God’s Word Translation
Acts 5:2
2They agreed to hold back some of the money ⌞they had pledged⌟ and turned only part of it over to the apostles.
Acts 5:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- New International Version (NIV)With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Context of Acts 5:2
1A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property. They agreed to hold back some of the money ⌞they had pledged⌟ and turned only part of it over to the apostles. 3Peter asked, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you could deceive the Holy Spirit? You’ve held back some of the money you received for the land. 4While you had the land, it was your own. After it was sold, you could have done as you pleased with the money. So how could you do a thing like this? You didn’t lie to people but to God!”
Read all of Acts 5Acts 5:2 word by word
καὶ ἐνοσφίσατο ἀπὸ τῆς τιμῆς, συνειδυίης καὶ τῆς γυναικός καὶ ἐνέγκας μέρος τι παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων ἔθηκεν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- kept backνοσφίζωnosphizomai · to embezzleG3557
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the priceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the priceτιμήtimē · honorG5092
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
- being privyσυνείδωsuneidō · be awareG4894
- broughtφέρωpherō̄ · to bear/leadG5342
- a certainτιςtis · oneG5100
- partμέροςmeros · partG3313
- and laidτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
- atπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- the apostles’ἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
- feetπούςpous · footG4228
Cross-references for Acts 5:2
- Joshua 7:11Israel has sinned. They have ignored the requirements that I have placed on them. They have taken what I claimed for myself and put it among their own goods. They have not only stolen, but they have also lied.
- 2 Kings 5:21So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he got down from his chariot to speak to him. “Is something wrong?” he asked.
- Malachi 1:14“Cheaters are under a curse. They have male animals in their flocks that they vow to give ⌞as a sacrifice⌟. But they sacrifice second-rate ones to the Lord instead. I am a great king,” says the Lord of Armies. “Among the nations my name is respected.
- Malachi 3:8“Can a person cheat God? Yet, you are cheating me! “But you ask, ‘How are we cheating you?’ “When ⌞you don’t bring⌟ a tenth of your income and other contributions.
- John 12:6(Judas didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and carried the contributions.)
- 1 Timothy 6:10Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on getting rich have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief.
- 2 Peter 2:14They’re always looking for an adulterous woman. They can’t stop looking for sin as they seduce people who aren’t sure of what they believe. Their minds are focused on their greed. They are cursed.
- Acts 5:9Then Peter said to her, “How could you and your husband agree to test the Lord’s Spirit? Those who buried your husband are standing at the door, and they will carry you outside for burial.”
- Acts 4:34None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money
- Matthew 6:2So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
- Matthew 23:5“They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long.
- Philippians 2:3Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves.
Commentaries on Acts 5:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Kept back part of the price - Ananias and Sapphira were evidently persons who professed faith in Christ with the rest of the disciples. While all were making sacrifices for the present necessity, they came forward among the rest, pretending to bring all the money they had got for a possession, , (of what kind we know not), which they had sold. A part of this price, however, they kept back, not being willing to trust entirely to the bounty of Providence…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2And kept back - The word used here means properly “to separate, to part:” and then it means to “separate surreptitiously or clandestinely for our own use” a part of public property, as taxes, etc. It is used but three times in the New Testament, Acts 5:3, and in Titus 2:10, where it is rendered “purloining.” Here it means that they “secretly” kept back a part, while “professedly” devoting all to God. His wife also being privy to it - His wife “knowing…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 5:2
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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