Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5:1-11
Acts.5.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ανηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- Ανανιας: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- συν: PREP
- Σαπφιρη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- γυναικι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- επωλησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- κτημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Acts 4:34-37 (structural): Immediate narrative contrast: Barnabas sold land and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet (an act of open generosity), which sets up a deliberate contrast with Ananias and Sapphira who privately sold property and concealed part of the proceeds.
- Acts 1:18-19 (thematic): Judas Iscariot's death and the purchase of a field with 'the reward of his wickedness' parallels themes of betrayal, property tied to sinful acts, and fatal consequences following deceit within the apostolic community.
- Joshua 7:1-26 (allusion): Achan's secret appropriation of devoted spoils brings communal defeat and leads to his execution—an Old Testament precedent for hidden sin involving property that results in severe divine/covenantal judgment.
- 2 Samuel 6:6-7 (allusion): Uzzah's sudden death for irreverent action toward holy matters echoes the motif of immediate, lethal divine judgment in response to improper conduct connected with sacred community life.
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (thematic): Paul's warning that some who partake 'unworthily' are weak, sick, or have died reflects the New Testament theme that God may enact disciplinary or judicial consequences within the church for serious misconduct.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a possession.
- But a man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts.5.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ενοσφισατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- τιμης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- συνειδυιης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γυναικος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ενεγκας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- μερος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- παρα: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ποδας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αποστολων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εθηκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 4:34-37 (thematic): Barnabas sells a field and brings the money to lay at the apostles' feet—an explicit positive parallel to the practice Ananias deceptively imitated.
- Acts 2:44-45 (thematic): The early Jerusalem community sold possessions and laid proceeds at the apostles' feet; Acts 5:2 violates the communal ideal of honest sharing described here.
- Joshua 7:1,11-25 (allusion): Achan secretly kept devoted spoil and lied, bringing communal disaster—an OT precedent for withholding property and deceit with resulting judgment.
- John 12:6 (verbal): John notes Judas ‘kept the bag’ and was a thief—a New Testament instance of a follower secretly withholding/misusing communal funds, echoing Ananias' conduct.
- Acts 5:3-4 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel: Peter confronts Ananias for lying about the gift and says he lied to the Holy Spirit, connecting the act of withholding with theological culpability.
Alternative generated candidates
- With his wife's knowledge he kept back a part of the proceeds, and bringing a portion he laid it at the apostles' feet.
- and kept back a part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a portion and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts.5.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Πετρος·Ανανια: PROPN,nom,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- επληρωσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Σατανας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καρδιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ψευσασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf,NA,NA
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αγιον: ADJ,acc,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- νοσφισασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf,NA,NA
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- τιμης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- χωριου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Joshua 7:1,20-26 (thematic): Achan secretly kept devoted spoils and lied about it; like Ananias, his hidden theft and deception bring communal judgment—parallel motif of concealment of proceeds and divine punishment.
- Luke 22:3 (verbal): Uses the language of Satan entering/affecting a person (here Judas)—parallels Acts 5:3's wording that Satan filled Ananias's heart to prompt sinful action.
- 1 Chronicles 21:1 (thematic): Describes Satan inciting David to number Israel; similar theological framework of Satan as instigator of sin that leads a believer to wrongdoing.
- Acts 4:32-37 (structural): Describes the early Jerusalem community voluntarily selling property and laying proceeds at the apostles' feet (e.g., Barnabas); serves as the positive contrast/background to Ananias and Sapphira's deceit about land proceeds.
- Acts 5:4 (verbal): Immediate literary continuation: Peter explicitly states that Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit and thus to God—directly expands the claim made in 5:3 about lying to the Spirit.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
- But 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.5.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουχι: PART
- μενον: PART
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εμενεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- πραθεν: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ση: PRON,poss,dat,sg,2
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- υπηρχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- οτι: CONJ
- εθου: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- καρδια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πραγμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εψευσω: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- ανθρωποις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 5:3 (verbal): Immediate verbal parallel—Peter contrasts Ananias’s claim with the reality and explicitly charges him with lying to the Holy Spirit (same context and wording).
- Acts 4:32–37 (structural): Background context for the episode: the early community’s practice of selling property and laying proceeds at the apostles’ feet (Barnabas’s example), which sets up Ananias’s deceit about the sale.
- Joshua 7:1–26 (thematic): Achan’s secret appropriation of devoted property, deceit, and resulting divine judgment—parallels Ananias’s concealment of proceeds and ensuing punishment for violating communal/holy trust.
- 2 Kings 5:20–27 (allusion): Gehazi’s deceit and lie to obtain gifts and the prophet’s pronouncement of divine judgment (leprosy) echo the moral pattern: deceit for personal gain and immediate divine sanction.
- Luke 12:2–3 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching that hidden things and whispered sins will be revealed and exposed resonates with the Acts scene where Ananias’s secret is uncovered and publicly judged.
Alternative generated candidates
- While it remained, was it not yours? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why did you put this thing into your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
- While it remained, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why did you contrive this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.'
Acts.5.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ακουων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ανανιας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- λογους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τουτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- πεσων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- εξεψυξεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- φοβος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μεγας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ακουοντας: VERB,pres,act,ptc,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 5:3-4 (verbal): Peter's preceding rebuke accusing Ananias of lying to the Holy Spirit and keeping back money — the immediate charge that explains why Ananias falls dead.
- Acts 5:10 (structural): Sapphira's subsequent fate (she too falls dead after lying) — a parallel case in the same narrative showing the pattern of judgment and the effect on the community.
- Joshua 7:11-26 (thematic): Achan's deceit about taking devoted things leads to discovery and death — a Old Testament example of communal shock and divine judgment against deceptive conduct.
- Leviticus 10:1-2 (thematic): Nadab and Abihu struck dead for offering unauthorized fire before the LORD — another instance of immediate, severe divine judgment that provokes fear among onlookers.
- 2 Samuel 6:6-7 (thematic): Uzzah struck dead for touching the ark, producing great fear — parallels the sudden, fear-inducing divine retribution enacted in the presence of witnesses.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. Great fear came over all who heard of it.
- And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died; and great fear came upon all who heard of it.
Acts.5.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ανασταντες: VERB,part,aor,act,nom,pl,masc
- δε: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- νεωτεροι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- συνεστειλαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εξενεγκαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εθαψαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Acts 5:5 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the preceding verse records Ananias' sudden death, which leads directly to the young men's action in 5:6 (same episode).
- Acts 5:10 (verbal): Parallels in vocabulary and sequence: after Sapphira's death the 'young men' enter, find her dead, carry her out and bury her—echoing the verbs and actions of 5:6.
- Acts 8:2 (thematic): Burial of a martyr: devout men bury Stephen after his execution, paralleling the community's burial of those who die suddenly or violently in Acts 5:6.
- Luke 23:53 (verbal): Same Lukan author and burial language: Jesus is taken down, wrapped in linen and laid in a tomb—parallels the wrapping/carrying/burial imagery (wrapping and burial verbs).
- Matthew 27:59-60 (thematic): Joseph of Arimathea's taking down, wrapping and burial of Jesus provides a comparable scene of prompt removal, wrapping and burial of a dead body, thematically echoing Acts 5:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the young men rose up and wrapped him, carried him out, and buried him.
- The young men rose up, wrapped him, carried him out, and buried him.
Acts.5.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- ως: ADV
- ωρων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- τριων: NUM,gen,pl
- διαστημα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γυνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- μη: PART
- ειδυια: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,f
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- γεγονος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 5:1 (structural): Introduces Ananias and Sapphira together and sets the scene for the deception that culminates in v.7 (the wife's arrival).
- Acts 5:2 (thematic): Describes the sale and withholding of money that is the substance of the lie; explains why Sapphira later enters unaware of the immediate consequence.
- Acts 5:5 (verbal): Ananias’ sudden death immediately after Peter’s confrontation parallels the timing in v.7 (the wife arriving a few hours later) and establishes the deadly outcome of the deceit.
- Acts 5:9-10 (verbal): Peter’s later interrogation of Sapphira and her subsequent death complete the episode begun in v.7; these verses parallel v.7 by showing the consequence when she learns of and confirms the deception.
Alternative generated candidates
- About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
- About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Acts.5.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απεκριθη: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- προς: PREP
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- Πετρος·Ειπε: PROPN,nom,sg,m+VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τοσουτου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- χωριον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- απεδοσθε: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- ειπεν·Ναι: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+PART
- τοσουτου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Acts 5:3 (verbal): Directly connected in the same episode: Peter confronts Ananias for lying about the proceeds of the sale (lies to the Holy Spirit), which is the background to Peter's question to Sapphira.
- Acts 4:34-37 (structural): Contrasts genuine community generosity (e.g., Barnabas selling a field and laying money at the apostles’ feet) with the later deceitful claim about a sale.
- Luke 12:2-3 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching that hidden things will be revealed echoes the exposure of Ananias and Sapphira—what was concealed is brought into the open.
- Proverbs 12:22 (thematic): Affirms the moral principle that lying is detestable to the Lord, providing ethical/theological rationale for the seriousness of their deception.
Alternative generated candidates
- Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, for that amount."
- Peter said to her, 'Tell me whether you sold the land for such a price.' She said, 'Yes, that was the price.'
Acts.5.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προς: PREP
- αυτην·Τι: PRON,acc,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- συνεφωνηθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- πειρασαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ιδου: PART
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ποδες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- θαψαντων: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ανδρα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- επι: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- θυρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εξοισουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 6:16 (quotation): Peter's charge 'to test the Spirit of the Lord' echoes Deut 6:16 ('Do not put the LORD your God to the test'), a scriptural prohibition against testing God's presence or power.
- Psalm 78:18-22 (allusion): Psalm 78 recounts Israel repeatedly 'testing God' and provoking the Holy One, leading to judgment — a literary precedent for divine punishment when God's authority is challenged.
- Joshua 7 (thematic): The Achan episode (hidden sin in the camp, discovery, and removal/execution) parallels the Acts scene: secret deceit exposed and the community's holiness enforced by sudden, punitive action.
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 (thematic): Paul's warning that partaking 'unworthily' brings judgment (sickness, death) reflects the same concern in Acts for corporate holiness and immediate divine retribution for deceit within the believing community.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Peter said to her, "How could you agree together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
- Then Peter said to her, 'How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.'
Acts.5.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- επεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- παραχρημα: ADV
- προς: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ποδας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εξεψυξεν·εισελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+PART,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- νεανισκοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ευρον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- νεκραν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εξενεγκαντες: PART,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- εθαψαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ανδρα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 5:5 (verbal): Ananias falls down and dies immediately after being confronted by Peter — the parallel event to Sapphira’s sudden death (same episode, similar wording and divine judgment).
- Acts 4:32-37 (thematic): Contrast between the early Christians’ communal honesty and Barnabas’s generosity and the hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira; highlights the sin of deceit about possessions within the believing community.
- Leviticus 10:1-3 (thematic): Nadab and Abihu are struck dead for offering unauthorized fire before the Lord — an OT precedent for immediate divine punishment for improper or disobedient behavior in a sacred context.
- Joshua 7:20-26 (thematic): Achan’s deceit in taking devoted things brings judgment and death; parallels the theme of concealed sin and its exposure leading to execution as communal/theological consequence.
- 2 Samuel 6:6-7 (thematic): Uzzah is struck dead for reaching out to steady the ark — another instance of sudden death associated with improper conduct toward holy things, underscoring divine holiness and swift retribution.
Alternative generated candidates
- Immediately she fell at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
- Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead; they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Acts.5.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- φοβος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μεγας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εφ᾽ολην: PREP+ADJ,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εκκλησιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ακουοντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Acts 2:43 (verbal): Uses very similar language ('fear came upon every soul') to describe communal fear in response to the apostles' mighty works—verbal and thematic parallel to fear spreading through the early community.
- Acts 5:5 (verbal): Earliest occurrence within the same narrative: the report of Ananias' death likewise provokes 'great fear' among those who heard—an immediate verbal and narrative parallel within Acts 5.
- Acts 9:31 (thematic): Describes the church as walking 'in the fear of the Lord' (and being strengthened/peaceful), showing the early Christian community's characteristic response of reverent fear to God’s activity—thematic parallel to communal fear in Acts 5:11.
- Luke 5:26 (thematic): After a miraculous healing the crowds are 'filled with fear' and give glory to God; parallels Acts 5:11 in the communal reaction of awe and fear prompted by divine acts performed through God's agents.
Alternative generated candidates
- And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard these things.
- And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard these things.
But there was a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, who sold a possession,
and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a portion and laid it at the apostles' feet. But 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?
While it remained, was it not yours? And after it was sold, was it not in your power? Why did you contrive this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it.
The young men rose up, wrapped him, carried him out, and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, for so much."
Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." And immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last; and when the young men came in they found her dead, and carrying her out, they buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard these things; and the report of them spread through all who dwelt in Jerusalem.