Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 5
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 5:
The fulfillment of Jesus’ proclamation in Acts 1:8 continues to unfold in Jerusalem, revealing the challenges within the community of believers (vs. 1-11), and God’s People [Israel] more broadly (vs. 17-42). Chapter 4 ended with the positive example of Joseph/Barnabas, who voluntarily sold his property and donated the proceeds to the community (4:36-37). St. Luke gives us a realistic picture of life in the Church, connecting (“but,” vs. 1) a counter-example of how our human sinfulness, our inflated egos are also a part of our community life as Christians. Ananias and Sapphira are not asked to give money, or all or part of the sale of property, yet desire to appear generous, thinking that this external appearance alone will please God--the hypocrisy Jesus so often critiqued near the end of his earthly ministry (vs. 4). Our merciful and loving God forgives the sins of all who call on Him. But, when we choose not to accept God’s love, we remain captive to the Evil One, who brings death (vs. 5).
Ananias and Sapphira
1 But a man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole Church, and upon all who heard of these things.
The Apostles Heal Many
12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
The Apostles Are Imprisoned and Brought before the Council
17 But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught.
Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one in side.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And some one came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them be fore the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to over throw them. You might even be found opposing God!”
40 So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
The story of Ananias and Sapphira contains a strong warning about "keeping back" things from the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, show me the things I am trying to keep back from you, and grant me grace to turn them over to you completely.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Un hombre que se llamaba Ananías,
junto con su mujer Safira, vendió
un campo. 2 De acuerdo con ella, se
quedó con parte del precio y trayendo el
resto lo puso a los pies de los apóstoles.
3 Entonces dijo Pedro:
–Ananías, ¿por qué Satanás llenó tu
corazón para que mintieses al Espíritu
Santo y te quedaras con parte del precio
del campo? 4 ¿Acaso no era tuyo mientras
lo tenías y, en cuanto lo vendiste, no
permanecía el precio en tu poder? ¿Por
qué has admitido esta acción en tu corazón?
No has mentido a los hombres,
sino a Dios. Al oír Ananías estas palabras cayó
en tierra y expiró. Un gran temor sobrecogió
a todos los que lo oyeron. 6 Se levantaron
algunos jóvenes, lo amortajaron
y lo llevaron a enterrar.
7 Pasaron unas tres horas y entró su
mujer, que no sabía lo ocurrido. 8 Pedro
se dirigió a ella:
–Dime, ¿habéis vendido el campo
por esa cantidad?
Ella dijo:
–Sí, por ésa.
9 Pedro le replicó:
–¿Cómo es que os pusisteis de
acuerdo para tentar al Espíritu del Señor?
Mira, los pies de los que han enterrado
a tu marido están a la puerta, y te
llevarán a ti.
10 Al instante cayó a sus pies y expiró.
Al entrar los jóvenes la encontraron
muerta y la llevaron a enterrar junto a
su marido. 11 Un gran temor llenó a toda
la Iglesia y a todos los que oyeron estas
cosas.
12 Por mano de los apóstoles se obraban
muchos milagros y prodigios entre
el pueblo. Se reunían todos con un mismo
espíritu en el pórtico de Salomón;
13 pero ninguno de los demás se atrevía a
unirse a ellos, aunque el pueblo los alababa.
14 Se adherían cada vez más creyentes
en el Señor, multitud de hombres y
de mujeres, 15 hasta el punto de que sacaban
los enfermos a las plazas y los ponían
en lechos y camillas para que, al
pasar Pedro, al menos su sombra alcanzase
a alguno de ellos. 16 Acudía también
mucha gente de las ciudades vecinas a
Jerusalén, traían enfermos y poseídos
por espíritus impuros, y todos ellos eran
curados. El sumo sacerdote y todos los que le
acompañaban, que eran de la secta de
los saduceos, se levantaron llenos de envidia.
18 Prendieron a los apóstoles y los metieron
en la prisión pública. 19 Pero un ángel
del Señor abrió de noche las puertas de la
cárcel, los sacó y les dijo:
20 –Salid, presentaos en el Templo y
predicad al pueblo toda la doctrina que
concierne a esta Vida.
21 Después de haberlo escuchado,
entraron de madrugada en el Templo y
comenzaron a enseñar.
En cuanto llegaron el sumo sacerdote
y los que le acompañaban, convocaron
el Sanedrín y todo el consejo de ancianos
de los hijos de Israel y enviaron a
buscarlos a la prisión. 22 Pero al llegar los
alguaciles no los encontraron en la cárcel,
y regresaron y comunicaron la noticia:
23 –Hemos encontrado la cárcel cerrada,
bien custodiada, y a los centinelas
firmes ante las puertas; pero al abrir
no hemos encontrado a nadie dentro.
24 Cuando oyeron estas palabras el
oficial del Templo y los príncipes de los
sacerdotes, se quedaron perplejos por lo
que habría sido de ellos. 25 Llegó uno y
les anunció:
–Los hombres que metisteis en la
cárcel están en el Templo y siguen enseñando
al pueblo.
26 Entonces fue el oficial con los alguaciles
y los trajo, no por la fuerza,
porque tenían miedo de que el pueblo
les apedrease. 27 Los condujeron y presentaron
al Sanedrín. El sumo sacerdote
les interrogó:
28 –¿No os habíamos mandado expresamente
que no enseñaseis en ese
nombre? En cambio, vosotros habéis
llenado Jerusalén con vuestra doctrina
y queréis hacer recaer sobre nosotros la
sangre de ese hombre.
29 Pedro y los apóstoles respondieron:
–Hay que obedecer a Dios antes que
a los hombres. 30 El Dios de nuestros padres
ha resucitado a Jesús, al que vosotros
matasteis colgándolo de un madero.
31 A éste lo exaltó Dios a su derecha,
como Príncipe y Salvador, para otorgar
a Israel la conversión y el perdón de los
pecados. 32 Y de estas cosas somos testigos
nosotros y el Espíritu Santo, que
Dios ha dado a todos los que le obedecen.
33 Al oír esto se enfurecieron y querían
matarlos.
34 Pero un fariseo llamado Gamaliel,
maestro de la Ley y estimado por todo
el pueblo, se levantó en el Sanedrín y
mandó hacer salir un momento a aquellos
hombres. 35 Y les dijo:
–Israelitas, tened cuidado de lo que
vais a hacer con estos hombres. 36 Porque
hace poco se levantó Teudas, que
decía ser alguien, y se le unieron unos
cuatrocientos hombres; lo mataron y
todos sus seguidores se disgregaron y
quedaron en nada. 37 Después de él se
levantó Judas el Galileo en los días del
empadronamiento, y arrastró al pueblo
tras de sí; murió también y todos sus seguidores
se dispersaron. 38 Así pues, os
digo ahora: desentendeos de estos hombres
y dejadlos, porque si este designio
o esta obra procede de hombres se disolverá;
39 pero si procede de Dios no
podréis acabar con ellos; no sea que os
vayáis a encontrar combatiendo contra
Dios. Ellos se mostraron de acuerdo con
él.
40 Entonces llamaron a los apóstoles,
los azotaron, les ordenaron no hablar en
el nombre de Jesús y los soltaron. 41 Ellos
salían gozosos de la presencia del Sanedrín,
porque habían sido dignos de ser
ultrajados a causa del Nombre. 42 Todos
los días, en el Templo y en las casas, no
cesaban de enseñar y anunciar el Evangelio
de Cristo Jesús.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La historia de Ananías y Safira contiene una fuerte advertencia acerca de "ocultar" cosas al Espíritu Santo. Espíritu Santo, muéstrame las cosas que estoy tratando de ocultar de ti, y concédeme la gracia de entregártelas completamente.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).