Ananias lied apparently to the apostles but actually to the Holy Spirit, who is God (v. 4). In the apostles' work for the Lord, the Holy Spirit and the apostles were one. See note Acts 5:32^2b.

These words indicate that to sell property and distribute the proceeds to others was not considered by the apostles to be a practice of legality.

Or, placed, fixed.

This proves that the Holy Spirit, mentioned in v. 3, is God.

Lit., gave up his soul, or, breathed out his soul (so also in v. 10).

Wives should be subject to their husbands (Eph. 5:24), but they should not agree with their husbands to commit sins.

The Holy Spirit in v. 3, God in v. 4, and the Lord in this verse are all one, especially in the experience of the believers.

Gk. ekklesia, composed of ek, out, and a derivative of kaleo, called; hence, the called out (congregation), the assembly. It is the first time that the church is mentioned here in Acts as a local church (see note Acts 8:1^1c and note Matt. 18:17^2a).

See note Acts 2:43¹.

Jesus' incarnation made Him a man, His human living on earth qualified Him to be man's Savior, His crucifixion accomplished full redemption for man, His resurrection vindicated His redemptive work, and His exaltation inaugurated Him to be the ruling Leader that He might be the Savior. This exalting of Him was the ultimate step in His being perfected to be the Savior of man (Heb. 2:10; 5:9).

Or, Prince; the same Greek word as for Author in Acts 3:15. See note 1 there. God exalted the man Jesus, who had been rejected and killed by the Jewish leaders, as the highest Leader, the Prince, the Ruler of the kings to rule over the world (Rev. 1:5; 19:16), and the Savior to save God's chosen people. Leader is related to His authority, and Savior to His salvation. He rules sovereignly over the earth with His authority that the environment might be fit for God's chosen people to receive His salvation (cf. Acts 17:26-27; John 17:2).

To give repentance and forgiveness of sins to God's chosen people requires Christ to be exalted as a ruling Leader and Savior. His sovereign ruling causes and leads God's chosen people to repent, and His salvation, which is based on His redemption, affords them forgiveness of sins.

Repentance is for forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). On God's side, forgiveness of sins is based on Christ's redemption (Eph. 1:7); on man's side, forgiveness of sins is through man's repentance.

Lit., words; referring to instant words.

The Holy Spirit was one with the apostles. See note Acts 5:3¹.

Obedience is the way and the condition for one to receive and enjoy the Spirit of God.

Lit., sawn through; a strong figurative expression for being exasperated.

See note Acts 2:24¹.

Lit., charged you with a charge.

See note Acts 4:1^1a.

Or, and.

The divine life preached, ministered, and lived by Peter that overcame the Jewish leaders' persecution, threatening, and imprisonment. This word indicates that Peter's life and work made the divine life so real and present in his situation that even the angel saw it and pointed it out.

The Greek word refers to instant words.

See note Matt. 3:7^1a.

I.e., to suffer shame. It is a real honor to be dishonored on behalf of the Name, the very name of the man-dishonored but God-honored Jesus. Hence, the dishonored ones rejoiced that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name.

See note Acts 2:46^1b.

See note Acts 2:46^3d.

Lit., the Christ Jesus.