Acts 5:4

While 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 has not lied unto men, but unto God.

'WHILE IT REMAINED'-i.e. remained unsold. This verse virtually removes any excuse that Ananias could have offered in his defense. First of all, the property was his in the first place. 'When you had the land, was it not yours to keep' (Rieu)

'DID IT NOT REMAIN THINE OWN?'-'The passage proves that there was no obligation imposed upon the early Christians to sell all their property..Those who did sell, did it voluntarily; and it does not appear that selling goods and possessions was something expected to be done by all.' (Reese p. 203)

'AFTER IT WAS SOLD, WAS IT NOT IN THY POWER?'-'was not the money under your control' (Gspd). Which reveals that there was no undue pressure on Ananias to give the money. The Church wasn't twisting any arms. Great emotional appeals for money weren't being made. Every sermon they heard wasn't about giving.

Points to Note:

This verse reveals that the New Testament teaches the principle of private ownership. Communal living isn't more spiritual than other lifestyles.

Someone pointed out, that the one thing that communes overlook, and the reason why they fail, is that people overlook one key problem that infects all Utopian colonies, i.e. human selfishness.

Thus Ananias has no "excuse" for his actions. He can't blame the Church, for no pressure was exerted upon him. 'There was no compulsion as regards giving it away. The act was one of deliberate hypocrisy--an attempt to deceive God Himself.' (P.P. Comm. p. 157)

'THOU HAST CONCEIVED THIS THING IN THY HEART'-Just because temptations exist, or evil thoughts enter our mind, it doesn't mean that we are obligated to dwell on them or act them out. Notice, Satan will influence you when you allow an evil thought to remain in your heart and you start dwelling on it, and figuring out ways that you can engage in it without being caught. Unfortunately, some Christians spend too much of their mental time figuring out ways they can get really close to sin, without sinning.

'THOU HAST NOT LIED UNTO MEN'-that is, to men only. He had lied to the apostles, but even beyond that it was. lie directed at God.

'BUT UNTO GOD'-

Points to Note:

In comparing Acts 1:3 with Acts 5:4, we learn that the Holy Spirit is. Divine Being. For Peter identifies Him with God.

The actions of Ananias constituted. denial that the apostles were inspired, that the God who inspired them, knew all things.

McGarvey reminds us..'That they gave..is proof that they were not sinners above all men in respect of love of money, and yet their fate is held up as. warning to all generations' (p. 83)