Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 5:7
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
7. the space of three hours after ] Time enough for the bestowal of the dead body, but yet so short that the news of what had befallen her husband had not reached Sapphira. It may have been that their home was in the country at a distance from Jerusalem, and that the husband alone came in to offer the money by reason of the distance.
came in ] i.e. to the room where Peter and the rest of the congregation were assembled.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And it was about the space … – As Sapphira had been no less guilty than her husband, so it was ordered in the providence of God that the same judgment should tome upon both.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Act 5:7-10
It was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Plain language
I think that one of the master incantations, one of the most signal deceits, which we practise upon ourselves, comes from the use of language. There are words that we learn in childhood which we abandon when we come to manhood. Generally speaking, our fireside words are old Saxon words–short, knotty, tough, and imbued with moral and affectional meanings; but as we grow older these words are too rude and plain for our use, and so we get Latin terms and periphrases by which to express many of our thoughts. When we talk about ourselves we almost invariably use Latin words, and when we talk about our neighbours we use Saxon words. And one of the best things a man can do, I think, is to examine himself in the Saxon tongue. If a man tells that which is contrary to the truth let him not say, I equivocate; let him say, I lie. Lie! why, it brings the judgment day right home to a mans thought. Men do not like it, but it is exactly the thing that will most effectually touch the moral sense; and the more the moral sense is touched the better. If a man has departed from rectitude in his dealings with another, let him not say, I took advantage, which is a roundabout long sentence: let him say, I cheated. That is a very direct word. It springs straight to the conscience, as the arrow flies whizzing from the bow to the centre of the mark. Does it grate harshly on your ear? Nevertheless, it is better that you should employ it; and you should come to this determination: I will call things that I detect in my conduct by those clear-faced, rough-tongued words that my enemies would use if they wanted to sting me to the quick. (H. W. Beecher.)
The sin in the purpose more than in the act
It is said by sceptics that St. Peters question to Sapphira, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? was a temptation to the sin of falsehood; but it is plain, from the story in the fifth chapter of the Acts, that Sapphira had committed herself to a fraudulent undertaking. The sin had been already committed when she adopted her sinful purpose. Peters question was only to make the secret purpose known. It is an abuse of language to speak of tempting one to do what he has committed himself to do, We do not tempt a shopkeeper when we propose to buy what he wishes to sell. No more did Peter tempt Sapphira to become a liar. She was a liar before his question, quite as much as after her answer. The ethical principle is that it is the purpose, not the act, which constitutes the essential sin.
The sin of Sapphira greater than that of Ananias
1. She had longer time for consideration.
2. Peter, by a yet more pointed question, gave her a much better opportunity for reflection, and for giving glory to God.
3. She answered still more shamelessly.
4. And is, therefore, obliged to listen more fully to her sentence, and to hear what has happened to her husband. (Rieger.)
The perversion of the marriage bond
In families where marriage is nothing more than–
1. A fellowship of goods and a business transaction to become rich instead of a union of hearts in the Lord; or,
2. A union to the service of the world, the flesh, and the devil, instead of a pious resolution. I and my house will serve the Lord. And,
3. A walking together to hell, it may be to a hell on earth, or to eternal perdition, instead of the married pair being helpers of one anothers joys and blessedness, and striving how the one might bring the other to heaven. How is it that ye have agreed together?–a serious question to every married pair. (K. Gerok.)
Then she fell down straightway at his feet and gave up the ghost.—
Death by the visitation of God
It would not be difficult to find some instances of direct and swift punishment even in modern times. In the old town of Devizes the tourist is led up to see an interesting inscription in the public market-place. It reads thus: The mayor and corporation of Devizes avail themselves of the stability of this building to transmit to future times the record of an awful event which occurred in this market-place in the year 1753; hoping that such a record may serve as a salutary warning against the danger of impiously invoking the Divine vengeance, or of calling on the holy name of God to conceal the devices of falsehood and fraud. On Thursday, the 25th of January, 1753, Ruth Pierce, of Pottera, in this county, agreed with three other women to buy a sack of wheat in the market, each paying her due proportion towards the same. One of these women, in collecting the several quotas of money, discovered a deficiency, and demanded of Ruth Pierce the sum which was wanting to make good the amount. Ruth Pierce protested that she had paid her share, and said she wished she might drop down dead if she had not. She rashly repeated this awful wish, when, to the consternation of the surrounding multitude, she instantly fell down and expired, having the money concealed in her hand. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
About the space of three hours after; in his circumstance is expressed to confirm the truth of this history.
Not knowing what was done; not suspecting any such thing, she was the less inquisitive; and such a consternation and dread was upon all that were there, that they durst not tell her, lest they should offend Peter; also, probably, lest they should with so sudden and sad news grieve her.
Came in; into the church, or place, where they were met together.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7-11. Tell me whether ye sold theland for so muchnaming the sum.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it was about the space of three hours after,…. The death of Ananias. So much time was taken up in burying of him; and in less time it could not well be, since the burying places of the Jews were without the city, as before observed: and if they were as distant from other cities, as they were from the cities of the Levites, they were, as Dr. Lightfoot shows from Maimonides g, above a mile and half off: though there is a Jewish canon which runs thus h;
“they put carcasses, graves, and tanners, fifty cubits from a city.”
So that to go thither, open the grave, inter the dead, and return, must take up so much time; and so much time his wife had to reflect upon what she and her husband had done, but seems not to have had any thought about it, at least not any remorse of conscience for it:
when his wife, not knowing what was done; she knew that her husband kept back part of the price of the land, and how much it was, and what he brought to the apostles; but she did not know that the fraud was detected, nor what followed; as that her husband was immediately struck dead, and was carried out and buried; which it is pretty much she should not in this time, when the thing was awful and shocking, the news of which must fly apace all over the city: but it looks as if the company of the saints was not broke up all this while, and that no one went out to carry it abroad, but the young men that went to bury him. Sapphira therefore, being ignorant of the whole affair,
came in; to the temple or house where the apostles were, expecting to see her husband among the apostles, and chief men, in great honour and esteem for what he had done; and that he would be on equal foot with Barnabas and others, who had sold all they had, and brought the whole price of their possessions into the common stock.
g Shemitta Veyobel, c. 13. sect. 2. h Misn. Bava Bathra, c. 2. sect. 9.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And it was about the space of three hours after ( ). Literally “Now there came an interval (, distance, space between) of about () three hours.”
When (). This use of after is characteristic of Luke’s style in the Gospel.
Not knowing ( ). Feminine singular of second perfect active participle of . usual negative of the participle in the Koine.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And it was about the space of three hours after
(egenteo de hos horon trion disatema) “And there was an interval (a period) of about three hours,” or about three hours after the instant death and immediate burial of Ananias, outside the city. The third, sixth, and ninth hours of the day, three hours apart, seem to have been hours set aside for prayer, with business affairs between, Psa 55:17; Dan 6:10.
2) “When his wife,” (kai he gune autou) “And his wife,” or his wife also.
3) “Not knowing what was done,” (me eiduia to gegonos) Not knowing (of) the thing that had happened,” or unaware of what had occurred to her husband, when he came with his gift and lied about it and about his sudden death and immediate burial, Act 5:2-6.
4) “Came in,” (eiselthen) “Came in or entered of her own will and accord,” came of her own choice or desire. It is likely, though not specifically stated, that the gifts for the common needs of the disciples were brought and laid at the apostles’ feet at the approach of the hour of prayer, every three hours; She came in to the place where her husband had gone to meet with the apostles, make his deceitful, hypocritical, lying gift, and meet his death, Act 4:23; Act 5:1-5.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
7. That punishment wherewith the Lord punished Sapphira containeth no new thing, save only that the example was the more confirmed thereby. And it came to pass by the certain providence of God, that the Church should see apart the obstinate wickedness and treacherous mind of them both. Seeing their faults were alike, they might have been known together; but this was more fit and profitable for the Church, that they might severally bewray their own wickedness. Neither was Sapphira provoked by the sight of her husband to dissemble, (as it falleth out oftentimes,) that the fault could be ascribed to shamefacedness, but of her own accord, and being pricked forward by no other means, she seemeth to be no better than her husband. Moreover, their wickedness in lying was like, forasmuch as she may see by Peter’s interrogation that their guile was found out.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) And it was about the space of three hours after.Literally, And there was an interval of about three hours.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Three hours During which they carried the corpse to the burial-place, usually without the city, prepared the grave, performed the burial, and returned to the assembly room. Sapphira may be supposed to be remaining at her perhaps distant home.
His wife came in Hapless woman! Little knows she that she has been three hours a widow; that her husband lies a dishonoured corpse in a shameful grave. Still less does she dream how brief her widowhood will be. Her heart is full and eager with the deadly sin.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.’
Some time later (‘three hours’ could mean anything from a little over an hour upwards for a part of an hour would count as an hour) his wife ‘came in’, probably to the porticoes of the Temple, totally unsuspecting of what had happened. It is probable that all felt embarrassed and that no one had the courage to say anything, for they must have been apprehensive as to what would happen next. All were seemingly agreed that it must be left in Peter’s hands. That was the easiest and the best way. It may be a significant indication of the couple’s lack of true connection with the community that she had no best friend to warn her.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The death of Sapphira:
v. 7. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
v. 8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.
v. 9. 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.
v. 10. 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.
v. 11. And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things. Whether the information concerning the death of her husband had been withheld from Sapphira by the command of Peter, or whether the awe of the incident they had witnessed kept the members from spreading the story, is immaterial. After an interval of about three hours, Sapphira, who may have become concerned over the long absence of Ananias, came to the meeting-place of the congregation. She was fully prepared to keep her agreement with her husband relative to the money, not knowing that his fate had been sealed hours before. When Peter, therefore, put the question to her whether for just that sum which was still lying there they had sold their property, she unhesitatingly replied: Yes, for just so much. Peter’s question had been a last appeal to her conscience, a last admonition to tell the truth and give all glory to God. But she disregarded the admonition, persevered in her sin, and seconded the base lie of her husband. It was a willful persistence in sin, in hypocrisy. Note the dramatic intensity of the narrative. Peter now, in the name of God, as a prophet of the Lord, pronounced the judgment upon her. For what reason, to what end, did you agree to tempt the Spirit of God, to see whether it would be possible to deceive Him as well as His Church? The feet of those that carried out thy husband are at the door, and will carry thee out. And no sooner had Peter uttered the Lord’s judgment than Sapphira fell down, just as her husband had before her, and also breathed her last. And the young men coming in, found her dead, and buried her beside her husband, to be joined with him in death as she had been in life. That was a terrible, but just judgment which the Lord here executed in the midst of the first congregation. By this act God declared to the Church of all times that the hypocrites are an abomination in His sight. It is but seldom in our days that the Lord makes known His avenging power in the same manner as here, but His hand is not shortened even today when His honor is at stake. Note: There is a repetition of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira in modern church-life, also in connection with the Lord’s treasury, namely, when members of congregations make exaggerated statements of the amounts they are giving or understate their income, in order to make their contribution for the Kingdom stand out above that of others. The result of this story should rather be, as it was in those days, that a great fear comes upon the people, both upon those that are members of the Church and those that are still outside, but hear of this manifestation of God’s power. The same God that sat in judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira will, in His own way and at the time appointed by Him, not fail to visit the sins upon those that follow the example of these two hypocrites.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Act 5:7 . But it came to pass about an interval of three hours and his wife came in . The husband had remained away too long for her. A period of three hours might easily elapse with the business of the burial, especially if the place of sepulture was distant from the city (see Lightfoot). After a comma is to be put, and . . . is a statement of time inserted independently of the construction of the sentence. See on Mat 15:32 ; Luk 9:28 ; Schaefer, ad Dem. V. p. 368. The common view: but there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in , is at variance with the use, especially frequent in Luke, of the absolute (Gersdorf, Beitr. p. 235; Bornemann, Schol. p. 2 f.). As to the after , see on Luk 5:12 . On used of time , comp. Polyb. ix. 1. 1.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Ver. 7. Not knowing what was done ] And thinking to find her husband in highest honour among the apostles. “But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost,” Job 11:20 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
7. ] The construction is, , It happened, that: and . . . is parenthetical, not the nom. to . See a precisely similar construction, Luk 9:28 ; and Winer, edn. 6, 62. 2.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 5:7 . , cf. for construction Luk 5:1 ; Luk 5:17 ; Luk 8:1 ; Luk 8:22 ; Luk 9:51 ; Luk 14:1 , etc. Hebraistic, if not strictly a Hebraism; on thus uniting two co-ordinate statements with see Plummer’s valuable note, p. 45; St. Luke , first edition; and on the use of see Simcox, Language of the N. T. , pp. 161, 162; Blass, Grammatik des N. G. , pp. 256, 257. : as if a nominative absolute, here parenthetical from , cf. Luk 9:28 . Cf. Viteau, Le Grec du N. T. , p. 83 (1896). St. Luke alone uses (only here in N.T.), cf. Polyb., ix., 1, 1; , and the verb , cf. Luk 22:59 ; Luk 24:51 , Act 27:28 . In Apocryph. Act. Andrea , 14, we have (Lumby), and in LXX, cf. Ecclesiast., prol. , 24, 3Ma 4:17 . = , fere, cf. Act 1:15 , Act 2:4 , etc. : Nsgen supposes the approach of the next hour of prayer in this mention of the time, pro (Blass), see also Lumby’s note.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act 5:7-11
7Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
Act 5:7 “about three hours” This shows the vividness of the account by an eyewitness. Luke’s writing is characterized by this attention to details. It reflects both his writing style and research methods (i.e., interviews with eyewitnesses).
Act 5:8 The lie, the pretense continues!
Act 5:9 “test” In a round about sense, this was a test of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, God the Father’s personal presence on earth (see Special Topic at Act 1:2). There are temporal consequences, as well as eternal consequences for challenging the Spirit! These two did not realize that it was the Spirit they were lying to, but Peter did.
There are two Greek terms used to denote a test. This one connotes “to test with a view toward destruction.” This possibly reflects Exo 17:2 and Deu 6:16, where these texts warn against tempting/testing YHWH (cf. Psa 78:18; Psa 78:41; Psa 78:56).
SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK TERMS FOR TESTING AND THEIR CONNOTATIONS
Act 5:10 The term used to describe “the young men” (neteroi) in Act 5:6 is different from the term neanikoi in Act 5:10. It is uncertain whether this is just authorial variety or a different group of young men in the church. Both Greek words come from the same root word (neos).
Act 5:11 “great fear. . .over all who heard of these things” Luke uses the common word phobos several times in this same general sense (cf. Luk 1:69; Luk 3:37; Act 19:17). For believers it is a sense of reverence, respect, and awe, but for unbelievers it is a sense of foreboding, fear, and terror (cf. Luk 12:4-5; Heb 10:31).
“church” This is the first time this term is used in Acts, although it is in the Textus Receptus at Act 2:47. See Special Topic following.
SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (EKKLESIA)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
about the space. after = as it were an interval. Greek. diastema. Only here. A medical word.
when = and. not. App-105.
knowing. App-132.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
7.] The construction is, , It happened, that: and . . . is parenthetical, not the nom. to . See a precisely similar construction, Luk 9:28; and Winer, edn. 6, 62. 2.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 5:7. , the space) The woman, being the weaker vessel, had a longer space for repentance. A precious interval of three hours!- , not knowing) For if she had known, her confession would have been nothing great. Nor was she worthy to know, since she had tempted the Spirit of the Lord.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
7
Act 5:7. Had Ananias and his wife come together in the first place, she might have tried to change her story when she saw the fate of her husband. But that would have been a change outwardly only, and one born of terror and not from a godly sorrow. The text says only that she came in; nothing said about her having any of the money. Of course it would have been foolish for her to bring it, for her husband had already brought all of the amount they had received for the land according to the story in their conspiracy. So her presence at this time was only to confirm the statement of her husband.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 5:7. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife. The words about the space of three hours form a parenthesis. Then it came to passsome three hours had now elapsedwhen his wife. She was puzzled at the long absence of her husband, who had left her to present his rich gift formally to the Church, and she was anxious, no doubt, to learn with what grateful words of acceptance the apostles had received it.
Not knowing what was done. No one, it has been suggested, who had seen her, as yet had had the courage to tell her of her husbands doom.
Came in. A second assembly of the Church might have been sitting, if the Jewish hours of prayer were rigidly attended to; but it is more likely that the apostles, and many with them, remained in the same house during the whole interval of the three hours absence of the young men who were charged with carrying out the burial details.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Act 5:7-10. About the space of three hours after How precious a space! his wife Who was absent when this happened; not knowing what was done, came in Into the place where the apostles were, expecting, doubtless, to share in the thanks of all present, for consenting to the sale of the land, and becoming, with her husband, so great a benefactor to the fund; Peter said to her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much Naming the sum. And she said, Yea, for so much Ananias and his wife had agreed to tell the same story; and the bargain being private, and, by consent, kept to themselves, so that nobody could disprove their assertion, they thought they might safely affirm what they did, and should gain credit to it. It is lamentable to see those relations, who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! Peter said By an immediate impulse of the same Spirit, which had before so awfully interposed; How is it that you have agreed Have acted as if you had agreed together; to tempt the Spirit of the Lord To try whether he be capable of searching the heart, and of knowing what is done in secret? Before Peter passes sentence, he sets before her the greatness of the crime. Behold the feet of them which have buried thy husband Whom divine vengeance has already struck dead on this occasion; are at the door Upon their return; and shall carry thee out A breathless corpse. She had not heard till now that her husband was dead, the notice of which, with the discovery of her sin, and the sentence of death passed upon her, struck her as a thunderbolt, so that she expired in a moment. And the young men came in And, to their utter astonishment, doubtless, found her also dead, and carrying her forth immediately, buried her by her husband! Observe, reader, there are many instances of sudden death, which are not to be looked upon as the punishment of gross sin, like these here recorded: we must not think that all who die suddenly were sinners above others. It may be intended as a favour to some, that a quick passage is granted them. Such instances, however, are intended to be a warning to others to be always ready: but the deaths here mentioned were, doubtless, in judgment. Some inquire concerning the eternal state of Ananias and Sapphira, and incline to think, that the destruction of the flesh was effected, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. And had there been any space granted them for repentance, as there was to the incestuous Corinthian, there might have been reason for indulging a hope of this kind. But, as the case was, the ground for hope concerning them seems small, according to the Scriptures. Secret things, however, belong not to us, and we know the Judge of all the earth will do only what is perfectly just and holy.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7. Sapphira was not present. (7) “And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.” How she remained so long ignorant of the fate of her husband, we are not informed, though it is a most extraordinary circumstance. He had died suddenly, in a manner which had excited everybody; had been buried; and three hours had passed; yet his wife, who must have been in the vicinity, has no intimation of it, but comes into the very assembly where it had occurred, without a word reaching her ear upon the subject. There is no way to account for this, but by the supposition that there was a concerted determination on the part of the whole multitude to conceal the facts from her. This was a most unnatural determination, and one difficult of execution, except on the further supposition that Peter commanded the multitude to restrain their natural impulses, and let her know nothing until he himself was ready to reveal it to her. This course was necessary in order to effectually expose her.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
The death of Sapphira 5:7-11
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The answers to questions such as whether someone tried to find Sapphira to tell her of Ananias’ death lay outside Luke’s purpose in writing. He stressed that she was as guilty as her husband and so experienced the same fate.