Acts 5:10

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G1161} fell she down {G4098} straightway {G3916} at {G3844} his {G846} feet {G4228}, and {G2532} yielded up the ghost {G1634}: and {G1161} the young men {G3495} came in {G1525}, and found {G2147} her {G846} dead {G3498}, and {G2532}, carrying her forth {G1627}, buried {G2290} her by {G4314} her {G846} husband {G435}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. The young men entered, found her there dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Berean Standard Bible

At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

American Standard Version

And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 5:10 vividly recounts the immediate and divinely ordained death of Sapphira, following the earlier demise of her husband, Ananias. This verse serves as the climactic culmination of their deceptive act of lying to the Holy Spirit regarding their financial offering to the early church, powerfully illustrating God's absolute holiness, His intolerance for hypocrisy, and the severe consequences of attempting to deceive Him within His nascent community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 5:10 marks the dramatic conclusion of the Ananias and Sapphira narrative, which begins in [Acts 5:1](/acts/5-1 "Acts 5:1 - The Sin of Ananias and Sapphira"). This account is strategically placed after a portrayal of the early church's communal life, characterized by genuine generosity and shared resources, as seen in [Acts 4:32-37](/acts/4-32-37 "Acts 4:32-37 - The Generosity of the Early Church"). The contrast is stark: Barnabas is highlighted for his selfless giving in [Acts 4:36-37](/acts/4-36-37 "Acts 4:36-37 - Barnabas's Example"), immediately preceding Ananias and Sapphira's deceit. Peter's confrontation with Ananias in [Acts 5:3-4](/acts/5-3-4 "Acts 5:3-4 - Peter Confronts Ananias") establishes the core sin as lying to the Holy Spirit, not merely to men. Sapphira's arrival three hours later, her ignorance of her husband's fate, and her repetition of the lie, as described in [Acts 5:7-8](/acts/5-7-8 "Acts 5:7-8 - Sapphira's Deception"), build the tension to this verse, where her immediate death mirrors Ananias's. The subsequent verses in [Acts 5:11-16](/acts/5-11-16 "Acts 5:11-16 - Great Fear and Apostolic Signs") show the profound fear that fell upon the church and the wider community, solidifying the impact of this divine judgment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The early Christian church was a new movement, distinct from established Jewish practices, though rooted in them. Its rapid growth and unique communal living, where believers shared possessions, were foundational to its identity. This sharing was voluntary, not compulsory, as Peter explicitly states to Ananias in [Acts 5:4](/acts/5-4 "Acts 5:4 - Peter's Clarity on Ownership"). The act of laying money at the apostles' feet was a public declaration of devotion and submission to the community's needs and leadership. In a society where honor and shame played significant roles, the pretense of full devotion while secretly withholding funds was a grave offense, not just economically but socially and spiritually. The immediate, public nature of the judgment served as a powerful deterrent and a clear demarcation of the standards of the new covenant community, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit's presence was real and not to be trifled with. This incident occurred early in the church's history, setting a precedent for its purity and integrity.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within the book of Acts and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the **Holiness of God and Divine Judgment**. The swift and severe consequence for Ananias and Sapphira demonstrates God's absolute purity and His intolerance for deceit and hypocrisy within His people. It highlights that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God Himself, affirming the Holy Spirit's full deity. Secondly, it emphasizes the vital importance of **Integrity and Truthfulness** within the community of faith. The sin was not the amount given, but the pretense and deliberate falsehood, revealing a heart not fully committed to God. This incident serves as a foundational lesson for the nascent church on the necessity of spiritual authenticity. Thirdly, it speaks to the **Purity and Sanctity of the Church**. God's immediate action ensured that the early church understood the seriousness of their covenant with Him and with one another, establishing a precedent for spiritual integrity and preventing corruption from taking root in its earliest stages. This divine intervention purified the community and instilled a reverent fear, as noted in [Acts 5:11](/acts/5-11 "Acts 5:11 - The Fear of the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **yielded up the ghost (Greek, _ekpsýchō'_):** This verb, G1634, means "to expire" or "to breathe out." It is a direct and unambiguous term for dying. Its use here emphasizes the immediate cessation of life, mirroring the suddenness of Ananias's death and underscoring the direct divine intervention in Sapphira's demise. It's not a gradual decline but an instantaneous expiration.
* **straightway (Greek, _parachrēma'_):** G3916, derived from "para" (near) and "chrēma" (thing itself), literally means "at the thing itself," signifying "instantly" or "immediately." This adverb highlights the rapidity and directness of the judgment. There was no delay, no lingering illness; the consequence followed the lie with absolute immediacy, reinforcing the solemnity and divine origin of the judgment.
* **dead (Greek, _nekrós'_):** G3498, meaning "dead" (literally or figuratively, also as a noun for a corpse). The young men found her unequivocally "dead," confirming the finality of her expiration. This word reinforces the reality of the divine judgment and the irreversible consequence of her sin, leaving no room for doubt about her physical state.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then fell she down straightway at his feet":** This clause describes Sapphira's immediate physical collapse upon hearing Peter's pronouncement. The phrase "at his feet" signifies her complete prostration, a posture of submission or, in this context, the sudden and uncontrollable onset of death. The adverb "straightway" (parachrēma) emphasizes the instantaneous nature of her fall, directly linking Peter's words to the divine judgment.
* **"and yielded up the ghost":** This is the core declaration of her death. The idiom "yielded up the ghost" (ekpsýchō) means she expired, she breathed her last. It confirms that her fall was not merely a faint or a collapse but the moment her life departed, a direct and fatal consequence of her deceit and the Holy Spirit's judgment.
* **"and the young men came in, and found her dead":** This part describes the subsequent discovery. The same "young men" who buried Ananias are now returning, indicating a short passage of time. Their finding her "dead" confirms the reality of her demise, providing objective verification of the divine judgment and setting the stage for her burial.
* **"and, carrying [her] forth, buried [her] by her husband":** This final clause details the immediate and solemn act of her burial. The promptness of the burial, mirroring Ananias's, underscores the urgency and finality of the event. Burying her "by her husband" signifies the shared fate of their sin and judgment, uniting them even in death as they were united in their deception.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of Acts 5:10 employs several powerful literary devices. **Dramatic Irony** is prominent, as Sapphira enters the scene unaware of her husband's fate, repeating the same lie that led to his death. The audience knows the truth, creating a sense of impending doom that culminates in her immediate demise. This heightens the impact of the divine judgment. **Symbolism** is also at play; the immediate death of both Ananias and Sapphira serves as a powerful symbol of God's absolute holiness and His commitment to maintaining the purity of the early church. Their bodies, carried out and buried, symbolize the expulsion of corruption from the nascent community. The **Repetition** of "straightway" (or "immediately") for both Ananias and Sapphira's deaths emphasizes the direct, swift, and undeniable hand of God in their judgment, reinforcing the severity of their sin and the divine response.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 5:10 powerfully underscores the profound seriousness of sin, particularly hypocrisy and deceit, in the eyes of a holy God, especially within the context of His covenant community. The immediate, fatal judgment on Ananias and Sapphira serves as a foundational lesson for the early church, establishing the absolute necessity of integrity and truthfulness before God and one another. It highlights that the Holy Spirit is indeed God, omniscient and not to be trifled with, and that lying to the Spirit is an affront to the divine presence itself. This incident set a precedent for the purity and sanctity required within the body of Christ, demonstrating God's zealous protection of His people's spiritual health and authenticity. While such immediate physical judgment is not the typical experience for believers today, the principles of divine holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the call to spiritual authenticity remain eternally relevant for the church.

* [Psalm 51:6](/psalms/51-6 "Psalm 51:6 - God Desires Truth in the Inward Being")
* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart")
* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - All Things Are Naked Before God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 5:10, though a stark and unsettling account, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers and the church. It serves as a potent reminder that God is not to be mocked, and that spiritual integrity is paramount. While we may not face immediate physical death for our deceptions, the passage calls us to a deep examination of our hearts, motives, and actions, particularly in our spiritual walk and our interactions within the community of faith. It challenges us to live transparently, recognizing that God sees beyond outward appearances to the true condition of our hearts. Our worship, our giving, and our service must flow from genuine devotion, not from a desire for human praise or a pretense of spirituality. This passage urges us to cultivate a reverent fear of God, understanding His holiness and His desire for truth in our innermost being. It is a call to authenticity, reminding us that true fellowship with God and with one another requires honesty and a sincere commitment to living in the light.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life, particularly my spiritual life, might I be tempted to present a false image or withhold truth from God or others?**
* **How does the swiftness and severity of God's judgment in this passage shape my understanding of His holiness and the seriousness of sin?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater authenticity and integrity in my walk with God and within my church community?**
* **How does this account reinforce the deity and active presence of the Holy Spirit in the church today?**

### FAQ
**Why was the punishment for Ananias and Sapphira so severe?**

Answer: The severity of the punishment for Ananias and Sapphira was not merely for withholding money, but for their deliberate and deceptive lie to the Holy Spirit, which Peter explicitly states in [Acts 5:3-4](/acts/5-3-4 "Acts 5:3-4 - Lying to the Holy Spirit"). This occurred at a critical, foundational moment for the early church. God's immediate and public judgment served to establish the absolute holiness of the new covenant community, to purify it from hypocrisy at its inception, and to instill a reverent fear of God among believers and onlookers, ensuring the integrity and spiritual health of the nascent church. It underscored that the Holy Spirit is God and cannot be trifled with.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Acts 5:10 recounts a moment of severe judgment, its ultimate fulfillment and deeper theological resonance are found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The holiness of God, so starkly demonstrated in the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, is perfectly embodied in Christ, who was "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners" ([Hebrews 7:26](/hebrews/7-26 "Hebrews 7:26 - Christ Our High Priest")). The judgment for sin, which fell so swiftly on Ananias and Sapphira, was fully borne by Jesus on the cross, where He became sin for us, "so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). The incident in Acts highlights the grave consequences of sin and the need for purity, a purity that is now freely offered to believers through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, whose blood cleanses us from all sin ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus")). Thus, while Acts 5:10 reveals God's righteous wrath against deceit, it also implicitly points to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), making reconciliation and true spiritual integrity possible through faith in Him. The fear instilled by this event ultimately leads believers to the One who provides the perfect and final solution to the problem of sin and hypocrisy.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 5:5

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