Acts 5 11

Acts 5:11 kjv

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Acts 5:11 nkjv

So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Acts 5:11 niv

Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Acts 5:11 esv

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Acts 5:11 nlt

Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 11 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and profound effect of God's judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, wherein a deep reverence and awe—often translating to solemn dread—swept across the entire Christian community and everyone else who became aware of these events. It underscores the sanctity of the early church and God's uncompromising holiness regarding sin within His body.

Acts 5 11 Context

Acts 5:11 concludes the narrative of Ananias and Sapphira, a couple who lied about the sale of their property, pretending to give the full proceeds to the apostles while secretly keeping back a portion. This deception was directed not against humans but against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). Peter exposed their sin, and both Ananias and Sapphira died suddenly by divine judgment, one after the other. This incident immediately followed a period of intense unity and communal sharing within the early church, where believers were voluntarily selling possessions and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet for distribution among those in need (Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-37). The extreme severity of the judgment highlighted God's demand for integrity and truthfulness, especially concerning offerings and fellowship within the nascent community. It set a precedent for the church's holiness and purity from its very inception, indicating that the Holy Spirit would not tolerate hypocrisy or dishonesty within the body He was forming.

Acts 5 11 Word analysis

• And (Greek: Καί - Kai): A simple conjunction, connecting the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10) directly to its profound outcome. It signals a cause-and-effect relationship: because of what transpired, this was the result.
• great fear (Greek: φόβος μέγας - phobos megas):
  • great (μέγας - megas): Emphasizes the intensity and widespread nature of the fear. It was not a minor apprehension but a pervasive and significant emotional and spiritual response.
  • fear (φόβος - phobos): In this biblical context, it conveys more than just terror or dread. It encompasses a profound sense of awe, reverence, and respectful astonishment at the manifestation of divine power and holiness. It's the kind of fear that acknowledges God's supreme authority and the gravity of offending Him, often leading to worship and submission, as seen elsewhere when God reveals Himself.
• came upon (Greek: ἐγένετο ἐπὶ - egeneto epi): Indicates that this "great fear" was not a spontaneous human reaction but something divinely imposed or divinely permitted to fall upon the individuals. It suggests an active, powerful presence of God causing this effect, rather than just a natural human emotional response to death. It implies a sovereign act.
• all (Greek: πᾶσαν - pasan): Highlights the universality of the experience. It affected every member of the "church" without exception, demonstrating the profound and corporate impact of God's action. This emphasizes that no one was exempt from understanding the seriousness of what had happened.
• the church (Greek: τὴν ἐκκλησίαν - tēn ekklēsian): One of the earliest uses of this specific Greek term in the New Testament to denote the community of believers in Jerusalem. It means "the called-out ones" or an "assembly." This event deeply imprinted itself on the identity and conduct of this foundational Christian gathering, shaping its understanding of purity and divine accountability.
• and upon all who heard these things:
  • upon all: Repetition of "all" stresses the comprehensive reach. This group extends beyond the immediate fellowship of believers.
  • who heard (τῶν ἀκουόντων - tōn akouontōn): Refers to those who were not necessarily within the inner circle of the apostles or fully committed members but who heard the accounts of Ananias's and Sapphira's deaths. This demonstrates that the impact was not confined to believers but spread among the general population, influencing public perception of the Christian movement.
  • these things (ταῦτα - tauta): Refers to the entire incident, specifically the lie of Ananias and Sapphira, their sudden deaths, and Peter's words of judgment. It signifies that the full understanding of the divine consequence of deceit evoked the widespread awe.

• "great fear came upon all the church": This phrase signifies a collective, deep reverence for God's holiness that gripped the entire body of believers. It was an internal purification, a solemn acknowledgment that God's Spirit indwelling the church would not tolerate compromise or sin. This foundational event established a tone of serious accountability for Christian conduct.
• "and upon all who heard these things": This broadens the scope beyond believers. It suggests that the news spread, creating a respectful fear (or at least profound caution) even among those outside the immediate community of faith. This effect contributed to the early church's reputation, reinforcing that this was no ordinary human movement, but one directly governed by a living and holy God. It distinguished the nascent church as a place where God's active presence demanded truth and integrity.

Acts 5 11 Bonus section

This incident can be seen as God's preemptive work to protect the purity of the early church's witness and integrity. If deceit had been allowed to fester, especially in communal and financial matters, it could have corrupted the church from its very core, hindering its mission before it truly began. The severe judgment served as a powerful lesson for generations of believers, reminding them that the church is God's dwelling place, where the Holy Spirit actively exposes and judges sin. This swift discipline paralleled Old Testament instances of divine judgment (e.g., Achan, Nadab and Abihu) demonstrating God's consistent character in maintaining holiness among His covenant people. It also created an environment where genuine commitment and transparency were understood to be vital.

Acts 5 11 Commentary

Acts 5:11 signifies a crucial moment in the early church's formation. The immediate and deadly judgment on Ananias and Sapphira for their deception regarding communal offerings demonstrated God's uncompromising commitment to the purity and integrity of His fledgling assembly. The resulting "great fear" was a salutary and profound awe, not paralyzing terror, but a holy reverence for God's presence among them and His abhorrence of sin, especially hypocrisy and lying to the Holy Spirit. This event solidified the church's identity as a distinct body indwelt by a holy God, setting an internal standard for conduct that ensured the integrity of their fellowship and outward witness. It underscored the truth that while God is loving and merciful, He is also just and requires holiness from His people, making clear that entry into the new covenant community carried with it divine accountability.