complete verse (Acts 5:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:5:

  • Uma: “When Ananias heard Petrus’s utterance, he suddenly fell down [and] immediately died. All the people who heard what happened, no kidding their fear.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When Ananiyas heard those words, immediately he fell dead. And all who heard about that his death, were entered into by great fear.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when Ananias heard these words, God punished him, and immediately he fell down and died. And then some young men came to him and tied up his body and carried it out and buried it. And all who heard about this happening were very much afraid.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Upon Ananias’ hearing what Pedro said, he simultaneously (with hearing it) fell down dead. The young men wrapped-around-his body -with-strips (of cloth), then they took him out and went and buried him. And great was the fear of all who heard what happened to him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, when Ananias heard that, he at once fell down for he died. That’s why everyone became afraid who saw and heard news of that.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 5:5

In some languages the expression fell down dead is rendered as “died and fell down,” since it is dying which causes the falling.

All who heard about it refers to people other than those who were present and saw what happened. Most probably the reference is to Christians and non-Christians alike.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 5:5

5:5a

Ananias fell down and died: This probably indicates that Ananias died while standing then his body fell to the ground. Here are some other ways to translate this:

he fell down dead (Good News Translation)
-or-
he dropped dead (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he suddenly died and his body fell to the ground

5:5b

great fear came over all who heard what had happened: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as came over indicates that these people became very fearful. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

great fear seized all who heard what had happened (New International Version)
-or-
all who heard about it were terrified (Good News Translation)

all who heard what had happened: The Greek is more literally “all the ones hearing.” There are two ways to interpret to whom this refers:

(1) It refers to those who heard the whole story of Ananias with Peter (5:2b–5a). It includes people who were there and other people who heard soon after. For example:

all who heard of it (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It refers to hearing Ananias fall down dead (5:5a). It includes only the people who were there. For example:

everyone present (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible)

Interpretation (2) is possible, but it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because most scholars support it as well.

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