Kisah Para Rasul 4:34--5:5

4:34 For there was no one needy ¹  among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling ²  them ³  and bringing the proceeds from the sales 4:35 and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds ⁴  were distributed to each, as anyone had need. 4:36 So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), ⁵  4:37 sold ⁶  a field ⁷  that belonged to him and brought the money ⁸  and placed it at the apostles’ feet.

The Judgment on Ananias and Sapphira

5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 5:2 He ⁹  kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought ¹⁰  only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled ¹¹  your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of ¹²  the land? 5:4 Before it was sold, ¹³  did it not ¹⁴  belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money ¹⁵  not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? ¹⁶  You have not lied to people ¹⁷  but to God!”

5:5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped ¹⁸  all who heard about it.

[4:34]  ¹ tn Or “poor.”

[4:34]  ² tn Grk “houses, selling them were bringing.” The participle πωλοῦντες (pwlounte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[4:34]  ³ tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[4:35]  ⁴ tn Grk “It” (or “They,” plural). The referent of the understood pronoun subject, the proceeds from the sales, of the verb διεδίδετο (diedideto) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:36]  ⁵ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. Note how the actions of Barnabas are in keeping with the meaning of his nickname. He stands in contrast to Ananias and Sapphira in 5:1-11.

[4:37]  ⁶ tn Grk “selling a field that belonged to him, brought” The participle πωλήσας (pwlhsa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[4:37]  ⁷ tn Or “a farm.”

[4:37]  ⁸ tn Normally a reference to actual coins (“currency”). See L&N 6.68.

[5:2]  ⁹ tn Grk “And he.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[5:2]  ¹⁰ tn The participle ἐνέγκας (enenka") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[5:3]  ¹¹ sn This is a good example of the Greek verb fill (πληρόω, plhrow) meaning “to exercise control over someone’s thought and action” (cf. Eph 5:18).

[5:3]  ¹² tn The words “from the sale of” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to clarify the meaning, since the phrase “proceeds from the land” could possibly be understood as crops rather than money from the sale.

[5:4]  ¹³ tn Grk “Remaining to you.”

[5:4]  ¹⁴ tn The negative interrogative particle οὐχί (ouci) expects a positive reply to this question and the following one (“And when it was sold, was it not at your disposal?”).

[5:4]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “it”; the referent of the pronoun (the money generated from the sale of the land) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:4]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “How is it that you have [or Why have you] placed this deed in your heart?” Both of these literal translations differ from the normal way of expressing the thought in English.

[5:4]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “to men.” If Peter’s remark refers only to the apostles, the translation “to men” would be appropriate. But if (as is likely) the action was taken to impress the entire congregation (who would presumably have witnessed the donation or been aware of it) then the more general “to people” is more appropriate, since the audience would have included both men and women.

[5:5]  ¹⁸ tn Or “fear came on,” “fear seized”; Grk “fear happened to.”