Acts 5:1

But a certain man It is not by way of contrast that the story of Ananias is put side by side with that of Barnabas, therefore much stress is not to be laid on the word But. Acts 5:36 of the last chapter begins, in the original, with the same conjunction, and it is often employed in narratives where only a simple connection of clauses is intended. Thus, Acts 8:1-3, the same conjunction occurs four times over without any adversative sense.

named Ananias The name was common. See Acts 9:10-17; Acts 23:2; Acts 24:1. It is the same as Hananiah, Jeremiah 28:1; Daniel 1:6-7, &c., where it is the Hebrew name of Shadrach. which is spelt Ananiasin the "Benedicite," and that form of the name is found Tob 5:12. It signifies "one to whom Jehovah has been gracious."

with Sapphira his wife A name probably derived from the name of the precious stone sapphire, which word is found both in Hebrew and Greek.

sold a possession The word may signify either lands, or buildings, or any kind of property. It is the word used of the young man who went away sorrowful from Jesus "for he had great possessions," Matthew 19:22; Mark 10:22. The LXX. use it of vineyards (Hosea 2:15).