Geneva Study Bible But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, But {1} a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
(1) Luke shows by contrary examples how great a sin hypocrisy is, especially in those who under a false pretence and cloak of zeal seem to shine and be of great importance in the Church. 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. And {a} 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.
(a) Craftily took away. 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? But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan {b} filled thine heart {c} to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
(b) Fully possessed. (c) For when they had appointed that farm or possession for the Church, they were foolish to keep away a part of the price, as though they were dealing with men, and not with God, and therefore he says afterwards that they tempted God. 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. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou {d} conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
(d) By this is meant an advised and purposeful deceit, and the fault of the man in listening to the devil's suggestions. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 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 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 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. 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 Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to {e} tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the {f} door, and shall carry thee out.
(e) Look how often men do things with an evil conscience; and so they pronounce sentence against themselves, and as much as in them lies, they provoke God to anger, as they do this on purpose, in order to test whether he is just and almighty or not. (f) Are at hand. 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. 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. {2} And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
(2) The Lord by his marvellous power bridles some so that they may not hurt the Church: others he keeps in awe and fear of him: and others he draws unto himself. 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 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 of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people {g} magnified them.
(g) Highly praised them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 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. 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. 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, {3} Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the {h} sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
(3) The more that the Church increases, the more the rage os Satan increases, and therefore they proceed from threats to imprisonment. (h) The word which is used here is heresy, which signifies a choice, and so is taken for a right form of learning, or faction, or study and course of life, which the Latins call a sect: at first this word was used indifferently, but at length it came to be used only in reference to evil, whereupon came the name of heretic which is taken for one that goes astray from sound and wholesome doctrine in such a way that he thinks lightly of the judgment of God and his Church, and continues in his opinion, and breaks the peace of the Church. And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 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, {4} But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
(4) Angels are made servants of the servants of God. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. {5} Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the {i} words of this life.
(5) God therefore delivers his own, so that they may more vigorously provoke his enemies. (i) Words by which the way unto life is shown. 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. {6} 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.
(6) God mocks his enemies attempts from above. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 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. 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. 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. {7} Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
(7) The more openly that Christ's power shows itself, the more the madness of his enemies who conspire against him increases. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. {8} Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
(8) Tyrants who do not fear God are forced to fear his servants. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 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. {9} 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 {k} to bring this man's blood upon us.
(9) It is the characteristic of tyrants to set down their own commandments as right and proper, be they ever so wicked. (k) Make us guilty of murdering that man whom yet they will not condescend to name. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. {10} Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
(10) We should obey man only in so far that in obeying him we also obey God. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. {11} The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
(11) Christ is appointed and indeed declared Prince and preserver of his Church, in spite of his enemies. 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. 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. {12} And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
(12) It is not sufficient for us that there is a proper goal, but we must also according to our calling go forward until we come to it. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. When they heard that, they {l} were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
(l) This shows that they were in a most vehement rage, and tremendously disquieted in mind, for it is a borrowed kind of speech taken from those who are harshly cut in pieces with a saw. 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; {13} 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;
(13) Christ finds defenders of his cause, even in the very company of his enemies, as often as he thinks necessary. And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 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. {14} For before these days rose up Theudas, {m} 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.
(14) In matters of religion we must take good heed that we attempt nothing under a pretence of zeal to which we have not been called. (m) To be of same fame. 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. 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: And now I say unto you, {n} Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of {o} men, it will come to nought:
(n) He dissuades his fellows from murdering the apostles, neither does he think it good to refer the matter to the Roman magistrate, for the Jews could endure nothing worse than to have the tyranny of the Romans confirmed. (o) If it is counterfeit and devised. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 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 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. {15} And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
(15) The apostles, accustomed to suffer and bear words, are eventually accustomed to bearing stripes, and yet in such a way that by means of them they become stronger. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. And daily in the {p} temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (p) Both publicly and privately. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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