John Calvin Commentary Acts 5:3

"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?" — Acts 5:3 (ASV)

And Peter said. How did Peter know Ananias’s fraud (and stealing?) Undoubtedly, it was by the revelation of the Spirit. Therefore, Luke signifies to us that the apostles, in a way, represented God Himself and acted in His place. If the Spirit of God, speaking through the mouth of a mortal man, so severely presses a hypocrite—who is otherwise adorned with the beautiful appearance of virtues—how will the reprobate endure the voice of God Himself, with the sound of the trumpet, when they appear before His judgment seat?

Furthermore, Peter points out the cruelty and horribleness of the offense by his question, when he says that Satan had filled the heart of Ananias. For there is no one whose heart is not pricked by the temptations of Satan, and all people are also tempted in many ways; indeed, these temptations penetrate their minds. But where Satan possesses the heart, he reigns in the whole person, having, as it were, expelled God.

This is a sign of a reprobate: to be so devoted and surrendered to Satan that the Spirit of God has no place. What follows afterward concerning lying may have a double meaning: either that he falsely made a show of the Spirit, or that he lied against the Spirit.

And, indeed, it is literally mentiri Spiritum; but since the Greek word [ψευδεσθαι] is joined with a double accusative case, and that agrees better with the context, I am more inclined to think that Ananias is rebuked because he lied falsely to the Holy Ghost. This Peter confirms shortly after, when he reproaches him for this: that he has lied to God, and not to men.

Therefore, we must be very careful that hypocrisy does not reign in us, which has this wickedness peculiar to it: to attempt to deceive God and, as it were, cornicum oculos configere. To attempt to blind those who are most wise; this cannot be without disloyal and improper mockery. Therefore, it is not without reason that Peter says that when this happens, the heart is possessed by Satan. For who (unless he were devoid of reason) would dare to blaspheme God in such a way? Therefore, Peter questions him as if about something astonishing, because such blindness is horrible.