God’s Word Translation
Acts 5:4
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!”
Acts 5:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
- New International Version (NIV)Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God."
- New King James Version (NKJV)While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Context of Acts 5:4
2They 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. While 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!” 5When Ananias heard Peter say this, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard about his death was terrified. 6Some young men got up, wrapped his body in a sheet, carried him outside, and buried him.
Read all of Acts 5Acts 5:4 word by word
οὐχὶ μένον σοὶ ἔμενεν καὶ πραθὲν ἐν τῇ σῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ὑπῆρχεν; τί ὅτι ἔθου ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο; οὐκ ἐψεύσω ἀνθρώποις ἀλλὰ τῷ θεῷ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whiles it remainedμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
- thine ownσύsu · youG4771
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- after it was soldπιπράσκωpipraskō praō · to sellG4097
- was itὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- thine ownσόςsos · yourG4674
- powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- hast thou conceivedτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- thingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- thingπρᾶγμαpragma · thingG4229
- heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
- thou hastψεύδομαιpseudomai · to lieG5574
- notοὐou · noG3756
- unto menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- unto Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Acts 5:4
- Exodus 35:21Those who were willing and whose hearts moved them came and brought their contributions to the Lord. The gifts were used to construct the tent of meeting, to pay other expenses, and to make the holy clothes.
- 1 Chronicles 29:3Moreover, I delight in the temple of my God. I have a personal treasury of gold and silver that I’m giving to my God’s temple in addition to everything else I gathered for the holy temple.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8Food will not affect our relationship with God. We are no worse off if we eat ⌞that food⌟ and no better off if we don’t.
- 1 Corinthians 9:5Don’t we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas do?
- Philemon 1:14Yet, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I want you to do this favor for me out of your own free will without feeling forced to do it.
- Acts 8:21You won’t have any share in this because God can see how twisted your thinking is.
- Joshua 7:25Then Joshua said, “Why did you bring this disaster on us? The Lord will bring disaster on you today!” And all Israel stoned Achan and his family to death. Then they burned the bodies and piled stones over them.
- Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their wombs produce deception.”
- Psalms 7:14See how that person conceives evil, is pregnant with harm, and gives birth to lies.
- Isaiah 59:4No one calls for justice, and no one pleads his case truthfully. People trust pointless arguments and speak lies. They conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
- Ezekiel 38:10“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: At that time ideas will enter your head, and you will make wicked plans.
- James 1:15Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.
- Acts 5:3Peter 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.
- Exodus 16:8Moses also said, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and all the food you want in the morning. The Lord has heard you complaining about him. Who are we? You’re not complaining about us but about the Lord.”
- Numbers 16:11So you and all your followers have joined forces against the Lord! Who is Aaron that you should complain about him?”
- 1 Samuel 8:7The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They haven’t rejected you; they’ve rejected me.
Commentaries on Acts 5:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? - See the note on Acts 5:2, and see that also on Acts 2:44; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Whiles it remained - As long as it remained unsold. This place proves that there was no “obligation” imposed on the disciples to sell their property. They who did it, did it voluntarily; and it does not appear that it was done by all, or expected to be done by all. And after it was sold - Even after the property was sold, and Ananias had the money, still there was no obligation on him to devote it in this way. He had the disposal of it still. The…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4By lying about the sale of their land, Ananias was not just being dishonest towards others but also toward the Holy Spirit. This means he was lying to God. His actions harmed the honesty, unity, and integrity of the church at its foundation. As a result, he experienced God's direct judgment (compare Leviticus 10:1–5; Joshua 7:16–26).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-63-6. why hath Satan filled--"why ... fill--"why hast thou suffered him to fill" thine heart--so criminally entertaining his suggestion? Compare Ac 5:4, "why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?" And see Joh 13:2, 27. to lie to the Holy Ghost--to men under His supernatural illumination.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 5:4
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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