Acts 5 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecontentconditionaldashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

The judgment of Ananias and Sapphira 5:1–11

vv. 1–2 — the sale and the secret withholding

But a certain man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property,independent — δέ against Barnabas (4:36–37) — the counterfeit of the same gesture; husband and wife introduced together

and kept back part of the proceeds,independent — ἐνοσφίσατο — the verb of Achan's sin (Josh 7:1 LXX), a deliberate echo

his wife also knowing of it,participial — genitive absolute — Sapphira's complicity flagged in advance

and bringing a certain part,participial — preposed participle — μέρος τι, the incompleteness of the gift; leans on ἔθηκεν

he laid it at the apostles' feet.independent — the gesture of 4:35, 37 performed as theater

vv. 3–6 — Peter's interrogation and the first death

But Peter said:independent — the speech-frame — no inquiry precedes; the knowledge is prophetic

'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart,content — πληρόω of Satan (cf. Luke 22:3) — the dark filling, against the Spirit-filling of 4:31

that you should lie to the Holy Spiritpurpose — infinitive of result — the lie's true addressee named first

and keep back part of the price of the land?purpose — the verb of v. 2 repeated — act and verdict tied by the echo

While it remained, did it not remain yours?content — the property was free — the sin is not withholding but deceiving

And once sold, was it not in your own authority?content — second rhetorical question — even the money was his to keep

Why is it that you have set this deed in your heart?content — ἔθου answers ἔθηκεν — what he laid at the feet he had first laid in his heart

You have not lied to men but to God.'content — the verdict — the Spirit of v. 3 is God; the chapter's theological fulcrum

And as Ananias heard these words,participial — present participle — judgment falls in the very act of hearing; leans on ἐξέψυξεν

falling down, he breathed his last;independent — ἐκψύχω — Luke's rare expiry-verb: Ananias, Sapphira (v. 10), Herod (12:23)

and great fear came upon all who heard.independent — the first φόβος-μέγας refrain — completed at v. 11

And the young men, rising,participial — preposed participle — the burial detail moves at once; no mourning is narrated

wrapped him up,independent — συστέλλω — the shrouding

and carrying him out,participial — ἐκφέρω — the carrying-out verb that will toll through the chapter (vv. 9, 10, 15)

they buried him.independent — one word — the judgment sealed in the ground

vv. 7–11 — three hours later: the matched panel

Now there was an interval of about three hours,independent — διάστημα — NT hapax; time enough for the burial to be finished

and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.independent — μὴ εἰδυῖα — ignorant of the death, not of the plot (v. 2, συνειδυίης); the irony is total

And Peter answered her:independent — ἀπεκρίθη — he 'answers' her unspoken assumption with a test

'Tell me,content — the offered chance to speak the truth

did you sell the land for so much?'content — indirect question with εἰ — the named sum is the trap

And she said:independent — her one chance

'Yes, for so much.'content — verbless — two words confirm the lie

But Peter, to her:independent — verbless speech-frame — the verb of saying elided; the verdict comes faster this time

'Why is it that you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?content — συνεφωνήθη — the conspiracy named; πειράσαι echoes Israel testing God (Ps 95:9 LXX)

Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door,content — verbless — the audible footsteps as omen; 'feet' answers the feet of v. 2

and they will carry you out.'content — predictive future — the sentence pronounced before the death

And immediately she fell at his feetindependent — παραχρῆμα — Luke's instant; at Peter's feet, where the money had been laid

and breathed her last;independent — the verb of v. 5 verbatim — the two panels close in matched form

and the young men, coming in,participial — the burial detail returns on cue; leans on εὗρον

found her dead,independent — the discovery narrated without comment

and carrying her out,participial — ἐκφέρω again — exactly as promised in v. 9

they buried her beside her husband.independent — πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα — together in the plot, together in the ground

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard these things.independent — the refrain of v. 5 expanded — ἐκκλησία, its first appearance in Acts

Signs and wonders — Solomon's portico and Peter's shadow 5:12–16

Now through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were happening among the people;independent — summary panel (cf. 2:43; 4:30) — iterative imperfect ἐγίνετο, an ongoing pattern

and they were all together with one accord in Solomon's Portico.independent — ὁμοθυμαδόν — Luke's unity-adverb; the east colonnade (3:11) as the revived Israel's gathering place

But of the rest no one dared to join them;independent — the paradox of holy dread — the fear of vv. 5, 11 operating socially

yet the people magnified them.independent — μεγαλύνω — distance and esteem together

And all the more were believers added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,independent — divine passive — God does the adding (2:47); men and women, Luke's inclusive pairing

so that they even carried the sick out into the streetspurpose — ὥστε + infinitive — actual result (typed pur; no result key); ἐκφέρειν, the corpse-verb of vv. 6–10, now carries the living

and to lay them on cots and mats,purpose — coordinate result infinitive — κλινάριον, a Lucan hapax

so that as Peter passed, at least his shadow might overshadow one of them.purpose — ἐπισκιάζω — the overshadowing verb of Luke 1:35 and 9:34; κἄν, the minimal hope

And the multitude from the towns around Jerusalem also kept coming together,independent — iterative imperfect — the stream widens beyond the city; πέριξ, an NT hapax

bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits,participial — plural participle with singular πλῆθος — constructio ad sensum

who were healed, every one of them.relative — qualitative ὅστις with emphatic final ἅπαντες — none went away unhealed

The second arrest and the angelic release 5:17–26

vv. 17–21a — imprisoned by night, recommissioned by night

But the high priest rising up, and all those with him — that is, the sect of the Sadducees —participial — preposed participle — leans on ἐπλήσθησαν; the resurrection-deniers move against resurrection preachers

were filled with jealousy,independent — πίμπλημι — the Spirit-filling verb (2:4; 4:8, 31) darkly inverted: filled with ζῆλος

and they laid hands on the apostlesindependent — the arrest idiom (4:3) — the second arrest

and put them in public custody.independent — δημοσίᾳ — a public jail, heightening the coming miracle

But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison,independent — ἄγγελος κυρίου — the OT deliverance formula; the opening narrated without drama

and leading them out,participial — ἐξάγω — the Exodus verb (7:36); leans on εἶπεν

he said:independent — the angel's commission-frame

'Go,content — present imperative — mission movement, not escape

and standing in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this Life.'content — back to the very place of arrest; 'this Life' — ζωή all but a title for the resurrection reality

And having heard,participial — obedience without a word — leans on εἰσῆλθον

they entered the temple at daybreakindependent — ὑπὸ τὸν ὄρθρον — dawn-early obedience

and began to teach.independent — inceptive imperfect — the command of v. 20 in execution

vv. 21b–26 — the empty prison and the quiet re-arrest

Now the high priest arriving, and those with him,participial — the counter-movement — leans on συνεκάλεσαν

they called together the Sanhedrin and all the senate of the sons of Israel,independent — γερουσία — only here in the NT; the full solemn assembly, convened for absent prisoners

and sent to the prisonindependent — the stage set for the discovery

to have them brought.purpose — purpose infinitive — the order that cannot be executed

But the officers who arrived did not find them in the prison;independent — the ironic pivot — stated with studied flatness

and turning back,participial — leans on ἀπήγγειλαν

they reported,independent — one bare verb — the report itself follows

saying:participial — speech-participle with recitative ὅτι

'The prison we found locked with all securitycontent — perfect participle — the lock still in place; the forensic detail heightens the miracle

and the guards standing at the doors;content — second object of εὕρομεν — everything in order except the prisoners

but having opened,participial — preposed participle — leans on the εὕρομεν below

inside we found no one.'content — οὐδένα — the punchline of the report-comedy

Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words,conditional — temporal ὡς (typed cnd; no temporal key) — leans on διηπόρουν

they were utterly perplexed about them,independent — διαπορέω — Luke's verb for bafflement before divine action

as to what this could possibly come to.content — indirect question with ἄν + optative — genuine bewilderment

But someone arrivingparticipial — the anonymous messenger — leans on ἀπήγγειλεν

reported to them:independent — recitative ὅτι — the perplexity resolved

'Look — the mencontent — the subject suspended — the relative interrupts before the verb lands

whom you put in the prisonrelative — ἔθεσθε — the verb of v. 18, quoted back at the council

are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.'content — ἑστῶτες — the angel's σταθέντες (v. 20) fulfilled to the letter

Then the captain going off with the officersparticipial — leans on ἦγεν

brought them — not with violence —independent — imperfect ἦγεν — the escorted walk; the re-arrest without force

for they feared the people,cause — the authorities' fear — of the crowd, not of God (cf. v. 13, the people's esteem)

lest they be stoned.content — clause of fearing — the would-be stoners fear stoning

Before the Sanhedrin — God rather than men 5:27–33

vv. 27–28 — the threefold charge

And having brought them,participial — leans on ἔστησαν

they stood them in the Sanhedrin.independent — causative ἵστημι — the dock; the body that condemned Jesus faces his witnesses

And the high priest questioned them,independent — the formal interrogation opens

saying:participial — pleonastic speech-participle — frame for the threefold charge

'With a strict charge we charged youcontent — cognate dative — a Hebraism of intensity; the prohibition of 4:18 invoked

not to teach in this name,content — indirect command — 'this name': the high priest will not say 'Jesus'

and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching,content — perfect — the mission's success stated as the second charge

and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.'content — blood-guilt — 'this man,' the second circumlocution; cf. Matt 27:25

vv. 29–32 — the reply: the axiom and the kerygma

But Peter and the apostles answeringparticipial — leans on εἶπαν — the reply is collective

said:independent — the answer-frame

'One must obey God rather than men.content — the axiom — 4:19 sharpened to a maxim; δεῖ, divine necessity

The God of our fathers raised Jesus,content — the kerygma opens with the covenant formula (Exod 3:15) — and the name the high priest avoided

whom you killed,relative — emphatic ὑμεῖς — the accusation reversed; διαχειρίζομαι, laid violent hands on

hanging him on a tree;participial — Deut 21:22–23 — the curse-death, re-read as redemptive (cf. 10:39; Gal 3:13)

This one God exalted at his right hand as Prince and Savior,content — fronted τοῦτον — the killed one is the exalted one; Ps 110:1 behind τῇ δεξιᾷ

to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.purpose — τοῦ + infinitive of purpose — what the court needs is what the exalted one offers

And we are witnesses of these things,content — the programmatic word of 1:8

and so is the Holy Spirit,content — verbless — the second witness; human and divine testimony paired

whom God gave to those who obey him.'relative — πειθαρχοῦσιν echoes v. 29 — the obedient receive the Spirit; the court excluded by its own posture

v. 33 — the rage

But they, hearing this,participial — leans on διεπρίοντο

were cut to the quickindependent — διαπρίω — 'sawn through'; at 7:54 the same rage will kill

and were minded to do away with them.independent — conative imperfect — the intent forms; Gamaliel will interrupt it

Gamaliel's counsel 5:34–39

vv. 34–35 — the intervention and the caution

But a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrin rising up, Gamaliel by name, a teacher of the law honored by all the people,participial — the credentials stacked before the verb — a Pharisee (resurrection-believer) checks the Sadducees; Paul's teacher (22:3)

ordered the men to be put outside for a little while,independent — his authority commands without debate

and said to them:independent — the frame — the whole speech hangs beneath it

'Men of Israel, take care for yourselves in regard to these men —content — the opening caution — prudence, not sympathy

what you are about to do.content — indirect question — the momentum toward execution arrested

vv. 36–37 — the two precedents: Theudas and Judas the Galilean

For before these days Theudas rose up,content — γάρ — the first precedent; Josephus dates a Theudas later (Ant. 20.97–98), the noted chronology crux

claiming that he himself was somebody,participial — the pretender's self-assertion — εἶναί τινα

to whom a number of men, about four hundred, rallied;relative — προσκλίνω — NT hapax; a modest following

he was killed,relative — continuative relative — the leader dies

and all who followed him were dissolvedcontent — the pattern stated: leader dead, movement dispersed

and came to nothing.content — εἰς οὐδέν — the verdict of history on merely human causes

After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the censuscontent — the second precedent — the revolt against the census of Quirinius (AD 6; cf. Luke 2:2)

and drew people away after him;content — ἀφίστημι transitive — he made a people revolt

that one too perished,content — κἀκεῖνος — the parallel hammered home

and all who followed him were scattered.content — διασκορπίζω — stronger than v. 36's διελύθησαν; the same end

vv. 38–39 — the paired protases and the let-them-alone counsel

And now I tell you:content — the application — τὰ νῦν, Luke's turn to counsel

keep away from these mencontent — the first imperative — withdrawal

and let them alone;content — the let-them-alone counsel — inaction as prudence

for if this plan or this work should be of men,conditional — ἐάν + subjunctive — the human origin merely entertained; leans on καταλυθήσεται (ὅτι grounds the counsel)

it will be dissolved;cause — divine-passive future — the grounds for letting alone: such things fall of themselves

but if it is of God,conditional — εἰ + indicative against v. 38's ἐάν + subjunctive — the divine case stated as the real one; the reader knows it is

you will not be able to overthrow them —cause — the negated future — no capacity against the βουλή of God (cf. 2:23; 4:28)

lest you even be found to be fighters against God.'purpose — θεομάχοι — NT hapax; Gamaliel does not know how truly he warns

And they were persuaded by him,independent — πείθω passive — the council yields; the speech works

Flogged, charged, released — and rejoicing 5:40–42

and calling the apostles back in,participial — leans on παρήγγειλαν

beating them,participial — δέρω — the synagogue flogging (Deut 25:3, the thirty-nine); persuasion did not mean mercy

they charged themindependent — the verb of v. 28 — the prohibition merely renewed

not to speak in the name of Jesus,content — indirect command — now the court itself must say the name

and released them.independent — Gamaliel's counsel executed

So they went their way from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing,independent — μὲν οὖν — Luke's resumptive; the beaten men leave in joy (Luke 6:22–23)

because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored for the Name;cause — the paradox — deemed worthy (divine passive) of shame; 'the Name' absolute, the chapter's Christological concentration

and every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not ceaseindependent — negated imperfect — unbroken continuance; temple and house, the church's two settings in Acts

teaching and proclaiming the Christ — Jesus.participial — supplementary participles with παύομαι — the chapter's last word is the name the high priest refused

Analysis. Acts 5 alternates a flat narrative mainline with three speech-events, and the layout shows both rhythms. In the Ananias and Sapphira panels (vv. 1–11) the two death-scenes are built to match: Peter's interrogations hang blue beneath their frames (the second frame, ὁ δὲ Πέτρος πρὸς αὐτήν, is verbless — dashed), the two collapses land as bare purple verbs sharing the rare expiry-word ἐξέψυξεν, the young men's burial-participles lean forward twice in identical shape, and the φόβος-μέγας refrain closes each panel — the second time over ὅλην τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, the word's first appearance in Acts. Peter's question climaxes in οὐκ ἐψεύσω ἀνθρώποις ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ: the lie to the Spirit (v. 3) restated as a lie to God, the passage's theological fulcrum, which the layout keeps flush in the quotation catena. The summary panel (vv. 12–16) chains result on result (ὥστε … ἵνα) down to Peter's shadow — with ἐκφέρειν, the corpse-verb of vv. 6–10, now carrying the living sick. The arrest sequence (vv. 17–26) runs on forward-leaning participles; the officers' report (v. 23) is the comedy of the locked, guarded, empty prison, and the messenger's Ἰδοὺ οἱ ἄνδρες is split so that 'whom you put in prison' dangles before the verb lands them standing and teaching in the temple, the angel's σταθέντες fulfilled to the letter. Before the Sanhedrin (vv. 27–33) the reply Πειθαρχεῖν δεῖ θεῷ μᾶλλον ἢ ἀνθρώποις stands first in the catena under εἶπαν, followed by the kerygma in miniature — raised, whom you killed hanging on a tree (Deut 21:22–23), exalted as ἀρχηγὸν καὶ σωτῆρα to give the very repentance the court refuses. Gamaliel (vv. 34–39) speaks in one long cnt catena under εἶπέν: the Theudas and Judas precedents run level (the tag names the Theudas/Josephus chronology crux), then the paired protases lean forward — ἐὰν ᾖ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων with the subjunctive, merely entertained, against εἰ ἐκ θεοῦ ἐστίν with the indicative, which the reader knows to be the case — with the θεομάχοι warning hanging beneath the apodosis. The close (vv. 40–42): flogged, the apostles depart rejoicing ὅτι κατηξιώθησαν ἀτιμασθῆναι — counted worthy to be dishonored for the Name — and the chapter ends on the negated imperfect οὐκ ἐπαύοντο with its supplementary participles: they never stopped, and the last word is the name the high priest refused to speak.