King James Version

What Does Acts 5:4 Mean?

Acts 5:4 in the King James Version says “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own ? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived... — study this verse from Acts chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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.

Acts 5:4 · KJV


Context

2

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

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? to lie to: or, to deceive

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Peter's penetrating questions - 'while it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?' - establish that giving was voluntary, not coerced. The sin wasn't incomplete donation but deceptive representation. The devastating accusation 'thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God' reveals hypocrisy's true nature: attempting to deceive God. The Greek 'pseudomai' (lied) indicates deliberate falsehood. Peter's final question 'why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?' identifies the internal source - sin begins in heart before manifesting in action.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Community property sharing was voluntary, unlike Qumran's required divestment. Peter's emphasis on voluntary nature refutes claims that Acts 4-5 teaches Christian communism. The lie concerned representing partial gift as complete, seeking glory without cost.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does recognizing that lying to the church is lying to God transform your commitment to truthfulness?
  2. What does Peter's question about 'conceiving this in thine heart' teach about sin's origin?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 27 words
οὐχὶ1 of 27

was it not

G3780

not indeed

ἔμενεν2 of 27

Whiles it remained

G3306

to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)

σοὶ3 of 27

thine own

G4671

to thee

ἔμενεν4 of 27

Whiles it remained

G3306

to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)

καὶ5 of 27

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πραθὲν6 of 27

after it was sold

G4097

from the base of g4008); to traffic (by travelling), i.e., dispose of as merchandise or into slavery (literally or figuratively)

ἐν7 of 27

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῇ8 of 27
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

σῇ9 of 27

thine own

G4674

thine

ἐξουσίᾳ10 of 27

power

G1849

privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o

ὑπῆρχεν11 of 27

was it not

G5225

to begin under (quietly), i.e., come into existence (be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an adjective, particip

τί12 of 27

why

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

ὅτι13 of 27
G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

ἔθου14 of 27

hast thou conceived

G5087

to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from g2476, which pr

ἐν15 of 27

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῇ16 of 27
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

καρδίᾳ17 of 27

heart

G2588

the heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle

σου18 of 27

thine

G4675

of thee, thy

τὸ19 of 27
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πρᾶγμα20 of 27

thing

G4229

a deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object (material)

τοῦτο21 of 27

this

G5124

that thing

οὐκ22 of 27

not

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἐψεύσω23 of 27

lied

G5574

to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood

ἀνθρώποις24 of 27

unto men

G444

man-faced, i.e., a human being

ἀλλὰ25 of 27

but

G235

properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

τῷ26 of 27
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θεῷ27 of 27

unto God

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 5:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 5:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study