51 And a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and did keep back of the price—his wife also knowing—and having brought a certain part, at the feet of the apostles he laid 'it'. 3 And Peter said, 'Ananias, wherefore did the Adversary fill thy heart, for thee to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back of the price of the place? 4 while it remained, did it not remain thine? and having been sold, in thy authority was it not? why 'is' it that thou didst put in thy heart this thing? thou didst not lie to men, but to God;' 5 and Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, did expire, and great fear came upon all who heard these things, 6 and having risen, the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth, they buried 'him'. 7 And it came to pass, about three hours after, that his wife, not knowing what hath happened, came in, 8 and Peter answered her, 'Tell me if for so much ye sold the place;' and she said, 'Yes, for so much.' 9 And Peter said unto her, 'How was it agreed by you, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? lo, the feet of those who did bury thy husband 'are' at the door, and they shall carry thee forth;' 10 and she fell down presently at his feet, and expired, and the young men having come in, found her dead, and having carried forth, they buried 'her' by her husband; 11 and great fear came upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things.
12 And through the hands of the apostles came many signs and wonders among the people, and they were with one accord all in the porch of Solomon; 13 and of the rest no one was daring to join himself to them, but the people were magnifying them, 14 (and the more were believers added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,) 15 so as into the broad places to bring forth the ailing, and to lay 'them' upon couches and mats, that at the coming of Peter, even 'his' shadow might overshadow some one of them; 16 and there were coming together also the people of the cities round about to Jerusalem, bearing ailing persons, and those harassed by unclean spirits—who were all healed.
17 And having risen, the chief priest, and all those with him—being the sect of the Sadducees—were filled with zeal, 18 and laid their hands upon the apostles, and did put them in a public prison; 19 and a messenger of the Lord through the night opened the doors of the prison, having also brought them forth, he said, 20 'Go on, and standing, speak in the temple to the people all the sayings of this life;' 21 and having heard, they did enter at the dawn into the temple, and were teaching. And the chief priest having come, and those with him, they called together the sanhedrim and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have them brought, 22 and the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told, 23 saying—'The prison indeed we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, and having opened—within we found no one.' 24 And as the priest, and the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these words, they were doubting concerning them to what this would come; 25 and coming near, a certain one told them, saying—'Lo, the men whom ye did put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people;'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 5:1-25
Commentary on Acts 5:1-11
(Read Acts 5:1-11)
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.
Commentary on Acts 5:12-16
(Read Acts 5:12-16)
The separation of hypocrites by distinguishing judgments, should make the sincere cleave closer to each other and to the gospel ministry. Whatever tends to the purity and reputation of the church, promotes its enlargement; but that power alone which wrought such miracles by the apostles, can rescue sinners from the power of sin and Satan, and add believers to His worshippers. Christ will work by all his faithful servants; and every one who applies to him shall be healed.
Commentary on Acts 5:17-25
(Read Acts 5:17-25)
There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must preach to the lowest, whose souls are as precious to Christ as the souls of the greatest. Speak to all, for all are concerned. Speak as those who resolve to stand to it, to live and die by it. Speak all the words of this heavenly, divine life, in comparison with which the present earthly life does not deserve the name. These words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth. The words of the gospel are the words of life; words whereby we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot but see that the word and power of the Lord are against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.