Acts 5:2 (KJV)

What does Acts 5:2 mean?

Acts 5:2 describes how a man, with his wife’s knowledge, secretly kept back part of the money from a sale and brought only a portion to give to the apostles, pretending it was the full amount. The verse highlights the couple’s deliberate choice to hide the truth about their gift.

The setting is the early Christian community in Jerusalem, where believers were selling property and sharing the proceeds to help those in need. The man mentioned here is Ananias, and his wife is Sapphira. Unlike others who gave honestly, they decided together to hold back some of the money while making it appear they were giving everything, setting the stage for the confrontation that follows in the story.

The Greek behind Acts 5:2

• The word "kept back" (νοσφίζομαι, nosphizomai) means to secretly withhold or set aside for oneself. This word often carries a sense of dishonesty or stealth, emphasizing that Ananias and Sapphira were not simply saving money, but deliberately deceiving the community.
• The phrase "his wife also being privy to it" (συνειδυίης, suneiduiēs) shows that Sapphira was fully aware and involved in the plan, not an innocent bystander. This detail makes clear that both shared responsibility for the deception.
• "Laid it at the apostles' feet" (ἔθηκεν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων, ethēken para tous podas tōn apostolōn) was a common way of describing the act of giving money to the leaders for distribution. The phrase highlights the public nature of their gift, contrasting with the private decision to hold some back.

Why Acts 5:2 matters

• Acts 5:2 makes clear that the issue was not just withholding money, but pretending to give everything while secretly keeping some for themselves, which sets up the seriousness of their actions in the next verses.
• The verse shows that both Ananias and Sapphira were equally involved, which is important for understanding the shared responsibility and the outcome of the story.
• This verse connects directly to the wider context of Acts 4, where other believers gave honestly and openly, highlighting the contrast between genuine generosity and hidden deceit.