Chapter 5:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Acts 5
Concise Complete
The death of Ananias and Sapphira. (1-11) The power which
accompanied the preaching of the gospel. (12-16) The apostles imprisoned, but
set free by an angel. (17-25) The apostles testify to Christ before the council.
(26-33) The advice of Gamaliel, The council let the apostles go. (34-42)
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Verses 26-33 Many
will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward, or
to have it charged upon them. We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by
Christ, unless we give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith takes the Saviour
in all his offices, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from
our sins. Had Christ 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 of; therefore they, by no means, admitted his
doctrine. Wherever repentance is wrought, remission is granted without fail.
None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, but 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 work sorrow for sin, and an effectual 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 to reign over them.
Verses 34-42 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 preferment,
as it makes us conformable to his pattern, and serviceable to his interest. They
rejoiced in it. If we suffer ill for doing well, provided we suffer it well, and
as we should, we ought to rejoice in that grace which enabled us so to do. 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 beside this, but what has reference to it. And whatever is
our station or rank in life, we should seek to make Him known, and to glorify
his name.
Chapter 5:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
