And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

ACTS 5:6KJV
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Acts 5:6 (KJV)

What does Acts 5:6 mean?

Acts 5:6 describes how a group of young men stood up, wrapped up the body of Ananias, carried him out, and buried him after he died suddenly. This verse shows the immediate and practical response of the early Christian community to Ananias’s death.

In the setting of Acts 5, Peter is speaking to Ananias about his deceit regarding a donation, and Ananias falls dead as a result. The young men mentioned here are likely members of the early church who take responsibility for handling the burial. The verse highlights the seriousness of the event and the swift, respectful treatment of the deceased within the community.

The Greek behind Acts 5:6

  • The word for "young men" is νεανίσκοι (neaniskoi), often used for young adult males, likely indicating those physically able to carry out the burial.
  • The verb ἐξενέγκαντες (exenegkan, "carried out") carries the sense of physically removing the body from the gathering, emphasizing the suddenness and seriousness of the situation.
  • The verb ἐνετύλιξαν (enetulixan, "wound up") means to wrap or bind, describing how the body was prepared for burial, which was a common Jewish practice.

Why Acts 5:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the early church handled the death of Ananias promptly and in accordance with burial customs, showing respect even in difficult circumstances.
  • The quick burial underscores the gravity of Ananias’s actions and the community’s response, connecting to the theme of honesty and integrity in the early church.
  • Acts 5:6 sets the stage for the following verses, where a similar fate befalls Sapphira, highlighting the seriousness of deceit within the community.

Where else these words appear

“wound” Greek G4958 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

“out” Greek G1627 · used in 7 verses

  • Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
  • Acts 5:10 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.
  • 1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

“buried” Greek G2290 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
  • Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
  • Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

“men” Greek G3501 · used in 20 verses

  • Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
  • Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
  • 1 Timothy 5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.