Acts 5:2
IntermediateActs 5:2 · World English Bible (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.”
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Overview
Deceptive generosity in the early church
Ananias did give something, but he secretly withheld part while presenting the gift as though it were the whole. The sin is not that he kept part of his property, but that he and his wife conspired to appear more sacrificial than they truly were.
What Makes This Verse Confusing?
The issue was not that Ananias retained some of the money. Peter makes that clear in the next verse: the land was his before it was sold, and the money remained under his authority after the sale. The evil was that he “kept back” part while presenting the remainder as if it were the full amount devoted to God.
The verse itself does not state whether Ananias had promised the whole price, nor does it explicitly say here that the gift was represented falsely; that becomes clear from Peter’s rebuke in Acts 5:3-4.
This protects the passage from being misread as though God condemned private property or partial giving. The Lord judged hypocrisy, not the lawful retaining of possessions.
Theological Insights
God is not honored by a gift that is joined to deceit.
Believers should give freely, honestly, and without pretending to have made a sacrifice greater than the one actually made.
The Lord sees not only what is placed before His servants, but what is secretly kept back in the heart.
Acts of worship and service should be brought before God with truthfulness, not with image-management.
Original Language
to embezzle — νοσφίζω (νόσφι, apart, aside), [in LXX: Jos.7:1 (לָקַח), 2Ma.4:32 * ;] __1. in Hom., as depon., to turn away (from), abandon. __2. After Hom., in act., to set apart, remove. Mid., to set apart for oneself, peculate, purloin : absol., Tit.2:10 (for ex. in π., see MM, xvii); before ἀπό, Act.5:2-3. † (AS)
This verb carries the sense of secretly holding back for oneself, even with the flavor of misappropriation. It shows that the problem was not merely “he saved some money,” but “he withheld deceptively what he was presenting as devoted.”
be aware — συν-εῖδον irreg. aorist of συνοράω (see: εἶδον), [in LXX: 1Ma.4:21 א, 2Ma.2:24 2Mac 4:4 2Mac 4:41 R 2Ma.5:17 2Mac 7:4 2Mac 7:20 2Mac 8:8 , 3Ma.2:8 A * ;] __1. to see together or at the same time (Arist., Xen.). __2. to see in one view, hence, of mental vision, to comprehend, understand (LXX, Polyb., Plut., al.) : Act.12:12 14:6 (on the related σύνοιδα, see see word).† (AS)
The word indicates shared awareness. Sapphira’s involvement was not accidental; the deceit had fellowship within the marriage before it was exposed before the church.
Lexicon & word tagging: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0)
Related Passages
Acts 4:37
contrastBarnabas sold land, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Ananias performs a similar outward action, but with a divided and deceitful heart.
2 Peter 2:14-15
BackgroundActs 4:34-35
backgroundThis explains the practice of laying proceeds at the apostles’ feet for distribution among the needy.
2 Kings 5:21-25
parallelGehazi secretly took what he should not have taken and then lied to cover it.
Matthew 6:2-3
parallelJesus warned against giving in order to be seen and honored by others.
Malachi 3:8-9
BackgroundMalachi 1:14
BackgroundMatthew 23:5
BackgroundCross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · openbible.info (CC-BY)
Key Takeaway
Ananias’s sin was not partial giving, but pretending partial giving was total surrender.
He laid money at the apostles’ feet, but kept falsehood in his heart.“
Analysis generated on August 9, 2026 · version 2.0
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