And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part - pretending it to be the whole proceeds of the sale. We have here (as Olshausen says) 'the first trace of a shade upon the pure, bright form of the young Church. Probably among the new Christians a kind of holy rivalry had sprung up, every one eager to place his means at the disposal of the apostles.' Thus might the newborn zeal of some outrun their abiding principle, while others might be tempted to seek credit for a liberality which was not in their character. The coolness with which this couple planned the deception aggravated the guilt of it.