took Gamaliel's advice and did not kill the apostles. Instead, they beat them and told them to stop talking about Yeshua. The apostles rejoiced in the fact that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Then, they went on and continued to teach just as God had told them to. You do not know how strong you are in the faith until you are put to the test. Can you rejoice in the face of persecution?