The big picture
The believers have been sharing property so that no one lacks what is needed. Now a dishonest gift brings a severe judgement within the group. Peter, one of Jesus' apostles, exposes the lie. Jesus is the risen Lord whose name the apostles teach. Their healings continue to draw crowds, but religious leaders arrest them again. A night release and a council hearing bring the same issue into view: whose command will these witnesses obey when authorities demand silence?
In this chapter
- A False Gift Ends in Death Acts 5:1-11
Ananias and his wife Sapphira sell property and secretly retain some money while presenting the rest as the whole price.
- Healing Draws Crowds and Awe Acts 5:12-16
The apostles perform many signs among the people and gather in a covered temple walkway.
- Released to Teach Again Acts 5:17-26
The chief priest and his Sadducee allies, a religious group, arrest the apostles in anger.
- God’s Command Comes First Acts 5:27-32
Before the council, the chief priest complains that the apostles have filled the city with their teaching despite the ban.
- Gamaliel Urges the Council to Wait Acts 5:33-39
The council hears this with rage and wants the men killed.
- Beaten but Still Teaching Acts 5:40-42
The council accepts Gamaliel's advice against killing the apostles, but still has them beaten.
Central truth
God judges deceit within the church while sustaining the apostles' witness against imprisonment, threats, and punishment from the religious council.
Scripture beside the summary
Acts · King James Version · 42Acts 5:1-11
A False Gift Ends in Death
Ananias and his wife Sapphira sell property and secretly retain some money while presenting the rest as the whole price. Peter says Ananias has lied to the Holy Ghost, God's Spirit, and thus to God. The land and its proceeds were his to control; deceit was not required. Ananias falls dead and is buried. Three hours later Sapphira arrives, unaware of his death, and confirms the false price. Peter exposes their agreement to test the Spirit. She too falls dead and is buried beside him. Great fear spreads through the church and all who hear.
In everyday life
A donation auditor compares a donor's public claim with the signed sale receipt in a locked file. The donor was free to keep part of the proceeds, but chose to report a partial gift as the whole sum. The issue is the deliberate lie, not failure to give everything. Acts records divine judgement resulting in two deaths.
Notice
Acts 5:4 Peter explicitly says the property and money were under Ananias' control. The offence is lying to God, not refusing a compulsory sale or donation.
Acts 5:1-11
King James Version1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2And 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.
3But 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?
4Whiles 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.
5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9Then 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.
10Then 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.
11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Acts 5:12-16
Healing Draws Crowds and Awe
The apostles perform many signs among the people and gather in a covered temple walkway. Others hold back from casual association, though the public honours them. Believers, both men and women, continue to join the Lord. People place the sick on beds in the streets, hoping even Peter's passing shadow will fall across them. Crowds come from towns around Jerusalem, the chief Jewish city, bringing sick people and those troubled by evil spirits. All are healed. Fear after the judgement does not halt the growth or the care reaching those in distress.
In everyday life
A rural nurse opens a mobile clinic at dawn and finds patients waiting along the lane. News of successful care has brought families from nearby villages, carrying relatives who cannot travel alone. Respect and urgent need fill the same queue. Their arrival shows how one centre of help draws a wider region. Acts reports miraculous healing for everyone brought.
Notice
Acts 5:15 The hope about Peter's shadow describes the crowd's expectation. The account does not turn that hope into a general rule about shadows or healing.
Acts 5:12-16
King James Version12And 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.
13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15Insomuch 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.
16There 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 5:17-26
Released to Teach Again
The chief priest and his Sadducee allies, a religious group, arrest the apostles in anger. During the night an angel, God's messenger, opens the prison and tells them to teach in the temple. They obey at dawn. The council assembles and sends for prisoners, only to hear that locked doors and guards enclose an empty cell. Then someone reports the apostles teaching publicly. The captain brings them back by calm means. He fears the crowd will stone his men. Prison has failed to stop the witness the angel ordered them to give.
In everyday life
A legal observer arrives to find that a detained lecturer has been released overnight. Instead of hiding, the lecturer resumes the same public class that led to detention. Officials searching the holding room learn that he is standing at his usual board. Release has become a return to the task. The apostles leave through an angel's intervention and command.
Notice
Acts 5:20 The angel directs the freed men toward public teaching, not concealment. Their release serves the message about life even though another arrest follows.
Acts 5:17-26
King James Version17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21And 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.
22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23Saying, 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.
24Now 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.
25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
Acts 5:27-32
God’s Command Comes First
Before the council, the chief priest complains that the apostles have filled the city with their teaching despite the ban. He accuses them of making the leaders responsible for Jesus' death. Peter and the others answer that God takes priority over human commands. They declare that their ancestors' God raised the Jesus these leaders killed on a tree, meaning the cross. God has raised him to rule and save. He grants Israel, their people, repentance and forgiveness. The apostles testify to this, together with the Spirit God gives to those who obey him.
In everyday life
A safety diver refuses a site owner's order to conceal a damaged underwater cable. She brings the inspection record to the authority responsible for protecting the harbour. The owner's command cannot cancel the duty attached to what she has seen. Her report continues despite the pressure. The apostles obey God and announce forgiveness through the risen Jesus.
Notice
Acts 5:31 The answer does more than assign guilt. It offers a turn from sin and pardon through Jesus. He is the one these leaders killed.
Acts 5:27-32
King James Version27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28Saying, 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.
29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:33-39
Gamaliel Urges the Council to Wait
The council hears this with rage and wants the men killed. Gamaliel, a respected teacher from the Pharisees, another religious group, orders the men outside. He recalls Theudas, a claimant whose followers scattered after his death, and Judas, a rebel from Galilee, a northern region. That man's movement also collapsed when he died. Gamaliel urges restraint. A merely human undertaking will fail, but one from God cannot be overthrown. Opposing it would mean fighting God himself. His counsel interrupts the rush toward death without declaring that he has joined the apostles.
In everyday life
A veteran guild member stops a committee from expelling a new circle of craft workers. She recalls earlier groups that dissolved without interference and warns that suppression will not settle the worth of this one. She asks the committee to hold back from an irreversible act. Gamaliel's decisive concern is that the apostles' work comes from God.
Notice
Acts 5:39 Gamaliel raises the possibility that resistance targets God himself. His warning gives the council a reason for restraint greater than its confidence in its own power.
Acts 5:33-39
King James Version33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34Then 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;
35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36For 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.
37After 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.
38And 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:
39But if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:40-42
Beaten but Still Teaching
The council accepts Gamaliel's advice against killing the apostles, but still has them beaten. The leaders repeat their ban on speaking in Jesus' name and release them. The apostles leave rejoicing that they have been counted worthy to bear disgrace for him. Their joy does not mean the blows were harmless. It concerns the person for whom they suffer. They keep teaching each day, both in the temple and in homes, announcing Jesus as the Christ, God's promised ruler. Neither pain nor an official order ends their witness.
In everyday life
A survivors' advocate reads a released prisoner's first public statement after abuse in custody. He describes the cost without hiding it, then renews the work that drew the authorities' anger. She preserves both his wounds and his resolve in the record. The apostles rejoice specifically in bearing shame for Jesus and continue proclaiming him.
Notice
Acts 5:42 Both public worship space and private homes become places of teaching. The repeated command to stop has not narrowed their witness to silence.
Acts 5:40-42
King James Version40And 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.
41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Acts 5:1 begins with “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,”
Where the chapter turns
Acts 5:22 forms a natural hinge: “But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,”
The final note
Acts 5:42 leaves the reader with “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words people, apostles, prison, Peter, temple, council help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- privy
- Aware of a plan and sharing in its secret.
- indignation
- Strong anger or resentment at what someone is doing.
- doctor
- A teacher, here an expert in religious law.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
