Acts 5:3

“But Peter said, Ananias, etc.] Peter, by divine revelation, or by a spirit of discerning, such as Elisha had, who knew what his servant Gehazi had done, knowing what a reserve Ananias had made, calls him by his name, and says to him, why hath Satan filled thine heart? or emboldened thee, given thee so much spirit and courage to act in such an impudent and audacious manner; so the phrase is used in (<170705>Esther 7:5 <210811>Ecclesiastes 8:11) see the Septuagint there, and often in Talmudic writings. “Says R. Joshua, I never ybl ynalm, “filled my heart”; or my heart never filled me to say to a man, go and take the change of these three things, etc. f195.” And says another Rabbi f196, “though…”

“why hath Satan filled--"why . . . fill--"why hast thou suffered him to fill" thine heart--so criminally entertaining his suggestion? Compare Act 5:4, "why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?" And see Joh 13:2, Joh 13:27. to lie to the Holy Ghost--to men under His supernatural illumination.”

“But Peter said ... - Peter could have known this only by “revelation.” It was the manifest design of Ananias to deceive; nor was there any way of detecting him but by its being revealed to him by the Spirit of God. As it was an instance of enormous wickedness, and as it was very important to detect and punish the crime, it was made known to Peter directly by God. Why hath Satan - Great deeds of wickedness in the Scripture are traced to the influence of Satan. Compare Luke 23:3; John 13:27. Especially is Satan called the “father of lies,” John 8:44-45. Compare Genesis 3:1-5. As this was an act of “falsehood,” or an attempt to deceive, it is with great propriety traced to the influence of…”

“To lie to the Holy Ghost - Who is in us. And to keep back - Here was the first instance of it. This was the first attempt to bring propriety of goods into the Christian Church. Acts 5:4”

“5:3-4 In lying about their property sale, Ananias was not just lying to others but to the Holy Spirit—that is, to God. His actions compromised the transparent sincerity, unity, and integrity of the church at its very foundation, and thus he fell under the direct judgment of God (cp. Lev 10:1-5; Josh 7:16-26).”

“why: Gen 3:13-17; Kg1 22:21, Kg1 22:22; Ch1 21:1-3; Mat 4:3-11, Mat 13:19; Luk 22:3; Joh 13:2, Joh 13:27; Eph 6:11-16; Jam 4:7; Pe1 5:8; Rev 12:9-11 lie to: or, deceive, Act 5:9; Job 22:13; Psa 94:7-9; Isa 29:15; Jer 23:24; Hos 11:12 to keep: Num 30:2; Deu 23:21; Pro 20:25; Ecc 5:4; Rom 2:21, Rom 2:22 Acts 5:4”