Matthew Henry Commentary Acts 5
Matthew Henry Commentary
Acts 5
Matthew Henry Commentary
Acts 5
"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 hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they 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 ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. But Peter [said] unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things." — Acts 5:1-11 (ASV)
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was that they were ambitious to be thought eminent disciples when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with the prospect of gaining an advantage in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world and distrustful of God and His providence. They thought they could serve both God and mammon.
They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in Ananias's heart. However, whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled Ananias's heart with this wickedness if Ananias had not consented. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so clearly spoke and acted through the apostles. Ananias's crime was not keeping part of the price of the land; he could have kept it all, if he had wished. Rather, it was his endeavor to impose upon the apostles with a dreadful lie, stemming from a desire to make a vain show, combined with covetousness.
But if we think to deceive God, we will fatally deceive our own souls. How sad it is to see those in relationships, who should encourage one another to what is good, instead hardening one another in what is evil! This punishment was, in reality, a mercy to vast numbers. It would lead to strict self-examination, prayer, and a dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vainglory; and it should still do so.
It would prevent the increase of false professors. From this, let us learn how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie but also all advantages gained from using doubtful expressions and from double meanings in our speech.
"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. But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of them and women; insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them. And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bring sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." — Acts 5:12-16 (ASV)
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 performed 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 everyone who applies to him will be healed.
"But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward. But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life. And when they heard [this], they entered into the temple about daybreak, 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-house to have them brought. But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow. And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people." — Acts 5:17-25 (ASV)
There is no prison so dark, so strong, that God cannot visit His people in it and, if He pleases, bring them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases from trouble, are granted, not so that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but so that God may be honoured with the service of our lives. 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 by 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 Spirit puts into your mouth. The words of the gospel are the words of life; words by which we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot help but see that the word and power of the Lord are against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.
"Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, [but] without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man`s blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. Him did God exalt with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and [so is] the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him. But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them." — Acts 5:26-33 (ASV)
Many will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward or to be accused of it. We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by Christ unless we surrender ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith accepts the Saviour in all his offices, who came not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins.
If Christ had been exalted to give dominion to Israel, the chief priests would have welcomed him. But repentance and remission of sins are blessings they neither valued nor saw their need for; therefore, they, by no means, accepted his teaching. Wherever repentance is brought about, remission is granted without fail. None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin except those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin, who are turned from it and turned against it.
Christ gives repentance—by his Spirit working with the word—to awaken the conscience, to produce sorrow for sin, and an effective change in the heart and life. The giving of the Holy Ghost is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him reign over them.
"But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while. And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do. For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out 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 dispersed, and came to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away [some of the] people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 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 be overthrown: but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus [as] the Christ." — Acts 5:34-42 (ASV)
The Lord still has all hearts in His hands, and sometimes directs the prudence of the worldly wise, so as to restrain the persecutors. Common sense tells us to be cautious, while experience and observation show that the success of frauds in matters of religion has been very short.
Reproach for Christ is true advancement, as it makes us conformable to His pattern and serviceable to His interest. They rejoiced in it. If we suffer harm for doing well, provided we suffer it well and as we should, we ought to rejoice in that grace which enabled us to do so.
The apostles did not preach themselves, but Christ. This was the preaching that most offended the priests. But it ought to be the constant business of gospel ministers to preach Christ: Christ, and Him crucified; Christ, and Him glorified; nothing apart from this, but what has reference to Him. And whatever is our station or rank in life, we should seek to make Him known and to glorify His name.
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