Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 5:16
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.
16. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem ] The best MSS. have no word for unto. The construction without that preposition would be and there came also together the multitude out of the cities round about Jerusalem. The use of the word city ( ) is common even when the places so called are very insignificant, as of Nazareth (Mat 2:23), Nain (Luk 7:11), and Arimatha (Luk 23:51).
bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits ] It was recognized that the power of the Apostles extended not only to physical, but also to spiritual maladies. Indeed the whole history being of a supernatural character, the cures wrought on ordinary maladies were of the nature of signs and wonders, and spake of a power which was not human. The power here displayed is that which in Christ’s own life was confessed to be that of the Son of God (Luk 4:40-41).
The verb in the original for vexed is found only here and in Luk 6:18 in the N. T., and like the word rendered “gave up the ghost” ( Act 5:5 ; Act 5:10), is used frequently in the works of Greek medical writers, so that it is such a word as we should expect to find a physician using in the description of this malady.
unclean spirits ] are those which are called wicked in other parts of the New Testament (Mat 12:45, &c.), and the former epithet is probably applied to them because the sufferer in his state of frenzy wandered into places where he would incur ceremonial defilement, as the demoniac who had his dwelling among the tombs (Mar 5:3), the latter on account of the evil effects so often patent in the condition of the afflicted person, as loss of speech, hearing and other senses, the belief of the Jews being that spirits afflicted with such maladies were the cause of the like affliction in human beings.
and they were healed every one ] For it was only a complete faith which had prompted the bringing them unto the Apostles, and to such faith all things had been promised by Christ (Mar 9:23).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
There came also … – Attracted by the fame of Peters miracles, as the people formerly had been by the miracles of the Lord Jesus.
Vexed – Troubled, afflicted, or tormented.
Unclean spirits – Possessed with devils; called unclean because they prompted to sin and impurity of life. See the notes on Mat 4:23-24.
And they were healed – Of these persons it is expressly affirmed that they were healed. Of those who were so laid as that the shadow of Peter might pass over them, there is no such direct affirmation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. Sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits] Here it is evident that sick people are distinguished from those who were vexed with unclean spirits; and therefore they were not one and the same thing. The same distinction is made Mt 4:24; Mt 10:1; Mr 1:32, Mr 1:34; Mr 16:17-18; and Lu 4:40-41; Lu 7:21.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The variety and grievousness of these evils did but the more commend the power which was present with the apostles.
They were healed every one; an evidence that these cures were not wrought by second causes, for the best medicines do not always succeed; as also, in that they were perfectly and suddenly cured who were thus miraculously cured, the God of nature restoring nature beyond what means and art could do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13-16. of the rest durst no man joinhimself, c.Of the unconverted none ventured, after what hadtaken place, to profess discipleship but yet their number continuallyincreased.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
There came also a multitude out of the cities round about,…. The fame of the apostles’ miracles spread in the cities round about Jerusalem; those that were at some distance as well as near, and large numbers of people came from thence,
unto Jerusalem; where the apostles were: the Syriac version adds, “unto them”, that is, to the apostles; and the Arabic version, “with them”; along with those of the city of Jerusalem, who brought out their infirm persons into the streets to be cured:
bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; with devils, by whom they were not only possessed, but greatly harassed and afflicted: sometimes tearing and convulsing them, and sometimes throwing them on the ground, and bruising them; or into fire and water, of which there are some instances in the evangelists:
and they were healed everyone; none went without a cure, which served greatly to confirm the Gospel preached by the apostles, and to irritate and provoke their enemies, as appears by what follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Came together (). Imperfect middle, kept on coming.
Round about (). Old adverb, strengthened form of , only here in the N.T.
Vexed (). Present passive participle of , to excite a mob () against one, to trouble, annoy. Old word, only here in the N.T., though in Lu 6:18.
Were healed every one ( ). Imperfect passive, were healed one at a time, repetition.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “There came also a multitude,” (sunerchero de aki to plethos) “Subsequently also the multitudes came together of their own accord or choosing,” voluntarily they came, out of care and compassion for others, the infirm in body, the deranged in mind, and the obsessed in wickedness of spirit, they came, bringing them to find a change by the word and power of Jesus, Joh 1:41-45.
2) “Out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem,” (ton periks poleon lerousalem) “Out of the cities around about Jerusalem,” by foot and on donkeys, the primary method of travel in that day, they came. Those weary in travel and heavy laden in sin and bodily sickness found rest and relief from their burdens and were made whole, even as Jesus had done for the masses, Luk 4:40-41; Luk 8:1-3.
3) “Bringing sick folks,” (pherontes astheneis) “Bearing or carrying ailing, sick or afflicted ones,” those who were not ambulatory, not able to even rise and take two steps or more without aid. This means there were multitudes of believers strong in faith as well as in body, else they would not have brought the helpless and needy to the apostles, Mar 2:1-5.
4) “And them that were vexed with unclean spirits:(kai ochloumenos hupo pneumaton akatharton) “And those who were tormented (obsessed) by unclean spirits: The term “unclean” means “morally and ethically unclean,” which is indicated from the Gk. term akatharton.” This refers to very wicked people, Mat 4:14; Mar 1:32-34.
5) “And they were healed every one,” (oitines etherapeuonoto hapantes) “Who were all healed,” made well, or whole, as promised by the Lord, Mar 16:17. The disciples and apostles were promised that they should one day be enabled and do greater works (greater in number) than He had done. And they did, as reported in the book of Acts, Joh 14:12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(16) There came also a multitude.Here also the tense points to a continual and daily concourse. The work of expansion is beginning. The cities round about may have included Hebron, Bethlehem, Emmaus, and Jericho; perhaps also Lydda and Joppa. (See, however, Notes on Act. 9:32; Act. 9:36.) It is obvious here also that we have the summary of what must have occupied, at least, several months.
Vexed with unclean spirits.In this work the Apostles and the Seventy had already experienced the power of the Name of the Lord Jesus (Luk. 10:17). Now that they were working in the full power of the Spirit, it was natural that they should do yet greater things (Joh. 14:12).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and those who were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one.’
And people thronged into Jerusalem from cities round about, bringing their sick, and bringing those who were possessed by evil spirits, ‘and they were healed every one’. No wonder Jerusalem was stirred. No wonder that the authorities, who could not accept what they were teaching, were appalled. It was as though Jesus had reappeared in multiplied form. And while it is not stated we can be absolutely sure that they were constantly calling on the forbidden Name of Jesus.
Note that all who came were healed. There were no excuses and blaming of others for lack of faith here. There were no cases of failure. Here was clear evidence that the Kingly Rule of God was present exactly as promised by the prophets
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
16 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.
Ver. 16. And they were healed every one ] Christ is Jehovah the Physician, Exo 15:26 . He hath a most happy hand, and was never foiled by any disease, Psa 103:3 . Omnipotenti medico nullus insanabilis occurris morbus; to an Almighty Physician no disease can be incurable. (Isidore.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
16. ] Keep, in both verbs, and , the imperfect sense; ‘the multitude, &c., was coming together, bearing, &c., for all such (quippe qui) were being healed:’ viz. when the next incident, . . ., happened [which forms a contrast to this waxing prosperity of the Church].
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 5:16 . : very common in St. Luke, Luk 2:4 ; Luk 3:9 ; Luk 5:10 ; Luk 9:61 ; Luk 14:12 , etc., and also nine times in Acts. St. John uses it frequently, but seldom in Matt. and Mark; used for the sake of giving emphasis. only here, strengthened for , not in LXX, but see Hatch and Redpath, found in Acta Andr. et Matth. Apocr. , 26 (see Lumby’s note), in classics from schylus. . , “the cities round about Jerusalem,” omitting before . : only here in N.T., cf. Luk 6:18 , (W.H [176] , R.V.) . . Both verbs are peculiar to St. Luke in the N.T. in connection with disease ( is used in Heb 12:15 in a different sense), and both were often used by medical writers. In Tob 6:8 , the simple verb is used of the vexing and disturbing of an evil spirit, and is used several times in the LXX, of being troubled with sicknesses, Gen 48:1 , 1Sa 19:14 ; 1Sa 30:13 , Mal 1:13 . So J. Weiss, who is by no means inclined to overrate Dr. Hobart’s work, regards the use of the two verbs just mentioned as the employment in St. Luke of technical medical terms, Evangelium des Lukas , pp. 273, 274 (1892); found in Hipp., Galen, Dioscorides, cf. in the latter, Mat. Med. , iii., 116, , see also Luk 6:19 ; Luk 8:46 , for a like effect following on the manifestation of the miraculous powers of Christ.
[176] Westcott and Hort’s The New Testament in Greek: Critical Text and Notes.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
also, &c. = a multitude also.
round about. Greek. perix. Only here.
unto. App-104.
vexed = beset. Greek. ochleo, to crowd. Only here and Luk 6:18. A medical word.
with = by. App-104.
spirits. App-101.
healed. Greek. therapeuo. See note on Luk 6:17, Luk 6:18.
every one = all of them,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
16.] Keep, in both verbs, and , the imperfect sense; the multitude, &c., was coming together, bearing, &c.,-for all such (quippe qui) were being healed: viz. when the next incident, …, happened [which forms a contrast to this waxing prosperity of the Church].
Fuente: The Greek Testament
bringing: Mat 4:24, Mat 8:16, Mat 15:30, Mat 15:31, Mar 2:3, Mar 2:4, Mar 6:54-56, Joh 14:12
healed: Act 4:30, Mar 16:17, Mar 16:18, Luk 5:17, Luk 9:11, 1Co 12:9, Jam 5:16
Reciprocal: Ecc 3:3 – a time to heal Mat 4:23 – healing Mat 9:2 – they brought Luk 6:18 – vexed Luk 6:19 – sought Act 2:43 – many Act 8:7 – unclean
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Act 5:16. This verse tells us that the people were not disappointed in their efforts recorded in the preceding one, for they were healed every one. The healing was done by the Lord as a reward for the faith that had been shown by their actions. Vexed with unclean spirits is the same as being possessed of devils. (See the note on the subject of being possessed of devils at Mat 8:28.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 5:16. With unclean spirits. The subject of demoniacal possession will be found discussed in chap. Act 16:6.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 15
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
News of the apostles’ powers was spreading beyond Jerusalem. People from outlying areas were bringing their sick friends to them just as people had brought sick friends to Jesus from miles around (cf. Luk 5:15). Luke probably meant that all whom the apostles sought to heal experienced restoration, not that they healed every single individual who was sick (cf. Mat 8:16). Even Jesus’ healings were limited in their scope (cf. Luk 5:17). [Note: See Deere, pp. 58-64.] This verse is one of the texts that advocates of the "prosperity gospel" appeal to as proof that it is never God’s will for anyone to be sick. Other texts they use include Exo 15:26; Exo 23:25; Psa 103:3; Pro 4:20-22; Isa 33:24; Jer 30:17; Mat 4:23; Mat 10:1; Mar 16:16-18; Luk 6:17-19; and Act 10:38. [Note: For a critique of this movement, see Ken L. Sarles, "A Theological Evaluation of the Prosperity Gospel," Bibliotheca Sacra 143:572 (October-December 1986):329-52.]
This section is very similar to Act 4:32-35, though this summary shows the church gaining many more adherents and much greater influence than the former one documented.