Acts 5 3

Acts 5:3 kjv

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Acts 5:3 nkjv

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

Acts 5:3 niv

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

Acts 5:3 esv

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

Acts 5:3 nlt

Then Peter said, "Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 3 Meaning

Ananias, under the influence of Satan, intentionally lied about the amount of money he received from selling a property. His deception was directed not merely at men like Peter or the church community, but primarily against the Holy Spirit, who is God Himself. He deliberately held back a portion of the sale's proceeds while claiming to have given the entire sum to the apostles for the common fund.

Acts 5 3 Context

Acts chapter 5 continues the narrative of the burgeoning early Christian community in Jerusalem. Chapter 4 concludes with an example of devout generosity: Barnabas, selling his field and laying the full proceeds at the apostles' feet, serving as a model of the Spirit-led unity and sharing within the church. Acts 5:3 immediately presents a stark contrast to this virtuous conduct. Ananias, alongside his wife Sapphira, similarly sells a property but then schemes to present only a portion of the money as if it were the full amount. The historical setting is that of a voluntary communal economy where believers willingly shared resources, driven by devotion and love for one another, not by any imposed rule. This communal lifestyle emphasized truthfulness and integrity, given its foundation in the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence among them. Ananias's sin was thus a breach of internal trust and integrity within this nascent spiritual community, challenging its very purity.

Acts 5 3 Word analysis

• But: Greek: Alla (ἀλλά). Signifies a strong contrast to the previous events and the exemplary conduct of Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37). It immediately shifts the narrative from blessing and unity to conflict and judgment.
• Peter: Greek: Petros (Πέτρος). As a prominent apostle, Peter's immediate and discerning response demonstrates the authority given to the apostles by Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit working through them to preserve the integrity of the nascent church.
• said: Greek: eipen (εἶπεν). A direct and declarative statement, carrying the weight of prophetic insight rather than mere human accusation.
• Ananias: Greek: Ananias (Ἀνανίας). A common Jewish name meaning "The Lord is gracious." This provides an ironic contrast to his actions, highlighting the severe departure from graciousness towards God.
• why: Greek: diati (διατί). A rhetorical question expressing strong disapproval and pointing to the culpability of Ananias's intention. It indicates a deliberate choice rather than an accidental oversight.
• has Satan filled: Greek: eplerōsen ho Satanas (ἐπλήρωσεν ὁ Σατανᾶς).
  • Satan: Greek: Satanas (Σατανᾶς), from Hebrew meaning "adversary" or "accuser." The archenemy of God. Here, depicted as an active spiritual agent.
  • filled: Greek: eplerōsen (ἐπλήρωσεν), from plēroō, meaning to complete, fulfill, or make full. It suggests Satan exerted a profound and pervasive influence over Ananias, not mere suggestion. This is distinct from demonic possession but highlights Ananias's active consent to this evil influence, allowing his will to be entirely taken over by deceit. This stands in stark contrast to being "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:8, 4:31).
• your heart: Greek: sou tēn kardian (σου τὴν καρδίαν). In biblical understanding, the heart is the core of a person's being—the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral decisions. Satan's influence directly corrupted Ananias's intentions and the innermost part of his character, leading him to deliberately scheme falsehood.
• to lie: Greek: pseusasthai (ψεύσασθαι), from pseudomai, to tell a falsehood. This emphasizes the intentional act of deception, fabricating an untruth.
• to the Holy Spirit: Greek: to Pneuma to Hagion (τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον). This is the crucial point of the accusation. The lie was not merely against human leaders or the community, but against God Himself, represented and manifested in the presence and omniscience of the Holy Spirit among His people. This underscores the divine nature of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating Him as a Person against whom one can lie.
• and to keep back part: Greek: kai enosphisō apo (καὶ ἐνοσφίσω ἀπό).
  • keep back: Greek: enosphisō, meaning to appropriate secretly, embezzle, defraud. This very word is used in the Greek Septuagint in Jos 7:1 for Achan "keeping back" devoted things, drawing a clear parallel to Achan's sacrilege. It highlights the deliberate act of deception and fraudulent retention.
  • part: The issue was not that they sold the land or even kept some money, but that they claimed to give it all when they only gave a part. This false claim, the pretense, was the essence of the lie.
• of the proceeds of the land: Greek: tou timēmatos tou choriou (τοῦ τιμήματος τοῦ χωρίου). This refers to the specific sum of money (proceeds, price, value) obtained from the sale of their property. It highlights the tangible nature of the deceptive act.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why...'": This phrase sets up the confrontation from divine authority through human instrumentality. It underscores that spiritual insight, not mere suspicion, initiated this solemn questioning.
• "'...has Satan filled your heart...'": This emphasizes the internal condition and spiritual source of Ananias's downfall. It signifies that he allowed his heart to be completely dominated by evil intent, showing a personal moral failure despite external temptation. It is not an excuse for his sin but highlights the spiritual warfare aspect.
• "'...to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?'": This critically links the visible, material act of deception (keeping back part of the money) to its profound spiritual offense (lying directly to the Holy Spirit). It establishes that integrity in outward actions is intrinsically tied to one's spiritual relationship and truthfulness before God. The Holy Spirit is portrayed as having full divine awareness of the deed.

Acts 5 3 Bonus section

• Responsibility amidst temptation: While Peter identifies Satan's influence, Ananias is held fully accountable, indicated by the question "why has Satan filled your heart?" This implies a yielding to the temptation, an openness of his heart that allowed Satan to exert such control. It highlights human culpability in cooperating with evil rather than resisting it.
• Foundation for Church Purity: This incident served as a dramatic and crucial moment in establishing the early church's internal purity and sanctity. The judgment reinforced the sacred nature of the communal life and the serious consequences of insincerity or fraud within it, laying a moral and spiritual foundation for its future growth and witness.
• Voluntary vs. Obligatory Giving: The context highlights that selling property and donating proceeds was entirely voluntary. Ananias was under no obligation to sell his land, nor to give all the proceeds if he did. His sin lay solely in the pretense and the lie, attempting to deceive the community and, crucially, God Himself, about the extent of his giving. This differentiates the event from mandatory financial contributions.

Acts 5 3 Commentary

Acts 5:3 encapsulates a foundational truth regarding the nature of sin within God's community. Peter's sharp inquiry to Ananias uncovers that a seemingly monetary deception was, in its essence, a direct affront to the divine Holy Spirit. Ananias's sin was not in withholding a portion of the land's sale, as private ownership was affirmed (Acts 5:4). Rather, his transgression was a calculated act of pretense and dishonesty—to claim total sacrifice while secretly retaining part, seeking human praise without genuine devotion. This pretense, arising from a heart yielded to Satan's influence, constituted lying "to the Holy Spirit." This immediate and severe judgment established an early precedent for holiness, protecting the infant church from internal corruption and reinforcing the Holy Spirit's active presence and sanctity among believers. It served as a stark, formative warning against hypocrisy and self-serving motives, emphasizing that God looks upon the heart's true intention, not just the outward show. It is a powerful reminder that all sin ultimately offends God, and particularly when deception permeates a covenant relationship with Him.