And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

ACTS 5:11KJV
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Acts 5:11 (KJV)

What does Acts 5:11 mean?

Acts 5:11 describes a powerful response to the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. The people in the church were deeply afraid, and the reaction spread to others who heard what had happened.

The verse follows the burial of Sapphira in verse 10. Acts tells the story in its own voice: the sentence reports the response of the listeners rather than quoting someone who witnessed the events.

The Greek behind Acts 5:11

  • “church” — ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia): The word refers to an assembly or gathering of people. Here it names the community of Jesus’ followers, rather than a building.
  • “fear” — φόβος (phobos): The word can describe fear or alarm. In this verse, “great” stresses the intensity of the response to the news.

Why Acts 5:11 matters

  • The news reached beyond the community of believers. The verse distinguishes “all the church” from “as many as heard these things,” showing that the audience was wider than the church alone.

  • The fear belongs to the response to a particular event. “These things” points back to the account of Ananias and Sapphira in the preceding verses, where both died after giving a misleading account of money from a sale.

Where else these words appear

“fear” Greek G5401 · used in 44 verses

  • Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
  • Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
  • Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

“all” Greek G3650 · used in 99 verses

  • Matthew 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
  • Mark 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
  • Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

“church” Greek G1577 · used in 115 verses

  • Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
  • 1 Corinthians 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
  • Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: