Introductory remarks:
Chapter four finished with Barnabas contributing a large sum of money to the common treasury kept by the apostles. This chapter begins where the last chapter left off; this chapter begins on a sour note, that of the lies of Ananias and Saphira. There is no chapter break between chapters four and five. This chapter may be outlined as follows: Ananias and Saphira vv. 1-11; many signs and wonders performed vv. 12-16; persecution of the apostles vv. 17-42.
Ananias and Saphira
Verse 1, "But a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife sold a possession."
LGT "But a certain man, Ananias by name, together with his wife Saphira, sold a possession,"
This chapter introduces us to a certain man and his wife, showing us that his wife was in complete agreement with him. They sold a possession, which was, as we soon learn, land. These two attempted to imitate Barnabas in their giving, but their hearts were not in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Verse 2, "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."
LGT "And kept back from the value, and also his wife, and having brought a certain part, laid [it] at the apostles feet."
So far so good. They had the right to keep back as much as they liked. Even today in the age of grace we are not told how much we are to give; today we are to give as we think is right, and then we should give hilariously, not grudgingly. Again we should not give to be noticed, nor should we broadcast what we give; our giving is between our God and ourselves.
Verse 3, "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and keep back part of the price of the land?"
LGT "But Peter said, Ananias, why did Satan fill thy heart, [for] to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back from the value of the estate?"
The Holy Spirit was given to guide them into all truth, and here they are lying in His name. Ananias did not lie to the Holy Spirit; he lied in order to deceive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God (Rev. 2:23).
Verse 4, "Whiles 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."
LGT "Remaining, did it not remain to you? And having been sold was it not in your own power? Wherefore did you fix this thing in your heart? You did not lie to men but to the God."
Peter says here to Ananias, did you not have the power to sell the land while it was still in your power? You had the right to sell it or not to sell it, it was your choice; even though Satan conceived this evil in Ananias' heart, Ananias was still responsible for making the choice. Peter never forced any Christian to sell their goods and give it to the common treasury; Ananias wanted to imitate Barnabas, but his heart was wrong.
Verse 5, "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the Ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."
LGT "And Ananias hearing these words, falling down expired. And great fear came upon all the ones who heard [these things]."
Simon Peter was not responsible for the death of Ananias; God caused Ananias to expire, that is, to breath his last breath. The KJV interprets this word "expire" as he gave up the Ghost.
Verse 6, "And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him."
LGT "And the younger [men] having risen bandaged him, and having carried out, buried [him]."
It was common among the Jews to wrap the corpse with several folds of linen, and often they used spices to prolong the putrefying process; also quick burials were also practiced to avoid ceremonial defilement.
Verse 7, "And it was about the space of three hours after, when the wife, not knowing what was done, came in."
LGT "And it came to pass about three hours afterwards also his wife, not knowing what had come to pass, came in."
Saphira came in to share in the praise for their pseudo sacrificial gift that her husband had brought in.
Verse 8, "And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much."
LGT "And Peter answered her, Tell me, if for so much you sold the estate? And she said, Yes, for so much."
Peter gives Saphira an opportunity to tell the truth and save her life. Peter may have pointed to the money that lay at his feet.
Verse 9, "Then 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."
LGT "And Peter said to her, Why [is it] that you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband [are] at the door, and they shall carry you out."
They tempted the Lord by agreeing together to devise this scheme; it was very close to committing the unpardonable sin; however we know that only unbelievers commit this sin by rejecting Christ as Savior, and these two were saved ones. They tempted the Spirit of the Lord by thinking that He was not aware of their scheme. They did not commit the unpardonable sin, but they did commit the sin unto death (1 John 5:16).
Verse 10, "Then 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."
LGT "And she fell down immediately at his feet, and expired: and the young [men], having come in, found her dead, and having carried [her] out they buried her by her husband."
Saphira met the same fate as her husband, by thinking that it was possible to deceive the Holy Spirit; this was a lesson the church had to learn very early, because it is by the Holy Spirit that the very Church exists. The young men came in immediately and buried her face to face to her husband.
Verse 11, "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."
LGT "And great fear came upon the whole assembly, and upon all who heard these things."
The church was now being established; they were meeting in homes as the family of God, and lying could not be tolerated. This is a lesson all Christian families can learn, that lying cannot be tolerated.
Many Signs and Wonders Performed
Verses 12-14, "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. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women)."
LGT "And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders came to pass among the people. And they were all with one accord in the porch of Solomon, but of the rest no one dared join them, but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,"
The first sentence of this section refers to the signs and wonders performed by the apostles. Just as the miracles that were performed by Christ proving His deity while He ministered among the people, so the same miracles performed by the apostles, before the Scriptures were completed, proved that the apostles represented the same Christ, and His Gospel of Grace. Calvin comments that "signs and wonders could not be separated from the Word", that is, the miracles took the place of the Word in a real sense. The next phrase and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch was designed to publicly present the gospel to the people who met there for their usual worship. It was the custom for the Jews to meet there at different times of the day for their daily worship; the apostles were not there constantly, but from time to time, in order to meet with the people, and teach the Word of God accompanied with the miracles. The next phrase but of the rest, no one dared to join them was, as Barnes notes "are meant the rich men, or the men of authority and influence among the Jews, of whom Ananias was one, and that they were deterred from it by fate of Ananias . . . The rich and the great then, as now, stood aloof from them, and were deterred by fear or shame from professing attachment to the Lord Jesus." This is contrasted with the people who did meet, for they magnified them, that is, they listened to them as true apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ; they did not worship the apostles, but magnified and worshipped the apostles God and His Christ. Men and women were added to the church daily based on faith alone in Christ alone.
Verse 15, "Insomuch 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."
LGT "So that, into the streets, to bring out the sick, and put [them] upon beds and couches, on order that coming the coming of Peter, at least the shadow might overshadow some of them."
This is the result of those miracles and signs, and should be joined with verse twelve; some of the people were very superstitious, as is shown by their thinking there was power in Peter's shadow. God did honor even those of little faith, because it was directed towards God. Where the Word of God is not taught, such as in the Roman Church, superstitions prevail. We read constantly of silly people seeing the virgin Mary in spilt syrup on a table, or some other form presented in nature that looks like a cross or the form of what they think is Christ. People come from all around to show their ignorance of the Word by worshipping these images. This could only be explained, as my brother Alex says, in that they don't study the Bible, so they think they are pleasing God by their foolish acts.
Calvin notes on these superstitious ones:
"The Papists abuse this text [as a pretext], not only to the end they may commend feigned miracles, which they say are done at the graves of martyrs, but also that they may boast of their relics. Why (say they) shall not the grave, or garment, or the touching of the bones of Peter, have power to heal, as well as his shadow had this power? I answer; we must not by and by think that is right which Luke saith was done by ignorant men, and those, which knew not the pure faith. Yet we have a more certain answer in readiness than this. For the apostles were endued with such power for this cause, because they were ministers of the gospel. Therefore they used this gift, inasmuch as it served to further the credit of the gospel (which I myself add, was not yet completed); yea, God did no less show His power in their shadow than in their mouth. Those miracles whereof the Papists babble are so unlike to these, that they are rather altogether contrary. For this is the end of their miracles, to lead away the world from Christ unto saints (that is, the Papists artificial miracles)."
Verse 16, "There came also a multitude out of the cities about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."
LGT "And the multitude also came together of the round about cities of Jerusalem, bringing sick ones and those plagued with unclean spirits, who were all healed."
The multitudes were attracted to the apostles miracles just as they were attracted to the miracles of Jesus Christ as He ministered on this earth; of course we know that it was Jesus still at work through the apostles; the ministry of the Holy Spirit in this age of grace is totally through the Word of God, for the age of the apostolic miracles passed with the twelve.
McGee adds:
"May I compare this to modern faith healing? Modern faith healers never heal all the people who come to them. Have you ever noticed that? The apostles had sign gifts, friend. No one in the church since then has had those gifts (and I add, all gifts ceased). People were healed every one of them. They emptied the hospitals. This was the power of the early church
We must remember that at that time there was no written New Testament. The church is built on Jesus Christ - He is the Cornerstone - and the apostles were witnesses to Christ. The sign gifts were given to them to demonstrate the fact they spoke with God's authority. Today we have a written New Testament as our authority."
Persecution of the Apostles
Verses 17, 18, "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."
LGT "And the high priest having risen up, and all those with him, which is [the] sect of the Sadducees, were filled with anger, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in [the] public hold."
The Sadducees were the sects of the Sanhedrim that started the persecution of the apostles, because of Peter's great sermons on the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. These rulers of the people put the apostles in the common prison for safe keeping unto their trial. This prison was the common prison where they kept the most notorious prisoners.
Verse 19, "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,"
LGT "But an angel of [the] Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison, and having brought them out, said,"
The KJV is not correct in using an article before the word "angel" because whenever the article is used, it specifies "the angel" as in the Old Testament, and it refers to the Lord Jesus; here it is an angel, which means a messenger of God. Here the messenger is sent to miraculously open the prison doors to let the apostles out.
Barnes notes four reasons for this miracle:
"An angel was employed for this special purpose, and the design might have been, (1) To reprove the Jewish rulers, and to convince them of their guilt in resisting the gospel of God; (2) To convince the apostles more firmly of the protection and approbation [approval] of God; (3) To encourage them more and more in their work, and in the faithful discharge of their high duty; and (4) To give the people a new and impressive proof of the truth of the message which they bore."
If one may ask if these four reasons might still be in effect today, I answer: 'The Word of God needs no such proofs, because it is the infallible, [perfect] immutable, [never changing] and plenary [inherently complete] inspired [God breathed] Word of God, and God cannot be separated from His Word. Also, we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit instructing us daily as we study His Word'.
Another may ask do you believe we have guardian angels watching over us? My answer to this question I want you to keep between you and me; because I don't want to start a fight; but I definitely do believe there are angels who watch over us; otherwise, how would you account for the fact that I am alive today, for all the stupid things I have done in my life. Let me say this to clarify the issue; the reason I think believers do not believe in guardian angels is (1) because of the many times we have been in accidents, or when bad things seem to happen to good people, and (2) because stupid people from stupid religions teach that we have them. Now lets look at this case of the apostles being let out of prison by an angel. This time it is expedient to the furtherance of the gospel; but soon they will not only be imprisoned, but they will die for the sake of the gospel. Only God can determine what is expedient or not; so don't get up tight and sanctimonious over the issue of guardian angels. If you don't believe we have them, well, fine and dandy; but don't get angry if I happen to believe God is able to use them today, to keep me from botching things up too badly. I don't always walk in the Light of His Word, and these cases, someone has to watch over me, and keep me from self-destructing. Now I do not believe they come in person [incarnate] as they did before the Bible was complete; but I do believe they are working for God behind the scenes.
Verse 20, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
LGT "Go ye, and standing, speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
The angel commands the apostles to preach the gospel of this life; that is the eternal life of the resurrection, which the Sadducees reject. The angel did not deliver them from their present danger in order that they might go into hiding, but that they might go into the temple, a most public and conspicuous place, and preach the same gospel in the name of Jesus, and His resurrection, that got them into prison.
Verse 21, "And 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."
LGT "And having heard, they entered at the dawn into the temple, and were teaching. But the high priest and those with him, having come, they called together the Sanhedrim, and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought."
Here we have the high priest and all his high mucky-mucks coming together, calling the Sanhedrim together to council on what they were going to do to the apostles; they send officers to get the apostles from their prison and bring them before the council.
Verses 22, 23, "But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, saying, 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."
LGT "But the officers having come, did not find them in the prison: and having returned they reported, saying, that indeed, we found the prison shut with all security, and the keepers standing before the doors, but having opened, we found no one within."
The officers were those servants of the Sanhedrim, came and found the sentinels keeping guard over the prison with all security; having opened the doors of the prison, they found it empty. They did not see any signs that the prison had been broken into, and the guards in their places, they had to conclude that it was an act of God that opened the doors.
Verse 24, "Now 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."
LGT "And when they heard these words, both the captain of the temple and the chief priests were perplexed concerning them, what this might become."
The Sanhedrim were mystified at what would happen if they let things continue on in this course with these apostles.
Verse 25, "Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people."
LGT "But having come, a certain one reported to them that, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people."
This adds to the perplexity of the Sanhedrim, because the apostles did not run and hide, but went directly to the temple to continue teaching the people, which was in opposition to their commands. The anxiety of the Sanhedrim was over what this thing could grow into, because as Barnes points out, "For (1) Their authority was disregarded. (2) God had opposed them by a miracle. (3) The doctrines of the apostles were gaining ground. (4) Their efforts to resist them had been in vain. They need not have doubted; but sinners are not disposed to be convinced of the truth of religion."
Verse 26, "Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned."
LGT "Then the captain having gone together with the officers brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, [that] they might not be stoned."
The captain and the officers handled the apostles with care, lest the people rise up and stone them. The apostles went peacefully, because they knew that any opposition by them would be to ignite civil disobedience, and the apostles knew this would be another opportunity to give the gospel to the Sanhedrim; the people were favorable to the apostles, so they went with the officers in peace.
Verses 27, 28, "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straightly 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."
LGT "And having brought them, they set [them] before the Sanhedrim. And the high priest asked them, saying, Did we [not] charge you with a charge not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you purpose to bring upon us the blood of this Man."
Several things are to be noted in these verses. (1) They set them in the midst of the council to accuse them of disobeying them. (2) They ask them if they did not totally disregard their commands not to teach in this man's name. (3) They use the term "this man" in order not to pollute themselves by using the name of Jesus, whom they hated. (4) They charged the apostles of filling all Jerusalem with their doctrine, and (5) They charged the apostles with bringing the blood of Christ upon their heads; remember, when Christ was before Pilate, the Sanhedrim said openly His blood be upon us, and our children. The Sanhedrim were charging the apostles of spreading the word around Jerusalem that the council was guilty of murdering Jesus; it was true, but that is not what the apostles were spreading; they were spreading the good news that Christ died on their behalf; the Sanhedrim had guilty consciences, and every time they set their eyes on the apostles, they were reminded of Christ.
Verse 29, "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
LGT "But Peter and the apostles answering, said, It is necessary to obey God, rather than man."
The apostles answered that it was necessary for them to obey their God, than to obey the council, whom they considered as mere men. They say in effect, We will not obey any law of man that conflicts with the law of God; God had commanded the apostles to go and preach the gospel, and preach the gospel they will do, and for any man, regardless of his title, will be impotent when going against the great Creator; God gave man his authority, and man has extended it beyond the limits He gave. The council is the created rising up against the Creator.
Verse 30, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."
LGT "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye killed, having hanged on a tree:"
Peter refers to Deut. 21:23 as Paul does in Gal. 3:13, the curse pronounced on every one who 'hangs upon a tree.' Peter used the term "ye slew" which in the Greek means, you killed with your own hands. Peter does not let these rulers off the hook for their taking Christ, the promised Messiah, and hanging Him on the cursed tree, and crucifying him; however, he goes on to say that their God, the Great Jehovah, raised Him from among the dead. Peter is bold when it comes to preaching Christ and Christ crucified, for this is the body and soul of the Gospel of grace.
Verse 31, "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
LGT "God exalted Him by the right hand, Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins."
Peter gives his testimony to his belief that God not only raised Christ from among the dead, but Jesus also ascended and is spending His session at the right hand of the Father, making the remission of sins possible, and the eventual repentance of the entire nation of Israel. Peter addresses the Sanhedrim as part of the nation of Jews, and says that Christ, as the Prince, sitting at the right hand of God, is able to forgive sins, which only God can do; this makes Christ equal with God, the claim that got Him crucified by these same rulers.
Verse 32. "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
LGT "And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit God gave to the ones that obey Him."
The apostles did witness the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ; and they also received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and he says that as many as obey Him, that is, accept the Christ, as Savior and Prince, will also receive the same baptism. The word "obey" here means listening to, and harkening to the message Peter is giving them. The term obey as used here does not imply doing something, it simply means to believe the message Peter is giving them.
Verse 33, "When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."
LGT "But they having heard, were cut [to the heart] and took counsel to put them to death."
The Sanhedrim were cut to the heart, not with conviction, but with rage; they were plotting to kill the apostles for disobeying their orders not to teach in the name of Jesus the Nazarene; disobeying the Sanhedrim was a capital offence; they were on the verge of making a grave mistake.
Verse 34, "Then 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."
LGT "But having risen up, a certain [man] in the Sanhedrim, a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, commanded to put out the men for a short while."
Gamaliel was the same doctor of the Law that taught Saul of Tarsus; he was an outstanding man, and honored among the people. He has the apostles excused for a little while he speaks to the Sanhedrim. Being a Pharisee, he was opposed to the Sadducees, and he seems to take over at this point.
Verse 35, "And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men."
LGT "And said to them, Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves as regards these men what you are about to do."
The first thing Gamaliel did was to have the apostles excused so he could talk privately to the Sanhedrim. He did not believe the gospel these men were preaching, but, being a prudent teacher of the law, he saw the fury in the elder's eyes. He did not want the scribes and elders to declare open war on God. It was not that he believed the apostles were preaching the truth; it was just that he was not quite sure they themselves had the truth, because there is no assurance of salvation in Judaism. They believed Jesus Christ was a prophet of God, they simply sidestep the issue by declaring Him to be a false prophet; they did not believe the Word of God was the final court of appeal, or they would have never written their commentaries, putting their particular spin on the Law of God.
Verse 36, "For 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 naught."
LGT "For before these days rose up Theudas, asserting to be somebody himself, to whom a number of men were joined, about four-hundred: who was put to death, and all as many as were persuaded by him and were dispersed and came to nothing."
There is no historical evidence of the insurrection led by this Theudas; however as Josephus notes, there were many insurrections in that day; it is obvious by these words of Gamaliel that the Sanhedrim were all well aware of this particular revolt. The important issue is, that Gamaliel is warning these men not to pass judgment on the apostles, because God just might have sent them.
Verse 37, "After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of taxing, and drew away much people after him; he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed."
LGT "After this one rose up Judas the Galilean in the days of the registration, and drew away people after him: and he perished, and all as many as were persuaded by him were scattered abroad."
Josephus gives an account of this revolt by Judas the Galilean: "He says that the revolt took place under Cyrenius, a Roman senator, who came into Syria to be judge of that nation, and to take account of their substance. Moreover, says he, Cyrenius came Himself into Judea, which was now added to the province of Syria, to take an account of their substance, and to dispose of Archelaus' money. Yet Judas, taking with him Saddouk, a Pharisee, became zealous to draw them to a revolt, who both said that this taxation was no better than an introduction to slavery, and exhorted the nation to assert their liberty. This revolt, Josephus says, was the commencement of the series of revolts and calamities that terminated in the destruction of the city (Jerusalem A.D. 70)" (Antiquities, 18:1:1).
Verse 38, 39, "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 come to naught. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
LGT "And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men, and let them alone, for if this counsel or work be from men, it will be overthrown: but if it be out from God, ye are not able to overthrow them, lest also ye be found fighters of God."
Gamaliel used the cases of Theudas and Judas as cases in point. Gamaliel's policy was "hands off". He states that if they make the wrong decision it could be the end of them too. If the apostles were false apostles let God be the judge. Gamaliel says the same thing will happen to Jesus and His followers if they just let them be, and they will for sure play themselves out. Men have been trying for two thousand years to stamp out Christianity, but to no avail; I believe the apostles were sent from God.
Verse 40, "And 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."
LGT "And they were persuaded by him, and having called the apostles [to them], having beaten, they commanded [them] not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them."
The Sanhedrim were not persuaded completely by Gamaliel for they first beat them and then let them go; if they were guilty, they should have beat them, but not knowing, they should have listened to his sage advice. The Sadducees were the ones who most hated Jesus, for He is living proof of the resurrection.
Verse 41, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
LGT "They therefore departed, rejoicing from the presence of the Sanhedrim, because they were accounted worthy, on behalf of His name, to be dishonored."
I love this verse. Here we have the apostles being honored because they were dishonored, as Vincent puts it, they were dignified by indignity.
Verse 42, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
LGT "And every day in the temple and in the houses they ceased not teaching and announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ."
I don't think the beatings or the commands given by the Sanhedrim had much affect on these apostles; they continued to teach in that forbidden Name. Gamaliel had opened the prison doors for them, and they took full advantage of this opportunity. Calvin made a great comment on this verse: "Therefore the apostles are, after a sort, armed with stripes, so that they valiantly make haste unto death. Therefore, woe be to our daintiness, who, having suffered a little persecution, do by and by resign up the light to another, as if we were now old worn soldiers."
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