ACT 5:1-11

Ananias and Sapphira

1A man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. [5:2] He embezzled part of the proceeds, with his wife's knowledge, and brought only a portion, laying it at the feet of the apostles. [5:3] Peter said: "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to deceive the Holy Spirit and embezzle part of the proceeds from the land? [5:4] While it remained unsold, was it not yours? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why is it that you have put this scheme in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." [5:5] Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard it. [5:6] The young men rose, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. [5:7] About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [5:8] Peter replied to her: "Tell me, did you sell the land for this much?" She said, "Yes, for that much." [5:9] Peter said to her: "Why is it that you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look — the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." [5:10] She fell down at his feet immediately and died. The young men came in and found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. [5:11] Great fear came on the whole assembly and on all who heard of these things.

In the world it was spoken into

In the early Jerusalem community, the sharing of resources was a defining practice, rooted in Jewish ideals of communal care and the Greco-Roman concept of voluntary generosity. Ananias and Sapphira’s act of withholding proceeds from the sale of their property while presenting it as a full gift violated this ethos. The verb (to keep back) implies deceit and misappropriation, a breach of trust in a community built on mutual transparency. Peter’s accusation highlights the gravity of lying to the Holy Spirit, a concept tied to the divine presence within the community. The term (authority) underscores that Ananias had full rights over his property, making his deceit a deliberate choice. The swift deaths of Ananias and Sapphira would have been understood as divine judgment, reinforcing the sacredness of communal integrity and the fear of God’s direct intervention in the early church.

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How other translations render this

ACT 5:1

KJV: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
BSB: Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
Koinōnos: A man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.

ACT 5:2

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.
BSB: With his wifeʼs full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostlesʼ feet.
Koinōnos: He embezzled part of the proceeds, with his wife's knowledge, and brought only a portion, laying it at the feet of the apostles.

ACT 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?
BSB: Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
Koinōnos: Peter said: "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to deceive the Holy Spirit and embezzle part of the proceeds from the land?

ACT 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.
BSB: Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”
Koinōnos: While it remained unsold, was it not yours? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why is it that you have put this scheme in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.

ACT 5:5

KJV: And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
BSB: On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.
Koinōnos: Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard it.

ACT 5:6

KJV: And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
BSB: Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
Koinōnos: The young men rose, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

ACT 5:7

KJV: And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
BSB: About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.
Koinōnos: About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

ACT 5:8

KJV: And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
BSB: “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”
Koinōnos: Peter replied to her: "Tell me, did you sell the land for this much?" She said, "Yes, for that much.

ACT 5:9

KJV: Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
BSB: “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
Koinōnos: Peter said to her: "Why is it that you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look — the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.

ACT 5:10

KJV: Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
BSB: At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Koinōnos: She fell down at his feet immediately and died. The young men came in and found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.

ACT 5:11

KJV: And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
BSB: And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Koinōnos: Great fear came on the whole assembly and on all who heard of these things.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 5:2

he kept back:The word translated 'kept back' here implies not just holding something back, but specifically embezzling or secretly appropriating something that belongs to another or to the community.

ACT 5:3

has filled:The term translated 'has filled' often carries the sense of completely filling or fulfilling, suggesting a thorough and pervasive influence, not just a partial presence.

ACT 5:4

authority:The word translated 'authority' refers to the right or power to act, often implying permission or legitimate control, rather than just raw strength or influence.

ACT 5:6

younger [men]:The phrase 'younger men' refers to those who are literally young in age, often implying a group of able-bodied men suitable for tasks requiring physical effort.