Acts - 5:6



6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Acts 5:6.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him.
And the young men, rising up, swathed him up for burial, and having carried him out, buried him.
and having risen, the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth, they buried him.
The younger men, however, rose, and wrapping the body up, carried it out and buried it.
And the young men went and made ready his body, and took it out, and put it in the earth.
And the young men rose up and removed him; and carrying him out, they buried him.
The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And the young men - The youth of the congregation; very probably young men who were in attendance as "servants," or those whose business it was to attend on the congregation, and perform various offices when Christians celebrated their worship (Mosheim). The word used here sometimes denotes a "servant." It is used also, Acts 5:10, to denote "soldiers," as they were commonly enlisted of the vigorous and young. The fact that they took up Ananias voluntarily implies that they were accustomed to perform offices of servitude to the congregation.
Wound him up - It was the usual custom with the Jews to wind the body in many folds of linen before it was buried; commonly also with spices, to preserve it from putrefaction. See the notes on John 11:44. It may be asked "why" he was so soon buried; and especially why he was hurried away without giving information to his wife. In reply to this, it may be remarked:
1. That it does not appear from the narrative that it was "known" that Sapphira was privy to the transaction, or was near at hand, or even that he had a wife. Ananias came "himself" and offered the money, and the judgment fell at once on him.
2. It was customary among the ancient Persians to bury the body almost immediately after death (Jahn); and it seems probable that the Jews, when the body was not embalmed, imitated the custom. It would also appear that this was an ancient custom among the Jews. See Genesis 23:19; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 35:29; Genesis 48:7; 1-Kings 13:30. Different nations differ in their customs in burying the dead; and there is no impropriety in committing a body soon after death to the tomb.
3. There might have been some danger of an excitement and tumult in regard to this scene if the corpse had not soon been removed; and as no valuable purpose could be answered by delaying the burial, the body was decently committed to the dust.

The young men arose - Some of the stout young men belonging to the disciples then present, who were the fittest to undertake a work of this kind, which required considerable bodily exertion.
Buried him - This was on the same day in which he died. It was a clear case that he was dead, and dead by a judgment of God that would not be revoked. As therefore it was no case of suspended animation, there was no reason to delay the burial.

And the young men arose,.... The younger brethren of the church, who were robust, and strong, and fit for the following service: these rose up from their seats at once, not willing that such an awful spectacle should lie long before them:
and wound him up; in linen clothes, as was the manner of the Jews:
and carried him out: of the house where they were, and out of the city; for the burying places of the Jews were without the city:
and buried him; which was all done in a very short time, as appears by what follows.

the young men--some of the younger and more active members of the church, not as office-bearers, nor coming forward now for the first time, but who probably had already volunteered their services in making subordinate arrangements. In every thriving Christian community such volunteers may be expected, and will be found eminently useful.

The young men arose, wound him up. Wrapped his mantle tightly around him.
Carried him out. Of the place of meeting and out of the city for burial. It was common, in the warm climate of Palestine, to bury on the day of death. Severe examples occurred at the outset of both Dispensations. Note the case of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) and the sin of Achan (Joshua 7:16-25).

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