Acts 5:1

Acts 5:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
• New International Version (NIV)Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.

Context of Acts 5:1

Now a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2and with his wife’s full knowledge [and complicity] he kept back some of the proceeds, bringing only a portion of it, and set it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and [secretly] keep back for yourself some of the proceeds [from the sale] of the land?

Acts 5:1 word by word

Ἀνὴρ δέ τις Ἁνανίας ὀνόματι σὺν Σαπφίρῃ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπώλησεν κτῆμαRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• a certainτιςtis · oneG5100
• manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• namedὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
• AnaniasἈνανίαςAnanias · AnaniasG367
• withσύνsun · withG4862
• SapphiraΣαπφείρηSappheirē · SapphiraG4551
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wifeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• soldπωλέωpōleō · to sellG4453
• a possessionκτῆμαktēma · possessionG2933

Cross-references for Acts 5:1

• Leviticus 10:1Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective [ceremonial] censers, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange (unauthorized, unacceptable) fire before the Lord, [an act] which He had not commanded them to do.
• Joshua 6:1Now Jericho [a fortified city with high walls] was tightly closed because [of the people’s fear] of the sons of Israel; no one went out or came in.
• Matthew 13:47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet which was lowered into the sea, and gathered fish of every kind,
• John 6:37All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me].
• 2 Timothy 2:20Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common).

Commentaries on Acts 5:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1But a certain man named Ananias - Of these unhappy people we have no farther account than what is recorded here. In reference to birth, connections, etc., their names are written in the dust. The import of his name, חנניה chananiyah, the grace or mercy of the Lord, agrees very ill with his conduct.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1But a certain man - In the previous chapter the historian had given an account of the eminent liberality and sincerity of the mass of early Christians, in being willing to give up their property to provide for the poor, and had mentioned the case of Barnabas as worthy of special attention. In this chapter he proceeds to mention a case, quite as striking, of insincerity, and hypocrisy, and of the just judgment of God on those who were guilty of it. The…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The death of Ananias and Sapphira. (1-11) The power which accompanied the preaching of the gospel. (12-16) The apostles imprisoned, but set free by an angel. (17-25) The apostles testify to Christ before the council. (26-33) The advice of Gamaliel, The council let the apostles go. (34-42) Verses 1-11 The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-11Luke likes to balance a positive example with a negative one. He just shared the remarkable and positive story of Barnabas (4:36–37). Now, Luke shows the opposite behavior of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple desired to earn status in the community and for others to admire them. Ananias did not have to sell his property or give away the money. Their sin was pretending and dishonesty.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-11"The first trace of a shade upon the bright form of the young Church. Probably among the new Christians a kind of holy rivalry had sprung up, every one eager to place his means at the disposal of the apostles" [Olshausen]. Thus might the new-born zeal of some outrun their abiding principle, while others might be tempted to seek credit for a liberality which was not in their character. 2. kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it--The…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 5:1

• Ananias
• Communism
• Deception
• Falsehood
• Hypocrisy
• Land
• Peter
• Sapphira
• Vows

In the dictionaries

• Doctor
• Haply
• Judgments of God
• Keep
• Lie
• Privy
• Refrain
• Sapphira
• Somebody
• Acts of the Apostles

Commentaries on Acts 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings