Acts 5
Big idea: The church's first internal threat and its fiercest external pressure meet the same God: judgment falls on the lie within, an angel opens the prison from without, and the apostles give the book its manifesto — 'We must obey God rather than men.' Gamaliel names the test the rest of Acts vindicates: what is of God cannot be overthrown.
Both threads of ch. 5 carry into ch. 6: the multiplying growth (5:14, 42) strains the community from within (the widows' complaint), and the council's frustrated rage — 'cut to the heart, and determined to kill' (5:33) — finds a new target in Stephen, where the beating of ch. 5 escalates toward killing.
5:1–11 — Ananias and Sapphira
Against the backdrop of genuine gifts laid at the apostles' feet (4:34–37), a couple sells a possession and keeps back part of the price while presenting a part as the whole. Peter names the act for what it is — a lie not to men but to God — and husband and wife fall dead in turn. Great fear comes on the whole assembly and on all who heard.
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.” 5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
5:12–16 — Signs, wonders, and multitudes
Many signs and wonders are done through the apostles' hands, and the church gathers with one accord in Solomon's porch. None of the rest dare join them, yet the people honor them — and multitudes of both men and women are added to the Lord. The sick are laid in the streets hoping for even Peter's shadow, and all who are brought from the surrounding cities are healed.
12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them. 14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 15 They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them. 16 The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.
5:17–26 — Jailed by men, freed by God
The high priest and the sect of the Sadducees, filled with jealousy, put the apostles in public custody — but an angel of the Lord opens the prison doors by night and sends them back to the temple to speak 'all the words of this life.' At daybreak the council convenes in full solemnity, only to receive reports of a locked, guarded, empty prison and of the prisoners standing in the temple, teaching the people.
17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy 18 and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, 20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” 21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
5:27–32 — We must obey God rather than men
The high priest cites the council's ban — and in doing so concedes that Jerusalem is filled with the teaching. Peter and the apostles answer with the principle that governs the whole book: obedience to God overrides human command. The God of our fathers raised the Jesus 'whom you killed, hanging him on a tree,' and exalted him as Prince and Savior, to give Israel repentance and remission of sins — with the apostles and the Holy Spirit as joint witnesses.
27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
5:33–42 — Gamaliel's counsel; worthy of dishonor
The enraged council is set on killing, but Gamaliel — a Pharisee honored by all the people — counsels distance: movements of men, like Theudas's and Judas the Galilean's, collapse of themselves, 'but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it.' The council settles for a beating and a repeated ban. The apostles leave rejoicing to be counted worthy of dishonor for the Name, and never stop teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. 34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. 35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!” 40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name. 42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).