New · FreePlay The Witnesses The in-depth puzzle battle quest through Bible history
Back to all lyrics
Artwork for Why Hast Thou Conceived This Thing?

Acts 5:1-11

Why Hast Thou Conceived This Thing?

Lyrics · Acts

Why Hast Thou Conceived This Thing?

Acts 5:1-11

Lyrics

Now playing

Why Hast Thou Conceived This Thing?

Acts 5:1-11

Playing next

  1. Lyrics and song details

About this song

About this song

This song belongs to the Acts collection. One recording is available to play here, with the complete lyrics below.

Bible book
Acts
Collection
Acts
Musical styles
Electronic
[Quiet Bargain] A field was sold, a figure agreed, A gift was shaped to look larger than deed. No hand had forced them, no law took the land, Yet praise was desired with a portion in hand. [Accusation] Why has the falsehood been nursed in the heart? Why make devotion a carefully measured part? The coins were not evil, the keeping not theft, The lie was the altar on which honor was set. [Chorus] Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? The Spirit sees whole what performance makes part. A gift may be counted, a number rehearsed, But truth cannot live where the image comes first. Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? No shadow can bargain with holiness. [Verse II] Ananias heard and fell where he stood, The room learned fear no applause ever could. Three hours later Sapphira came, Carrying the story and guarding the same. [Question and Answer] "Was this the price?" "Yes, this was all." The steps at the doorway returned through the hall. The test of the Spirit ended in breath, And husband and wife shared a grave in their death. [Final Chorus] Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? The Spirit sees whole what performance makes part. Great fear moved outward from house into street, For God was not merchandise laid at their feet. [End] The church kept no applause, Only fear and truth.

About the passage

Acts 5: A false gift and an empty prison

The chapter tests the church from the inside before returning to pressure from outside. Ananias and Sapphira imitate the visible form of generosity while lying about the gift, and Peter makes clear that the property and money were theirs to control. The deadly issue is not failure to surrender every possession but deceit presented before God as devotion. Fear follows, yet signs, healings, and growth continue. When the apostles are imprisoned, an angel does not release them into hiding but sends them back to the temple to teach, leaving the council with guards at their posts and an empty cell. The next hearing repeats the conflict over obedience, but accusation is joined to the offer of repentance and forgiveness. A plan to kill the apostles is interrupted by Gamaliel's warning that the council may find itself fighting against God. Beating follows restraint, yet daily teaching continues in public and in houses.

Study Acts 5 in depth