Acts 5:1-11 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 has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained was it not your own? And after it was sold was it not in your own power? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have 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 you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door and shall carry you 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.

They had said that they sold their land and were giving all the money to the church, probably so that others would think that they were such wonderful people backing the church and that those in the chuch would look up to them; Easton's Bible Dictionary:."By common agreement the members of the early Christian community devoted their property to the work of furthering the gospel and of assisting the poor and needy. The proceeds of the possessions they sold were placed at the disposal of the apostles:.Acts 2:44-46; 4:32-37. Ananias might have kept his property had he so chosen, but he professed agreement with the brethren in the common purpose and had of his own accord devoted it all, as he said, to these sacred ends. Yet he retained a part of it for his own ends and thus lied in declaring that he had given it all. The offence of Ananias and Sapphira showed contempt of God, vanity and ambition in the offenders and utter disregard of the corruption which they were bringing into the society."

Isaiah 61:8.

Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders.(they did many signs and wonders: verse 15 below &.Acts 2:43).wrought among the people and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.(John 10:23).

Acts 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them but the people magnified them.

Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, 

Acts 5:15 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.

Barnes Notes:."They were not able to approach him on account of the crowd. They thought that if they could come under his influence, they might be healed."

Acts 5:16 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.

Acts 5:17,18 Then the high priest rose up and all they that were with him which were of the sect of the Sadducees and were filled with indignation and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

Acts 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth and said,

Acts 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Acts 5:21 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.

Comprised with.Barnes Notes: The Sanhedrin was the great Judean council of the nation. They had a meeting and determined to silence the apostles for disregarding the Old Testament laws as the Sanhedrin deemed they should be followed. But they themselves were corrupt, as they were earlier in Emmanuel's time on Earth:.Matthew 23:1-37. They just wanted to hold onto the money that flowed into their treasury from those believing the Old Testament ways were still valid. They really were ignorant of Old Testament scriptures regarding the coming of Christ Emmanuel and why He came in the first place and instead wanted to remain wallowing in their ignorance. Such are they of the cabal who reject anything good, preferring instead to remain in the clutches of the satanic realm out of which they live their lives.

The senate was the Eldership, these elders of the Judah were the older members believing the same as those in the Sanhedrin. Probably these were not a part of the Sanhedrin, but were men of age and experience (Acts 4:7-9), who were present for the sake of counsel and advice if needed.

Acts 5:22-24 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.

Acts 5:25-28 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom you 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 you should not teach in this name? And, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Emmanuel, whom you slew and hanged on a tree.

Acts 5:31 Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior.(John 4:42; the Savior part was long before the Earth was even formed:.2Timothy 1:9), for to give.(a gift is something one does not ask for, yet is appreciated when received).repentance.(a gift of caring for yourself, your spiritual condition, as the original word is all about; how do you care? you analyze your life's results so far and come to see what has brought you to where you are today and see where to change to improve, such as changing from doing bad to being good).to Israel.(who is Israel today?).and forgiveness of sins.(also a gift to us at the beginning that today we need to awaken to {*}).

Similar to what God did in the early days of humanity:.Ezekiel 36:25-27.

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God has given to them that obey.(original for 'obey' is 'persuaded to be under' or willing to be aligned with, because God will not ever coerce anyone, preferring instead to just 'walk away' and hide).him.

Acts 5:33 When they heard that they were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them.

Can't convince truth to one with an ego consciousness:.Romans 6:6.

Acts 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, having reputation among all the people and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space.(let's give them a little slack and have a look at this another way);

Acts 5:35 And said unto them, You men of Israel take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men.

Acts 5:36 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.

Acts 5:37 And after this man, Judas of Galilee rose up.(this Judas was surnamed 'the Galilean', called also by Josephus, 'the Gaulonite'. He was born at Gamala, a city of Gaulonitis near the southeastern shore of the lake of Tiberias {map}. In company with one Sadoc, he attempted to excite a sedition among those of Judah.(see 'Galilee' in Josephus, Antiquities Book xviii. cap. 1.), but was destroyed by Quirinus or Cyrenius, at that time governor of Syria and Judea).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. 

Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you Refrain from these men.(meaning of the lower consciousness humanity generally has as compared to God's higher consciousness ways).and let them alone. For if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to nought.

Acts 5:39 But if it be of God you cannot overthrow it, lest.haply you be found even to fight against God.

Acts 5:40 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 Emmanuel.(like we would say, don't speak about him around here and so, before they would let them go, they wanted to 'teach them a lesson' by beating them first).and let them go.

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Emmanuel the Christ.
 

....continues to Chapter 6

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