Acts 5:4
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 heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Original Language Analysis
ἔμενεν
Whiles it remained
G3306
ἔμενεν
Whiles it remained
Strong's:
G3306
Word #:
2 of 27
to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)
ἔμενεν
Whiles it remained
G3306
ἔμενεν
Whiles it remained
Strong's:
G3306
Word #:
4 of 27
to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 27
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πραθὲν
after it was sold
G4097
πραθὲν
after it was sold
Strong's:
G4097
Word #:
6 of 27
from the base of g4008); to traffic (by travelling), i.e., dispose of as merchandise or into slavery (literally or figuratively)
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐξουσίᾳ
power
G1849
ἐξουσίᾳ
power
Strong's:
G1849
Word #:
10 of 27
privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o
ὑπῆρχεν
was it not
G5225
ὑπῆρχεν
was it not
Strong's:
G5225
Word #:
11 of 27
to begin under (quietly), i.e., come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, particip
τί
why
G5101
τί
why
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
12 of 27
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
ὅτι
G3754
ἔθου
hast thou conceived
G5087
ἔθου
hast thou conceived
Strong's:
G5087
Word #:
14 of 27
to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from g2476, which pr
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καρδίᾳ
heart
G2588
καρδίᾳ
heart
Strong's:
G2588
Word #:
17 of 27
the heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πρᾶγμα
thing
G4229
πρᾶγμα
thing
Strong's:
G4229
Word #:
20 of 27
a deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object (material)
ἀλλὰ
but
G235
ἀλλὰ
but
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
25 of 27
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
Cross References
Acts 5:3But 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?1 Chronicles 29:3Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,Isaiah 59:4None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.Acts 5:9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.Psalms 139:4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.1 Thessalonians 4:8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.Luke 10:16He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.Ezekiel 38:10Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
Historical Context
Community property sharing was voluntary, unlike Qumran's required divestment. Peter's emphasis on voluntary nature refutes claims that Acts 4-5 teaches Christian communism. The lie concerned representing partial gift as complete, seeking glory without cost.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing that lying to the church is lying to God transform your commitment to truthfulness?
- What does Peter's question about 'conceiving this in thine heart' teach about sin's origin?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Peter's penetrating questions - 'while it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?' - establish that giving was voluntary, not coerced. The sin wasn't incomplete donation but deceptive representation. The devastating accusation 'thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God' reveals hypocrisy's true nature: attempting to deceive God. The Greek 'pseudomai' (lied) indicates deliberate falsehood. Peter's final question 'why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?' identifies the internal source - sin begins in heart before manifesting in action.