Acts 5:8

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

And {G1161} Peter {G4074} answered {G611} unto her {G846}, Tell {G2036} me {G3427} whether {G1487} ye sold {G591} the land {G5564} for so much {G5118}? And {G1161} she said {G2036}, Yea {G3483}, for so much {G5118}.

Kefa challenged her: “Tell me, is it true that you sold the land for such-and-such a price?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is what we were paid for it.”

“Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”

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

Context

Acts 5:8 is a critical moment in the dramatic narrative of Ananias and Sapphira within the early Christian community. It occurs just three hours after Ananias, Sapphira's husband, died suddenly for lying to the Holy Spirit about the proceeds from land they sold. Sapphira enters, unaware of her husband's fate, and Peter directly confronts her. This verse captures Peter's penetrating question, offering her a final opportunity to confess the truth about the transaction, highlighting the profound spiritual atmosphere and the nascent church's commitment to purity and truth.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Hypocrisy: The core issue is the couple's attempt to appear fully consecrated to God and the community while secretly withholding a portion of their possessions. This act underscores the severe consequences of outward piety without inner integrity.
  • Lying to God/the Holy Spirit: As Peter had previously clarified in Acts 5:4, their lie was not merely to men but directly to God Himself, emphasizing the divine nature of the Holy Spirit and the seriousness of deceiving Him.
  • Divine Judgment: The swift and decisive judgment on Ananias and Sapphira served as a powerful, immediate deterrent against corruption and hypocrisy within the burgeoning Christian fellowship, establishing a precedent for the holiness and truthfulness expected among believers.
  • Apostolic Discernment: Peter's ability to know the precise nature of their deception demonstrates the spiritual authority and divine insight granted to the apostles by the Holy Spirit.

Linguistic Nuance

The repeated phrase "so much" (Greek: houtōs) in Peter's question and Sapphira's affirmative answer is significant. Peter isn't asking for the amount, but rather whether *that specific amount* (which he either knew supernaturally or was testing) was the full sale price. This directness gave Sapphira a clear, unambiguous chance to tell the whole truth, yet she chose to perpetuate the lie. This highlights the deliberate nature of her deception.

Practical Application

Acts 5:8 serves as a potent reminder for believers today about the vital importance of integrity and truthfulness, especially in matters related to God and His church. It teaches us:

  • Integrity Matters: God sees beyond outward appearances and contributions. True devotion is characterized by sincerity and transparency before Him.
  • God's Holiness: This account underscores the holiness of God and His intolerance for hypocrisy and deliberate deceit within His body.
  • Consequences of Sin: While not every lie leads to immediate physical death today, this narrative vividly illustrates the grave spiritual consequences of lying to God and the seriousness with which He views sin within His covenant community. It encourages a healthy fear of the Lord and reverence for His presence.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 5:2

    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.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back