Acts 5

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

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.

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?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

What does Acts 5:9 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 5:9 comes from the account of Ananias and Sapphira, a husband and wife in the early Christian community who attempted to deceive the apostles and the church.

After selling a piece of property, they kept part of the money for themselves while claiming to donate the entire proceeds to the church.

Peter confronts Sapphira after Ananias has already met his fate for lying to the Holy Spirit, he falls dead upon being exposed.

In this verse, Peter exposes Sapphira's sin of conspiracy and deception and reveals the immediate consequence, that she will share the same fate as her husband.

The reference to "tempt the Spirit of the Lord" implies their testing of God's omniscience and presence in the church, while the mention of the feet of those who buried Ananias indicates an impending judgment.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 5:9 is a part of the early narrative of the Christian church after Jesus' ascension, as recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts. The community of believers was characterized by a sense of unity and shared possessions to support each other.

The accounts show an ideal of communal living that strived for honesty, selflessness, and the welfare of others. Ananias and Sapphira's story serves as a warning about the seriousness with which the early Christian community regarded the values of truthfulness and integrity.

Theological Insights

This verse and the surrounding context have been interpreted in various ways, including:

The sovereignty and holiness of God: God sees all actions and cannot be deceived.
The significance of community: the sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not just against God, but against the Christian community whose values they violated.
The role of the Holy Spirit: the reference to the "Spirit of the Lord" underscores the belief that the Holy Spirit was actively involved in the life of the early Christian community, guiding and sanctifying believers.

From a theological viewpoint, some see this event as an example of divine discipline within the church, intended to foster fear of the Lord and thus maintain purity and accountability among its members.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity, especially within a community of faith.

It speaks to the need for transparency in our dealings and the acknowledgment that deceit, even with seemingly good intentions or for personal gain, can have dire consequences.

It also encourages self-reflection on whether one's actions align with professed beliefs, and whether one is living in truth both publicly and in private.

Cross-References

Acts 5:1-10: The full account of Ananias and Sapphira.
Ephesians 4:25: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
Proverbs 15:3: "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."
Acts 5:3-4: Peter's confrontation with Ananias, emphasizing that he lied to the Holy Spirit.

Language Study

"Tempt" (Greek: πειράζω - peirazō): This translates to test or attempt to ascertain the limits of someone, in this context, the limits of God's knowledge or presence.
"Spirit of the Lord" (Greek: Πνεῦμα Κυρίου - Pneuma Kyriou): Represents the Holy Spirit, often seen as the third person of the Trinity in Christian theology, and in this context, the divine presence that Ananias and Sapphira tried to deceive.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, particularly those with polytheistic religious systems, it was common for myths to feature gods testing humans or being deceived by them.

Such stories often conveyed moral lessons on hubris and piety.

In comparison, the Christian narrative in Acts emphasizes the impossibility of deceiving an omniscient, omnipresent God and serves as a moral teaching on the gravity of deceit within the religious community.

Scientific Perspectives

Today's scientific understandings of psychology might interpret this story as a cautionary tale of the social repercussions of unethical behavior.

While science typically does not address spiritual consequences, it can offer insights into the psychology of guilt, the need for social coherence, and the role of institutional norms in regulating individual behavior within communities.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer differing perspectives on this verse:

Some see this story as an illustration of the perils of hypocrisy and the early church's insistence on mutual accountability.
Others caution against reading this as normative, suggesting that it should not be taken as an indication that God will strike down liars, but that it was a unique event in the church's formative years to establish divine authority and communal integrity.
There's discussion about whether the severe punishment was a direct act of God or whether the shock and fear upon being exposed contributed to the couple’s sudden deaths.
There is also consideration of the role of Peter as not only a leader but a prophet through whom God enacted judgment, reinforcing the apostolic authority in the fledgling Christian community.

Acts 5

Acts 5

What does Acts 5:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 5:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?