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Acts 5:11

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 5:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
Acts 5:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.
9But Peter [said] unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.
10And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
11And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon`s porch.
13But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them;
14and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of them and women;
← Acts 5:10Acts 5:12 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And great fear came upon all the church, etc.] Which was still more increased by this instance of Sapphira’s death: and upon as many as heard these things; who were not of the church; (See Gill on “<440505>Acts 5:5”).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And great fear came upon all the church, &c.--This effect on the Christian community itself was the chief design of so startling a judgment; which had its counterpart, as the sin itself had, in Achan (Jos. 7:1-26), while the time--at the commencement of a new career--was similar.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened: The sudden judgment on Ananias and then on Sapphira had a sobering effect on both the Christian community and those who heard about this incident (cp. Heb 10:31). Believers were forcefully reminded that they needed to be pure, and for non-Christians the believers’ integrity was reestablished, so that once again “all the people had high regard for them” (Acts 5:13). Yet it also made outsiders wary of joining a movement with such high standards (5:13). This divine “pruning” (see John 15:1-11) helped new growth to follow (Acts 5:14; cp. 6:5-7; 11:24; 21:20).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Act 5:5, Act 19:17; Psa 89:7; Jer 32:40; Co1 10:11, Co1 10:12; Phi 2:12; Heb 4:1, Heb 11:7; Heb 12:15, Heb 12:28; Pe1 1:17; Rev 15:4 Acts 5:12”
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Related study paths

Read Acts 5 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification