Acts 5 8

Acts 5:8 kjv

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

Acts 5:8 nkjv

And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."

Acts 5:8 niv

Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

Acts 5:8 esv

And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."

Acts 5:8 nlt

Peter asked her, "Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?" "Yes," she replied, "that was the price."

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 8 Meaning

Acts 5:8 captures a pivotal moment in the early church, where Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit, confronts Sapphira, Ananias's wife, about her deceptive act concerning the sale of their property. It signifies a divine test of integrity within the believing community, offering her a final opportunity to confess the truth. Her affirmative response, knowingly false, solidifies her complicity in the deceit against God, mirroring her husband's sin and leading to the immediate and severe judgment that established the profound sanctity and purity demanded within the early Church.

Acts 5 8 Context

Acts 5:8 is nested within the dramatic narrative of Ananias and Sapphira, a story crucial for understanding the character and purity of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Following a period of profound unity, generosity, and Holy Spirit empowerment (Acts 4:32-37), where believers voluntarily sold possessions to meet the needs of others, Ananias and Sapphira privately conspired to deceive the apostles and, by extension, God Himself. Ananias brought a portion of the proceeds from a land sale, pretending it was the full amount, and died immediately after Peter exposed his lie (Acts 5:1-7). Sapphira enters unaware of her husband's demise, but aware of their joint deception. This verse initiates her direct confrontation with Peter, giving her an opportunity to confess before judgment, thereby highlighting the Holy Spirit's discernment and the zero-tolerance policy for hypocrisy within the nascent Church. Historically, this account cemented a precedent for integrity and holiness at the foundation of the Church, showing that judgment would begin in the house of God to maintain its purity and witness.

Acts 5 8 Word analysis

• Then Peter said to her:

  • Peter: (Greek: Petros) - Simon Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles, acting under divine inspiration and apostolic authority. This underscores the Holy Spirit's immediate active presence through the apostles in maintaining the purity of the early church.
  • said: (Greek: eipen, from lego or epo) - A direct, declarative utterance. It's not a suggestion but a clear statement leading to a pointed question, implying foreknowledge through discernment.
  • to her: (Greek: autē) - Directly addressing Sapphira, emphasizing her individual accountability and complicity.

• 'Tell me:

  • (Greek: Eipe moi, imperative mood of epo) - A direct command, requiring an answer. This is not an ordinary inquiry but a profound challenge, essentially providing a final chance for honesty and repentance. Peter is not seeking new information but confirming the known truth of her deception.

• whether you sold the land for so much?':

  • whether: (Greek: ē) - Introducing a direct question expecting a "yes" or "no" answer. It frames the question starkly.
  • you sold: (Greek: peprakate, perfect active indicative of pipraskō) - "You have sold." The perfect tense emphasizes the completed action of selling and its continuing result or state, indicating that the transaction was already a done fact and its proceeds were now present.
  • the land: (Greek: to chōrion) - Specifically refers to the field or plot of land they owned and sold. This object of deception is precisely identified.
  • for so much?: (Greek: outōs posou; or tosoutou) - "For this much/amount?" This phrase refers back to the deceptive partial sum declared by Ananias (implied by Acts 5:2-3). It is Peter's test of her complicity. He is giving her the exact false figure they declared, expecting her to confirm or deny it, knowing the actual full price. Her agreement here directly affirms the shared lie.

• And she said, 'Yes, for so much.':

  • And she said: (Greek: Hē de eipen) - Simple, direct, signifying her definitive response.
  • Yes: (Greek: Nai) - A strong affirmation, "Yes, truly/certainly." This makes her active participation in the lie unequivocal and leaves no room for misunderstanding or denial.
  • for so much: (Greek: tosoutou) - Her direct confirmation, using the same "so much" phrasing, cementing her deception and sealing her fate. It reveals her stubborn adherence to the lie despite Peter's direct questioning.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Then Peter said to her, 'Tell me...": This entire opening signifies apostolic authority rooted in divine insight. Peter acts not on mere suspicion, but on a spiritual knowing of the situation, given by the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 12:10 regarding gifts of discernment). He offers Sapphira an opportunity for repentance and confession.
• "...whether you sold the land for so much?'": This question is the ultimate test of Sapphira’s honesty. It reveals that Peter (by the Spirit) knows the exact amount she is about to lie about. It provides a stark contrast between divine truth and human deception, highlighting the grave implications of trying to mislead those led by the Holy Spirit.
• "And she said, 'Yes, for so much.'": This response from Sapphira indicates her full agreement and active participation in the deceit. She willingly perpetuates the lie, aligning herself with Ananias's initial falsehood and demonstrating a hard heart devoid of repentance or fear of God. Her firm "Yes" leaves no doubt about her culpability.

Acts 5 8 Bonus section

The narrative of Ananias and Sapphira, including this specific verse, demonstrates the early, dramatic displays of divine judgment designed to instill reverence and ensure the purity of the fledgling church. It highlights the Spirit-empowered authority given to the apostles not only for healing and preaching but also for maintaining ethical and spiritual integrity within the community. The swift judgment served as a powerful deterrent against hypocrisy and covetousness, showcasing that the new covenant's grace does not nullify God's holy requirements but deepens them to matters of the heart and intention. This event parallels Old Testament incidents of swift judgment for sacrilege or corporate sin, like Achan's sin in Joshua 7, signifying God's consistency across covenants in defending His holiness within His people. While this specific punitive judgment is unique in the New Testament church, the principles of truthfulness, spiritual discernment, and God's ultimate authority over the affairs of His people remain eternally relevant.

Acts 5 8 Commentary

Acts 5:8 is the climax of Sapphira’s opportunity to choose truth over falsehood, reflecting the severe stakes of spiritual integrity within the foundational period of the early church. Peter's question, though simple in wording, is potent with spiritual discernment. It is not merely an inquiry but a final invitation to confession, under the penetrating gaze of the Holy Spirit. Sapphira’s affirmative response, "Yes, for so much," definitively exposes her as complicit in the intentional deception, highlighting a lack of reverence for God and disdain for the nascent community's call to purity. This account serves as a stark reminder that God deeply values honesty and purity among His people, especially in matters concerning offerings and service within His house. It establishes that while giving is voluntary (Acts 5:4), integrity in all matters is non-negotiable before God. The immediate consequence underscores the severity of sin against the Holy Spirit and the seriousness with which God protects the purity and truthfulness of His church from internal corruption. It was a foundational act of judgment establishing the fear of God within the young church (Acts 5:11).