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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Acts 5:4

ACTS—NOTE ON Acts 5:4 Ananias did not have to give anything to the church. Peter accused Ananias of lying to the Holy Spirit (v. Acts 5:3). Here he says that he has lied... to God, showing that the Holy Spirit is a person and that he is divine.

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See also Acts 5:4 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 5:4-5 to. pra/gma tou/to … pesw,n In order to make the account in ver. Acts 5:4 more vivid, codex Bezae reads poih/sai ponhro.n tou/to, and to heighten the dramatic effect...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 5:4. _WHILES IT REMAINED, WAS IT NOT THINE OWN?_] Acts 5:2, Acts 5:2, and Acts 2:44,...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHILES IT REMAINED - As long as it remained unsold. This place proves that there was no “obligation” imposed on the disciples to sell their property. They who did it, did it voluntarily; and it does n...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1)._ 2. Signs and wonders by the Apostles (Acts 5:11). 3. The second arrest of the Apostles and their Deliverance (Acts 5:17). 4. Before the Council ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA. Barnabas-' unworthy counterpart is Ananias, who, in league with his wife, was unwilling to part with all his property, but anxious to appear to have done so. Their crime was that...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    A man called Ananias, together with his wife Sapphire, sold a bit of ground he had, and surreptitiously kept back part of the price, and his wife knew about it. He brought some part of the price and l...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    TROUBLE IN THE CHURCH (Acts 5:1-11)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHILES... POWER? Literally Is it not (Greek. _ouchi)_ that, remaining, it remained to thee, and sold, it belonged to thy right? WAS. belonged. Greek. _huparcho._ See Luke 9:48. POWER. App-172. WHY....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Acts 5:1. Account of Ananias and Sapphira The narrative with which this chapter commences is one which none but a veracious narrator would have inserted where it stands. The last chapter concludes wi...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Whiles it remained, was it not thine own_?] The verb in the original is repeated. _Whiles it remained, did it not remain thine own_? That is, there was no compulsion on him to sell it, the only thing...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΟΥ̓ΧῚ ΜΈΝΟΝ ΣΟῚ ἜΜΕΝΕΝ. To bring out the force of the repeated verb render, _whiles it remained, did it not remain thine own?_ that is, there was no compulsion on Ananias to sell it, the only thing ex...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Acts 5:1-11. ACCOUNT OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA The narrative with which this chapter commences is one which none but a veracious narrator would have inserted where it stands. The last chapter concludes...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΟΎΧΊ (G3780) - вводит вопрос, на который ожидается утвердительный ответ, ΜΈΝΟΝ _praes. act. part. (temp.) от_ ΜΈΝΩ (G3306) оставаться; относится к ΚΤΉΜΑ в ст. 1 (Schneider); "пока (до тех пор, как) о...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1752 ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA Acts 5:3. 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? Whiles it remained,...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHILES IT REMAINED, WAS IT NOT THINE OWN, &C.?— That is, "Before it was sold, was it not thine? and being sold, was not the money paid thee, and in thine own power?—Thou hast therefore no excuse for w...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    8. IN THE UPPER ROOM. Acts 4:28, Acts 5:11. a. The Prayer Service. Acts 4:23-31. Acts 4:23 And being let go, they came to their own company,

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 3...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. WHILES...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    30 The timid opposition of the Sanhedrin is in contrast to the boldness of those who proclaimed the evangel. God manifested Himself by miraculous interventions, and the powers of the kingdom abounded....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WAS IT NOT THINE OWN?] Clear proof that the apostolic communism was voluntary. Unto God] Ananias _had_ lied unto men, but the sin against man was so insignificant, compared with the sin against God, t...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE APOSTLES AGAIN IMPRISONED 1-16. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not keeping back part of the price, which they had a perfect right to do (Acts 5:4), but pretending that the money which they of...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 5 ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA, 5:1-11 V1 But there was a man whose name was Ananias. He and his wife, Sapphira, sold a building and some land. The bui...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHILES IT REMAINED... — Fresh circumstances are pressed home, as depriving the act of every possible excuse. Ananias had not been bound by any rule of the Church to such a gift. At every stage he was...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    LYING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Acts 4:36-37; Acts 5:1-11 The Spirit of God is the source of generous and liberal giving. It is a poor substitute to set up bazaars, and fairs, and ice cream suppers. When th...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here we have a terrible story. The account of Ananias and Sapphira stands in vivid contrast to that of Barnabas. The sin was dishonest dealing with the Holy Spirit. The judgment was swift and terrible...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Lying to the Holy Spirit Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold a piece of land, but decided to only lay a portion of the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. Ash notes that the same word translated "k...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou (d) conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (d) B...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Did it not remain to thee? That is, no one forced thee to make such a promise. --- And being sold, was it not in thy power, and at thy free disposal, before such a promise? but promises and vows must...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA 1-11. In that country the summers are very hot [and this was June], superinducing very quick and rapid putrefaction, necessitating a speedy interment of the dead, especially in a...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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 apostle...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    First of all we see man in an entirely new place man risen from among the dead and ascending to heaven. The risen ascended man, Christ Jesus, is the new starting-point of the dealings of God. The firs...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._Did it not remaining. _This amplifieth the offense because he sinned, being enforced by no necessity. For seeing it is no just or lawful excuse to have been provoked by some other means, how much w...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Alas! evil shews itself there also (Chapter 5). If the mighty Spirit of God is there, the flesh also is there. There are some who wished to have the credit of devotedness which the Holy Ghost produces...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHILES IT REMAINED, WAS IT NOT THINE OWN,.... Before it was sold, it was his own proper estate; he had the sole propriety in it, and could have kept it, or disposed of it as he pleased: he was not obl...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 4. _...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But Peter said_ Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, which immediately suggested to him the fraud; _Why has Satan_ Through thine own wickedness in yielding to his temptations; _filled thy heart_ W...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WHILE IT REMAINED; before he sold it. IN THINE OWN POWER; at his disposal. It was optional with him to give it to the apostles or not, as he chose. There was no constraint or compulsion in this matte...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA. The sin and death of Ananias:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Where God is working, however, the opposition of Satan soon becomes apparent. The evil begins (as evil always does) in an underhand manner, but is quickly exposed by God. Ananias and Sapphira certainl...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    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. " 1. This was your...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. '...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly adva...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WHILES IT REMAINED, WAS IT NOT THINE OWN? A sufficient argument that there was no command (even then) to necessitate them to part with their estates, but only what the present and eminent necessity of...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 5:4 remained G3306 (G5723) not G3780 own G4671 G3306 (G5707) And G2532 sold G4097 (G568

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘While it remained, did it not remain your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.' Pete...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 5:4. WHILES IT REMAINED, WAS IT NOT THINE OWN? AND AFTER IT WAS SOLD, WAS IT NOT IN THINE OWN POWER? All this shows that this community of goods was purely voluntary; even in the Church of Jerusa...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The Inner Life of the Church, Acts 4:32 to Acts 5:11_. The characteristic feature is concord among the believers. The great topic of preaching among them is the Lord's resurrection. The favour they w...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHILES IT REMAINED (μενον). Present active participle of mend, unsold, Peter means.AFTER IT WAS SOLD (πραθεν). First aorist passive of πιπρασκω, to sell.HOW IS THAT THOU HAST CONCEIVED (Τ οτ εθο...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 4:32-5 Ananias and Sapphira I. We have much need to lay to heart the lessons of this incident. Christ's Church has long since come to include so many false or unspiritual members, and to be so b...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Sin and death of Ananias and Sapphira. The second persecution and answer of apostles to their persecutors. Warning of Gamaliel. Apostles beaten. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Ananias, Sapph...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 5:3. _Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost._ These words not only indicate that Ananias was a minister of the word, but that he for once had yielded his heart to th...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AND MAKE YOU LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. Peter points out the money had been his to do with as he pleased. Ananias wanted to receive the same honor Barnabas had, for giving the entire sum of money. But An...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God._ LYING UNTO GOD. I. The sin. Men lie unto God-- 1. When they use their profession as members of the Church for an instrument of self interest. 2. By mak...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession._ ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA The word Ananias means “grace of God”; and the word Sapphira signifies just “a sapphire,” the famili...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 5:1. ANANIAS.—Perhaps the same name as Ananiah (Nehemiah 3:23) or Hananiah (1 Chronicles 3:21; Jeremiah 28:1;

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 5:1 ANANIAS (Ἀνανίας) In Nehemiah 3:23 the Hebrew name היָנְנַעֲ (God covers or protects) is thus rendered in the LXX. But the name occurs nowhere else. The very common name היָנְנ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Chapter 5, the book of Acts. At the end of the fourth chapter we have the second mention of the early pure communism that was practiced in the first church. Where those who had possessions sold them,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 29:17; 1 Chronicles 29:3; 1 Chronicles 29:5; 1 Chronicles 29:9;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Whiles it remained, was it not thine own [ο υ χ ι μ ε ν ο ν σ ο ι ε μ ε ν ε]. A play on the words. Lit., remaining, did it not remain to thee? Rev., very happily, whiles it remained, did it not remain...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    While it remained, did it not remain thine? — It is true, whosoever among the Christians (not one excepted) had houses or lands, sold them, and laid the price at the feet of the apostles. But it was i...

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