1. Acts 5:3–4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Did Ananias have the opportunity to repent?

Acts 5:3–4 (ESV)

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

The Holy Spirit makes it clear to the apostle Peter that the money is not the full sum of the sale (we are not told how), and Peter therefore asks a number of questions. Though all the questions are presented one after the other, we must not assume that there was no chance for Ananias to respond. It is likely that the questions actually served to encourage Ananias to reflect on what he was doing, giving him an opportunity to repent and come clean (just as happened with Sapphira).