Devine Scripture

Acts 5:5

What does Acts 5:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 5:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 5:5 means

Upon hearing Peter’s words, Ananias falls down and dies. The suddenness underscores that the judgment is from God, not from human hands. This event is not ordinary church discipline but a divine act that vindicates God’s holiness in the church’s earliest days. The response—great fear upon all who heard—shows the intended effect: reverent awe and a sober recognition that God is among His people. Fear here is not terror alone but the deep awareness that sin is serious and God is real. The community learns that integrity before God is not optional for those who bear His name; hypocrisy invites His direct correction.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And at these words, Ananias went down on the earth, and his life went from him: and great fear came on all who were present.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, did expire, and great fear came upon all who heard these things,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired. And great fear came upon all who heard [it].

Context

After the sin is fully exposed, judgment comes immediately. This marks a turning point in the narrative, as the holy presence of God is displayed in a way that cannot be ignored. The fear that arises prepares the ground for the next actions: the young men reverently remove the body, and later Sapphira enters unaware. The sequence maintains solemnity and continuity. The community’s reaction is crucial; fear spreads beyond the church’s walls, affecting all who hear. This sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where purity and power will both characterize the church’s witness, even amid opposition from authorities.

v.4While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

v.5This passage

v.6And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:2

    yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

  • 1 Samuel 6:19

    And he smote of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, he smote of the people seventy men, andfifty thousand men; and the people mourned, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter.

  • Revelation 11:13

    And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:11

    For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.

  • 2 Kings 2:24

    And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.

  • Psalms 119:120

    My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. ע AYIN.

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