Acts 5

laid
“Laid” translates τίθημι (tithēmi) both here and in verse 2. While people were laying money at the apostles’ feet, and though Ananias had done so as well, he had first “laid” this deed in his heart. This shows the direct correspondence between the external action and the internal heart motive.

great
Luke likes to emphasize the “great” (μέγας; megas) work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 4:33, the apostles were witnessing with “great” power and receiving “great” grace. Here, His execution of Ananias results in “great” fear, as also in verse 11 for Sapphira. In Acts 6:8, Stephen, “full of grace and power” (cf. 4:33), was doing “great” wonders and signs. The work of the Holy Spirit is truly great.

Now there was
The phrase “Now there was” translates the formulaic introductory phrase Ἐγένετο δὲ (egeneto de). Though less common than its counterpart, καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto), this phrase functions in a similar fashion when occurring at the outset of a literary unit. Furthermore, this phrase occurs more frequently in the middle of a story, drawing the reader’s attention to a point of emphasis the author makes, or operates as a pause in the flow of the story. In this context, its use within this narrative divides the lie of Ananias (5:1–6) from the lie of his wife (5:7–11).

were paid
The phrase “were paid…for the land” translates the middle voice of the verb ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi)—a more literal translation than “sold the land,” which uses the active voice. This shows that the emphasis is not on the action of selling of the land, but specifically on how much they were paid for it.

great
Refer to the discussion on verse 5 above.

these things
The word ταῦτα (tauta; “these things”) is in the accusative case, marking it as the direct object of the verb “heard.” Thus, the best translation shows that they “heard these things” rather than “heard of these things.” News of the Holy Spirit’s execution of Ananias and Sapphira was not a mere rumor, but an accurate report which rightly inspired fear in those who heard it.

with one accord
One of the goals of this translation is to provide a consistent English rendering when the same word or phrase is used in Greek whenever possible. Such is the case here, where the word ὁμοθυμαδόν (homothymadon) is translated consistently as “one accord” in all eleven of its occurrences (1:14; 2:46; 4:24; here; 7:57; 8:6; 12:20; 15:25; 18:12; 19:29; Rom 15:6). In Acts, this word most often demonstrates the unity brought about by the Holy Spirit among believers.

believers in the Lord
Several translations render the Greek phrase προσετίθεντο πιστεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ (prosetithento pisteuontes tō kyriō) as “believers were added to the Lord.” However, the dative clause τῷ κυρίῳ (tō kyriō; “in/to/with the Lord”) is better taken as modifying the immediately preceding πιστεύοντες (pisteuontes; “believers”). Thus, more “believers in the Lord” were added. Luke is communicating that it was those who believed in Christ through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit who were added to the church.

Sanhedrin
The word “Sanhedrin” here represents the term συνέδριον (synedrion), which most English versions translate as “council” or “court.” While these translations accurately describe what the Sanhedrin was, the term was more specific in the Jewish mind. It referred not just to any court, but the supreme court of the Jews in Jerusalem, before which the most serious cases would be decided. Here, they were being gathered to decide the important matter of what to do with the imprisoned (they thought) apostles who were, by their preaching of Jesus and their confirming miracles, opposing the authority and threatening the prominence of the Jewish religious leaders.

jailhouse
The word “jailhouse” here, as well as in verse 23 and 16:26, translates δεσμωτήριον (desmōtērion), which describes a jail or place of temporary detention. The translation as “jailhouse” helps distinguish this term from the more common φυλακή (phylakē), which is translated as “prison.”

Sanhedrin
Refer to the discussion verse 21 above.

Leader
“Leader” translates ἀρχηγός (archēgos), which occurs four times in the Greek New Testament (Acts 3:15; here; Heb 2:10; 12:2). The term indicates one who is “at the front,” so to speak, either as a leader, creator, originator, or founder of something. Because it has different nuances in different contexts, it should not be translated the same way everywhere but footnotes in the text point to other passages where the same word is used. Thus, ἀρχηγός (archēgos) is translated as “author” in Acts 3:15 and in Hebrews, and “leader” in this verse. Here, because there is not another word or phrase to affect the original nuance of the word (e.g., “of life,” “of salvation,” or “of faith”), the word is translated as “leader” to conform to its closest literal meaning. Jesus is the One appointed to go ahead of and lead His people.

Sanhedrin
Refer to the discussion verse 21 above.

were following
The Greek word translated “were following” here is the imperfect tense verb ἐπείθοντο (epeithonto) from πείθω (peithō), which generally means to “persuade” or “convince” (e.g., Acts 18:4, 23; 2 Cor 5:11) or in the passive, to “be persuaded” or “become convinced” (e.g., Luke 16:31; Acts 17:4; 23:21; 27:11; Heb 13:18). In many contexts, it also takes on the meaning of being a follower of someone (usually a prominent figure) because of being persuaded by their arguments, beliefs, and values. This is the meaning here, as Gamaliel explains how a group of four hundred men, having been convinced to pursue Theudas’ cause, were following him. The translation as “were following” rather than simply “followed” carries over the sense of the imperfect tense, which usually signifies continual or ongoing action. Thus, though these men had been following Theudas constantly as true and faithful proponents of his, they were dispersed and came to nothing upon his death. Gamaliel raises this as an example to set against the current circumstances in dealing with the popularity of Jesus’ apostles.

were following
Refer to the discussion on verse 36 above.

followed
Refer to the discussion on verse 36 above. Gamaliel had won over or persuaded the Sanhedrin, getting them to “follow” (πείθω; peithō) his advice after giving examples of other prominent figures who were “followed” but whose causes were abandoned after their deaths.

Sanhedrin
Refer to the discussion on verse 21 above.

the Name
While some translations read “His Name” here, the simple literal rendering “the Name” (τοῦ ὀνόματος; tou onomatos) better portrays the emphasis intended here. Jesus’ name is prominent enough to stand on its own, recognized simply as “the Name.”