The Greek text introduces Ananias as the subject of the verb sold, but the introductory particle tis (“a certain”) indicates clearly that this is someone previously unidentified in the discourse. In English the most satisfactory way of handling this type of reference is to place the name in the predicate position with a kind of “dummy subject” using there. It is for this reason that the Good News Translation has there was a man named Ananias. The manner in which unidentified participants are introduced into a story differs from language to language. It is therefore very important that one make the necessary adaptations.

The phrase named Ananias must frequently be translated as “people called him Ananias” or “his name was Ananias.” As in the case of all such proper names, terms such as Ananias and Sapphira should be adjusted in form so as to make them most easily pronounceable in terms of the system of the receptor languages. These two names, however, normally represent relatively minor difficulties.

The term for property in verse 1 is different from the term translated property in verse 3. The term in verse 1 is a very general term for any kind of possession, while in verse 3 the reference is directly to a “field.”

It is important to indicate clearly in this verse that Sapphira participated in this deal, not only as one who knew about it (as specified in v. 2), but as one who shared in the possession. Though Ananias is the one who sold the property, Sapphira obviously participated in the sale as one who shared in the possession (note the Good News Translation rendering).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .