And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Parallel translations
- WEB and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- 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 wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- NASB and kept back some of the proceeds for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- NLT He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
With his wife's knowledge, Ananias kept back part of the price but presented the rest as if it were the whole. Their sin was deception, not the withholding itself.
Overview
The couple's offense was not in keeping some proceeds, which was their right, but in lying about it to appear more generous than they were. Their shared plan made it a deliberate, mutual deceit. The contrast with Barnabas's openness is pointed. This sets up Peter's confrontation, exposing that the real sin was hypocrisy and lying to God while seeking the appearance of wholehearted devotion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 4:37having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
- 2 Pet 2:14–15having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing;
- Josh 7:11–12Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken some of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.
- Mal 3:8–9Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings.
- John 12:6Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
- Matt 6:2–3Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
- Mal 1:14“But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a defective thing; for I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”
- Acts 5:3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
- Acts 4:34–35For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
- Matt 23:5But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
- 2 Kgs 5:21–25So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”
- 1 Tim 6:10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- Phil 2:3doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 5:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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