But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart - that is, Why hast thou suffered him to do it? implying that Satan is powerless over the hearts of men until they give him encouragement. Compare Acts 5:4, "Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?" and see the notes at Mark 14:1-11, Remark 8, at the close of that Section; and the note at John 13:27.
To lie to (or 'deceive.') the Holy Spirit - that is, to lie to men so manifestly under His immediate illumination and direction that it was not so much the human instrument as the divine indwelling Spirit that he attempted to deceive. It is astonishing that Neander should speak of it as doubtful whether Peter detected the dissimulation and hypocrisy of this couple 'by a glance into the secret recesses of their hearts, imparted by the immediate influence of God's Spirit, or by a natural sagacity derived from the same source.' Nothing can be clearer than that the historian represents Peter as conscious of supernatural illumination and direction, and wishing the culprits and the whole assembly to recognize this as his sole warrant for proceeding in the matter as he did.
And to keep back part of the price of the land? [Tischendorf, contrary to his own principal authorities, inserts se (G4571) after nosfisasthai (G3557). Lachmann adheres to the Received Text, which wants it.]