Acts 5 4

Acts 5:4 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.

Acts 5:4 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."

Acts 5:4 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."

Acts 5:4 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."

Acts 5:4 nlt

The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God!"

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 4 Meaning

Acts 5:4 clearly establishes that Ananias and Sapphira were under no obligation to sell their property or to donate any specific portion of the proceeds to the early church. Peter explicitly states their full ownership and control, both before and after the sale. The gravamen of their sin was not the amount withheld, but the deliberate, deceitful lie that they had given everything when they had not. This verse powerfully culminates by stating that this deception was not merely against human beings, but a direct lie against God Himself, thereby affirming the deity of the Holy Spirit with whom they had "agreed" to lie.

Acts 5 4 Context

Acts 5:4 is situated within the narrative of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), which immediately follows the account of Barnabas's selfless act of selling a field and laying the money at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:36-37). The early Christian community, characterized by voluntary sharing and generosity, was in its formative stages. This incident highlights the immediate and severe divine judgment against deceit and hypocrisy entering this nascent, Spirit-filled body. It serves as a stark warning to maintain purity, truth, and genuine commitment within the community of believers, demonstrating God's zero tolerance for attempts to deceive Him or His church. This powerful display of judgment affirmed the divine authority and presence of the Holy Spirit among them, establishing a foundational precedent for the sanctity and holiness expected within the Christian assembly.

Acts 5 4 Word analysis

• While it remained unsold,

  • "While it remained": (Greek: ouchi menon - οὐχὶ μένον, "not remaining") Implies its continuous state before any transaction. Peter asserts its unchanged status and Ananias's right to keep it.
  • "unsold": Specifies the period before the property changed hands, highlighting Ananias's initial undisputed ownership.

• did it not remain your own?

  • "remain your own?": (Greek: soi menon - σοι μένον, "remaining to you") Rhetorical question emphatically confirming Ananias's complete private ownership. This was not communal property to begin with; it was his. The stress is on personal dominion. This counters any misinterpretation that early Christian communalism was compulsory.

• And after it was sold,

  • "after it was sold": Marks the transition of the property to liquid assets, highlighting that even then, the money was still fully his.

• was it not under your control?

  • "under your control?": (Greek: exousia sou hypērchei - ἐξουσίᾳ σου ὑπῆρχεν, "was in your authority") Another rhetorical question, underscoring Ananias's sovereign authority over the proceeds. He retained full discretion regarding its use or donation. The term exousia denotes legal power or authority. Peter establishes that Ananias had every right to keep any portion of the money, as his choice.

• Why did you think of doing such a thing?

  • "Why did you think": Points to the intentionality and deliberation behind the act. This was not an impulsive error but a planned deception, rooted in the heart. God judges intent.
  • "of doing such a thing?": Refers specifically to the act of lying about the full amount of the sale, an act driven by hypocrisy and desire for praise without full sacrifice.

• You have not lied to men

  • "You have not lied": (Greek: epseusō - ἐψεύσω, "you lied," aorist middle indicative of pseudomai) The act was unequivocally a lie.
  • "to men": Qualifies the recipient of the lie. The deception was primarily not to the apostles or the church members, although they were the immediate recipients of the false claim. This shifts the focus from human perception to divine truth.

• but to God.

  • "but to God.": (Greek: Theō - Θεῷ, "to God," dative case indicating direct object) This is the climatic declaration. The ultimate offense was against God Himself. This phrase directly equates lying "to the Holy Spirit" (Acts 5:3) with lying "to God," powerfully affirming the deity of the Holy Spirit. This wasn't merely a breach of trust with humans; it was a cosmic deception. It elevates the sanctity of truth within the church to a divine standard.

Acts 5 4 Bonus section

The swift and terminal judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, facilitated by this declaration, demonstrates that God's judgment can be both individual and immediate, particularly when the purity of His nascent church or the integrity of His Spirit's work is threatened. This event serves not just as a historical account but as an ongoing spiritual principle: God actively purifies His church, and He holds those within His community to a high standard of truth and integrity. It illustrates that spiritual deception, especially cloaked in piety, is met with severe divine displeasure because it undermines the very essence of genuine worship and community based on the Holy Spirit's truth.

Acts 5 4 Commentary

Acts 5:4 is pivotal in understanding the nature of sin within the early Christian community and the divine authority of the Holy Spirit. Peter's interrogation of Ananias brilliantly dissects the sin, exposing its root not in the amount withheld but in the deceitful pretense of having given all. The repeated rhetorical questions, "did it not remain your own?" and "was it not under your control?", affirm Ananias's absolute discretion over his possessions, dispelling any notion of forced communalism. This clarifies that their transgression was a conscious, deliberate act of fraud—not merely against a human institution but against the Divine presence among them. The concluding statement, "You have not lied to men but to God," serves as a direct and irrefutable affirmation of the Holy Spirit's deity, equating the Spirit's person with God Himself. This powerful judgment acted as a purifying fire in the nascent church, establishing a severe precedent for the gravity of hypocrisy and deception in the presence of the Holy God. It underscored that God perceives the heart's true intent and demands absolute integrity from those who claim allegiance to Him, ensuring the spiritual health and purity of His body.