Acts 5:13-18
 
Acts 5:13 (KJB)
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
 
Durst - Dare
Magnified - Larger, extol, or praise
 
Once the people saw what had happened to Ananias and Sapphira, the people had feared to the point that they did not want to join with the Apostles. There were probably many unbelievers who had feared that they would wind up in the same manner and no doubt had left. There were also many believers who were probably stunned by this situation. One moment they were all in a state of euphoria over the true Gospel and the next, two people were dead. At this point what they had failed to realize was that the sin of Ananias and Sapphira triggered the judgment by God. As long as the people were honest in their dealings, they would not face the same judgment. They had to know that the church was bought by the blood of Christ and there is no place for those who want to seek to be preeminent. The central focus of every church needs to be the Lord Jesus Christ. These people in the court of the temple began to praise the Apostles because of what had happened. This does not mean that they were being worshipped but that they were seen in a different light, in that God was with them.
 
Acts 5:14 (KJB)
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
 
Multitudes - Large number or crowd
 
In spite of the events which took place, the true gospel was still having an effect upon the people and as they heard the word being preached, the Lord was opening up the spiritual hearts of the people and saving many. With the continual adding of believers to the church, some believe that there may have been around 10,000 at this time. Can you imagine what a tremendous crowd that was within the confines of that one city? Once they started to spread out among the Roman Empire, we can now understand why they believed that Christianity was a threat to Rome and Emperor worship. The signs and wonders had continued as the Apostles were performing them in great numbers.
 
Acts 5:15 (KJB)
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.
 
Once the believers had overcome the fear they had concerning Ananias and Sapphira, their confidence in the Lord had continued to mount to the point that they, and no doubt many unbelievers had brought the sick and infirm for the purpose of having them healed. So great was the signs and wonders at this time, that just the shadow of Peter had to come over the sick and infirm and they were healed. Now it seems that the Apostles had moved from the courtyard into the streets of Jerusalem. The word must have spread very rapidly about the Apostles and the healing of the crippled man because these people were already lined up in hopes to receive their own miracle.
 
Acts 5:16 (KJB)
There 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.
 
Now not only did the word spread quickly in Jerusalem, but it spread to the surrounding towns. Now not only were the physically sick lined up to receive healing, within this crowd were those who were possessed by unclean spirits. This a very revealing bit of information because not only did the true gospel heal the physically sick, but now we see that the true Gospel has authority over the kingdom of Satan. When Peter’s shadow passed over those who were vexed with evil spirits, they were healed because the evils spirits had to leave. This may mean that those people were saved but not necessarily. (Luke 11:24 KJV) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. In Luke 11, we read that a man had an evil spirit leave him but after a while the evil spirit returned. This was because he never became saved. If that person became saved, then the Holy Spirit would be indwelling that man and the evil spirit would not even try to come into that man. This is why when we see faith healers casting out demons, we must be very leery about it because it may be giving an unsaved person false hope that they are saved.
 
Acts 5:17 (KJB)
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,
 
Indignation - Jealousy, rivalry, or fervor
 
Instead of these leaders being so happy that there were a great miracles happening all over the area and that people were being healed, which would have meant more people coming to Temple, they were filled with jealousy because they saw the Apostles as their rivals. They probably thought, “well there goes our income.” So being that they had already warned them not to proclaim in Jesus‘ name, they were indignant because they were not obeyed. This shows that false religion always has its focus on those who are in charge and not on the people. The Sadducees would also have been indignant since they vehemently denied the resurrection and spirit beings. This situation would have proven their teachings to be totally erroneous.
 
Acts 5:18 (KJB)
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
 
The word “laid” in the Greek carries with it a meaning of “violent or forceful seizure.” They were not going to tolerate any more of this situation so they had them arrested and placed them in the common prison. This was where they placed all the criminals. The hour must have been getting late so they wanted to place them in ward and then when the Sanhedrin was once again gathered together, they would deal with them. I am sure that these Apostles had given the Gospel to those who were in that prison with them.

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