Acts 5:4

Before you (sg) sold that land, you truly owned [RHQ] it. And after you sold it, you could [RHQ] certainly still have used the money any way you wanted to. So why did you (sg) ever think [RHQ] about doing this wicked thing? You were not merely trying to deceive us! No, you tried to deceive God himself!!”

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

3Then Peter said, “Ananias, you (sg) let Satan completely control you [MTY] so that you (sg) tried to deceive the Holy Spirit and us(exc). ◄That was terrible!/Why did you do such a terrible thing?► [RHQ] You have kept for yourself some of the money you (sg) received for selling the land, pretending that you(sg) were giving us all of it.

5When Ananias heard that, immediately he fell down dead. So all who were there who heard about Ananias’ death became terrified [PRS].

Read all of Acts 5

Cross References

Exodus 35:21Everyone who wanted to brought an offering to Yahweh. They brought some of the things that would be used to make the Sacred Tent and all the other items that would be used in the rituals, and the materials to make the sacred clothes for the priests.

Numbers 16:11It is really Yahweh against whom you and your fellow descendants of Levi are rebelling. Aaron is not the one about whom you are really complaining [RHQ].”

1 Samuel 8:7Yahweh replied, “Do what they have requested you to do. But ◄ do not think/the truth is not► that you are the one whom they are really rejecting. I have been their king, and I am the one they are really rejecting.

1 Chronicles 29:3In addition to all these things that I have given for the temple, I am giving treasures of gold and silver, because I very much desire that this holy temple for my God be built.

1 Chronicles 29:9The people were happy to see that their leaders wanted to give those things, because they knew that their leaders were happy and enthusiastic to give those things to Yahweh. And King David also was very happy.

Job 15:35They plan to cause trouble and to do evil things, and they are always preparing to deceive people.”

Matthew Henry on Acts 5:2-12

The Case of Ananias and Sapphira. 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 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. 3 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? 4 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… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Acts 5:4