Acts 5:5

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

And {G1161} Ananias {G367} hearing {G191} these {G5128} words {G3056} fell down {G4098}, and gave up the ghost {G1634}: and {G2532} great {G3173} fear {G5401} came {G1096} on {G1909} all {G3956} them that heard {G191} these things {G5023}.

On hearing these words, Hananyah fell down dead; and everyone who heard about it was terrified.

On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.

Acts 5:5 records the immediate and dramatic consequence of Ananias's deceit within the early Christian community. After Peter confronts him for lying about the proceeds from the sale of his property, Ananias falls down and dies, a stark event that sends a profound message to all present.

Context

This verse is part of the compelling narrative of Ananias and Sapphira, found in Acts 5:1-11. It unfolds against the backdrop of the nascent church's practice of communal living, where believers voluntarily sold possessions and shared the proceeds with the apostles for distribution to those in need, as seen in Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:32-37. While others like Barnabas gave generously and truthfully, Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, attempted to gain recognition for full generosity while secretly withholding a portion of the funds. Peter's confrontation of Ananias in Acts 5:3-4 makes it clear that their sin was not merely withholding money, but lying to God himself, specifically to the Holy Spirit.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Holiness: Ananias's death is a powerful demonstration of God's absolute holiness and the seriousness with which He regards sin, particularly deceit and hypocrisy within His church. This immediate judgment served to purify and establish the integrity of the early Christian community.
  • The Authority of the Holy Spirit: The fact that Ananias's lie was explicitly called a lie "to the Holy Ghost" (Acts 5:3) underscores the Holy Spirit's divine nature and supreme authority. Lying to the Spirit is lying to God.
  • Fear of God: The verse notes that "great fear came on all them that heard these things." This was not just terror, but a profound sense of reverential awe and respect for God's power, justice, and purity. Such a fear is a foundational element for true worship and obedience.
  • Integrity and Sincerity: The incident emphasizes the critical importance of truthfulness and genuine sincerity in the life of a believer and in the practices of the church. God desires honesty in the heart, not just outward appearances.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "gave up the ghost" is an older English idiom from the King James Version, meaning simply "he died." The original Greek word is ἐξέψυξεν (exepsyxen), which literally translates to "breathed out his soul" or "expired." The "great fear" mentioned is φοβος μεγας (phobos megas) in Greek. This phrase signifies a profound, awe-inspiring dread and reverence, a suitable response to a direct manifestation of divine judgment and holiness.

Practical Application

Acts 5:5 serves as a sober reminder that God's character of holiness and justice is unchanging. While dramatic instances of immediate physical judgment are rare today, this account still teaches that God takes sin seriously, especially hypocrisy and dishonesty within the church. It calls believers to cultivate genuine sincerity and integrity in their faith and actions, recognizing that our lives are lived before an all-knowing God. This event helped establish the spiritual authority and purity of the early church, demonstrating that God desires truth in the inner being (Psalm 51:6). The proper "fear of the Lord" leads to wisdom and a life lived in reverence and obedience, ensuring that our walk matches our talk.

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 5:10

    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.

  • Acts 5:11

    And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

  • Acts 2:43

    And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

  • Acts 5:13

    And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

  • Revelation 11:5

    And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

  • Revelation 11:13

    And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

  • Leviticus 10:3

    ¶ Then Moses said unto Aaron, This [is it] that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

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