Acts 5:2

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.

And {G2532} kept back {G3557} part of {G575} the price {G5092}, his {G846} wife {G1135} also {G2532} being privy {G4894} to it, and {G2532} brought {G5342} a certain {G5100} part {G3313}, and laid {G5087} it at {G3844} the apostles {G652}' feet {G4228}.

and, with his wife’s knowledge, withheld some of the proceeds for himself; although he did bring the rest to the emissaries.

With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

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.

Acts 5:2 describes the deceptive act of Ananias and his wife Sapphira within the early Christian community in Jerusalem. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic account of divine judgment, highlighting the nascent church's commitment to truth and the Holy Spirit's immediate presence.

Context

Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the early church experienced remarkable growth and a unique spirit of communal living. Believers were selling possessions and sharing the proceeds, demonstrating a profound unity and generosity (Acts 4:32-37). This practice was voluntary, exemplified by Barnabas, who sold a field and laid the money at the apostles' feet as an act of genuine devotion. Ananias and Sapphira, observing this, sought to gain similar prestige without full commitment, leading to their deception.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Hypocrisy: The core of Ananias and Sapphira's sin was their deliberate attempt to present themselves as fully committed and generous while secretly holding back part of their proceeds. They sought the recognition of genuine devotion without the actual sacrifice.
  • Complicity and Shared Guilt: The phrase "his wife also being privy [to it]" emphasizes Sapphira's full knowledge and participation in the deceit, underscoring their joint culpability.
  • Integrity in Giving: While the act of selling property was voluntary, the sin lay in misrepresenting the gift. This highlights the importance of honesty and purity of motive in all offerings made to God and His church.
  • The Seriousness of Lying to God: Though not explicitly stated in this verse, the subsequent verses reveal that their lie was not merely to men but to the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the profound gravity of their actions (Acts 5:3-4).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "kept back [part] of the price" translates the Greek verb nosphizō (νοσφίζω), which means "to purloin," "to embezzle," or "to appropriate for oneself." This word implies a deliberate act of theft or misappropriation, even if it was from their own property. It's the same term used in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) to describe Achan's sin of taking devoted things in Joshua 7:1, linking Ananias's act to a precedent of severe spiritual transgression.

Practical Application

Acts 5:2 serves as a timeless warning against hypocrisy and the pursuit of outward appearances over genuine inward transformation. It reminds believers of the importance of sincerity and integrity in all aspects of their faith, especially in their dealings within the church and before God. Our actions, motives, and offerings are transparent before God. This passage encourages us to cultivate a heart of truthfulness, knowing that the Lord looks at the heart, not just outward displays of piety.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 4:37

    Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet.

  • 2 Peter 2:14

    Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

  • 2 Peter 2:15

    Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

  • Malachi 1:14

    But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.

  • Acts 4:34

    Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

  • Acts 4:35

    And laid [them] down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

  • 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?

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