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Verse Takeaways
1
The Sin Was Deception, Not Retention
Commentators unanimously clarify that Ananias's sin was not keeping part of the money, which was his right. The sin was the deception. By laying a portion at the apostles' feet, he was acting out a lie, pretending it was the full amount. Scholars describe this as a 'profound hypocrisy' intended to gain a reputation for holiness without the actual sacrifice.
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Acts
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Commentaries
6
Albert Barnes
On Acts 5:2
18th Century
Theologian
And kept back. The word here used means, properly, to separate, to part; and then it means to separate surreptitious…
AT Robertson
On Acts 5:2
Kept back (ενοσφισατο). First aorist middle indicative of νοσφιζω, old verb from νοσφ, afar, apart, and so to set apart, to separa…
Charles Ellicott
On Acts 5:1–2
19th Century
Bishop
A certain man named Ananias.—We encounter the name again as belonging to the high priest in Acts 23:2; it was the Greek form of th…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Acts 5:2
The details of the conspiracy are concisely stated. A certain Christian man named Ananias (meaning “God is gracious” in Hebrew) and his wife, Sapph…
John Gill
On Acts 5:2
17th Century
Pastor
And kept back part of the price
At which the possession was sold; he reserved it for his own use, after he had given…
Matthew Henry
On Acts 5:1–11
17th Century
Minister
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was that they were ambitious to be thought eminent disciples when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny…