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acts 5:3-11

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Acts 5:3-11

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

3. But 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? 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. 5. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried [him] out, and buried [him]. 7. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9. Then 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. 10. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying [her] forth, buried [her] by her husband. 11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Acts 5:3-11 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 5:3

Theological / Devotional

Peter. The spokesman for the church.

Why? If Ananias had wished, he could have resisted the temptation. Had he resisted, the tempter would have fled from him (James 4:7).

Satan filled thine heart. Peter traced evil to its source. His knowledge of what Ananias and Sapphira were doing came from the gift of discernment (1 Cor. 2:14; 12:10). In sad contrast to this, Ananias had opened his heart to Satan until his mind was full of covetous and deceitful thoughts.

Holy Ghost. The Spirit had been given to guide the believers into all truth (John 16:13), but Ananias was trying, vainly, to deceive the Spirit of truth (see on John 14:17, 26; 16:13).

By SdaBc