Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
8. And Peter answered unto her ] This use of the English verb answer, where no question has preceded and often where no remark has gone before, is not uncommon in the Bible (cp. 1Ki 13:6; Dan 2:14-15; Dan 2:26; Luk 3:16), but in the present verse what St Peter says is not an answer but a question.
Tell me ] The Apostle’s question might have made Sapphira suspect that their scheme was discovered, but she is as firm in her story as her husband had been.
whether ye sold the land for so much?] i.e. and no more. St Peter mentioned the sum which Ananias had brought in, or perhaps it was lying on the ground where he had put it at the first.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For so much – That is, for the sum which Ananias had presented. This was true, that this sum had been received for it; but it was also true that a larger sum had been received. It is as really a falsehood to deceive in this manner, as it would have been to have affirmed that they received much more than they actually did for the land. Falsehood consists in making an erroneous representation of a thing in any way for the purpose of deceiving. And this species is much more common than an open and bold lie, affirming what is in no sense true.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Peter answered; an ordinary Hebraism, by which one that speaketh first is said an answer, if it be tending towards my discourse especially.
For so much; the certain price is not mentioned, as not being necessary to the intent of the Holy Ghost in this narrative; but be it more or less, it was the same which her husband had said the land was sold for.
She said, Yea; she had agreed with her husband what to say; and one sin draws on another, till it ends in perdition.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Peter answered unto her,…. Who might be inquiring for her husband; though such a way of speaking was common with the Jews, when nothing goes before to which the answer is made; of which there are frequent instances in the sacred writings:
tell me whether ye sold the land for so much; naming the sum of money which Ananias had brought; though the historian does not mention it. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, “tell me, O woman”, c. not calling her by her name, as he did her husband, Ac 5:3
yea, she said for so much just that sum, and no more.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For so much (). Genitive of price. Perhaps Peter pointed to the pile of money at the feet of the apostles (verse 2). The use of in direct questions appears in Luke (Luke 13:23; Luke 22:49) as in the LXX like the Hebrew im and in Acts 1:6; Acts 19:2, etc.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Answered. “The woman, whose entrance into the assembly of the saints was like a speech” (Bengel).
For so much [] . Perhaps pointing to the money still lying at his feet.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And Peter answered unto her,” (apekrithe de pros aute Petros) “Then Peter inquired, or made a judgement inquiry, toward her,” gave her a chance to avoid becoming a future party to the lying Ananias. She disregarded, with him, the Proverb “whoso covereth his sins shall not prosper,” Pro 28:13.
2) “Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?”(eipe moi ei tosoutou to chorion apedosthe) “Tell me (the truth) if (or did you all) sell the land for so much?” It is supposed that Peter named the specific amount that Ananias and she had in collusion connived to tell was the full price received, Act 5:1-5. Our Lord had instructed “take heed and beware of covetousness,” and it may be honestly stated and concluded that all lying is a by-product of a covetous heart or will, Luk 12:15.
3) “And she said, Yea, for so much,” (he de eipen nai tosoutou) “And she replied, yes, for so much.” She thus backed his lie with hers. Two lies can never make the total of one truth, no matter what the circumstances of the lies. How much more dreadful to lie to God and the Holy Spirit about Divine matters!
This is a loathesome account of the fatal nature of covetousness, selfishness, pride, and idolatry. Against such, every Christian is to be engaged in mortal conflict of resistance. The carnal fleshly nature is turned toward self, selfishness, egotism, pride, and covetousness, the desire to have one’s own will or way, without serious regard for God or others. This disposition is to be continually resisted by every saint, Jas 4:6-8; 1Pe 5:8-9; 1Co 9:27; Eph 6:11
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. Tell me. We see that God doth not by and by (243) punish her, but first he trieth the matter thoroughly, lest he should send vengeance upon any save the obstinate, and those which will not be pardoned. (244) For although Sapphira did know that the matter was hidden, she ought to have been stricken with this question of Peter, no otherwise than if she had been cited to appear before the judgment-seat of God. She hath a time granted her to repent; yea, this is, as it were, a pleasant (245) inviting unto repentance. But she, in holding on so carelessly, (246) doth declare that she was incurable, because she is touched with no fear of God.
And hereby are we taught to labor diligently to bring sinners into the way. For the Spirit of God keepeth this moderation; but when as stubbornness and the stubborn contempt of God is added unto the offense, it is now high time to punish. Therefore, those men are too arrogant who are displeased with the immoderate rigor of God. It is rather our duty to consider how we shall in time to come (247) stand before the judgment-seat of God; although this is too much to despise his holy power and majesty, if we will have him mocked freely without any punishment. Moreover, so many circumstances, which before I have gathered, do sufficiently prove that Ananias and Sapphira were not worthy of one death only. For, first of all, hypocrisy is of itself very abominable to God. Secondly, whereas they are determined to lie unto God, this ariseth of great contempt, in that they do not reverence and fear Christ, being the Chief Governor of those amongst whom they were. It is ungodliness joined with impudency; because, so they can escape shame and reproach amongst men, before whom they were determined to vaunt and brag, they pass not to deny their manifest wickedness unto God. Whereas they do stubbornly deny their offense, this doth, as it were, make up the heap and measure. And whereas innumerable hypocrites do no less mock God and the Church daily, who, notwithstanding, are not punished with death, I have already showed why this ought to seem to be no inconvenient thing. (248) Forasmuch as God is the only Judge of the world, it belongeth to him to punish every man at his pleasure, when and how it seemeth good to him. Wherefore we must not prescribe unto him a certain mean and manner of punishment. But the greatness of the spiritual judgment, which is as yet hid, hath been set before us in the bodily punishment of two, as in a mirror. For if we consider what it is to be cast into eternal fire, we shall not judge that this is the greatest evil and punishment of all, to fall down dead before men. Look the 10 chapter of the First to the Corinthians, verse 5.
(243) “ Subito impetu,” by sudden impulse.
(244) “ Qui sibi veniam praecidunt,” who cut themselves off from pardon.
(245) “ Placida,” calm.
(246) “ Pergendo secure,” in proceeding securely.
(247) “ Olim,” one day.
(248) “ Absurdum,” absurd or strange.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) And Peter answered unto her.The word does not necessarily imply a previous questioning, but it is probable enough that she came to inquire why her husband had not returned home; perhaps, expecting to find him high in honour. The question asked by Peter gave her an opening for repentance. It had been in her power to save her husband by a word of warning protest. It was now in her power to clear her own conscience by confession. She misses the one opportunity as she had misused the other. The lie which they had agreed upon comes glibly from her lips, and the irrevocable word is spoken.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Peter answered The term answered presupposes previous interchange of words, omitted for brevity.
Tell me It is asked, Why did not Peter kindly forewarn her against committing the fatal crime and so prevent her fate? But, alas! her crime was already committed. To speak the lie out only made it vocally manifest to men. The full-formed, long-retained lie in the human heart, the definite will and determination, were all complete and visible to the divine Spirit. Exposure and penalty were all that remained.
For so much Either Peter named the sum which Luke vaguely implies in these words, or he pointed to the money lying in exact amount before them both. Sapphira’s echoing affirmation, For so much, indicates both the latter to be the fact and the fixed precision of her falsehood.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ’
Peter then asked her as to whether the land had been sold at the price stated. Perhaps he even held out the money that had been handed over to show her. She was to be given the chance to repent. But she was quite determined in her crime and quite hardened, and she confirmed the price that her husband had stated. She too was ‘full of Satan’, hardened in her sin.
This bears all the marks of an official enquiry, and a deliberate attempt to make public what was happening and obtain evidence in the sight of all. Peter was not acting here like a pastor, or even like an adjudicator. He was bringing out in public that the offence for which sentence had already been passed was genuine, and that she was totally unashamed about it. He was here but an instrument in the open revelation of God’s wrath. God had made the choice. He simply carried it through knowing its inevitability.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 5:8 . ] comp. on Act 3:12 . Bengel aptly remarks: “ respondit mulieri, cujus introitus in coetum sanctorum erat instar sermonis.”
] for so much, points to the money still lying there. Arbitrarily, and with an overlooking of the vividness of what occurred, Bengel and Kuinoel suppose that Peter had named the sum. The sense of tantilli , on which Bornemann insists ( Schol. in Luc. p. 168), results not as the import of the word, but, as elsewhere frequently (see Stallb. ad Plat. Rep. p. 416 E, 608B; Lobeck, ad Soph. Aj. 747), from the connection.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Ver. 8. Yea, for so much ] Sin had woaded an impudence in her face. How much better that brave woman in St Jerome, who being upon the rack said, Non ideo negare volo, ne peream; sed ideo mentiri nolo, ne peccem, I will rather die than lie.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
8. ] . , perhaps to her salutation : or, it may be, to her manner, challenging a reply. The word must at any rate be taken as implying some previous communication, to which an answer was to be given.
. , naming the sum: or perhaps pointing to the money lying at his feet. The sense tantilli (Born.) is implied of course, but not expressed by .
No stress on as referring to the smallness of price: it is the ordinary word for selling, see reff.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 5:8 . , monstrat pecuniam , Blass, so Zckler, Holtzmann, Felten, Weiss, and others: genitive of the price. The position of the word in the question is emphatic, cf. Luk 15:29 . Blass would render non pluris (Bornemann, tantilli ), but this is implied rather than expressed by the word here (see Wendt’s note for classical instances). The question of St. Peter and the emphatic reply of Sapphira show that opportunity was given her by the inquiry to retract, and that she wilfully persisted in her sin (Chrys.; so Calvin, “tempus illi ad resipiscendum datur”).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
answered. App-122.
whether = if. App-118.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
8.] ., perhaps to her salutation: or, it may be, to her manner, challenging a reply. The word must at any rate be taken as implying some previous communication, to which an answer was to be given.
., naming the sum: or perhaps pointing to the money lying at his feet. The sense tantilli (Born.) is implied of course, but not expressed by .
No stress on as referring to the smallness of price: it is the ordinary word for selling, see reff.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 5:8. ) answered to the woman, whose entrance into the assembly of the saints was equivalent to her speaking.- , tell me) He exhorts her to tell what the real facts of the case were.- , whether for so much) Here Peter, as it seems, expressed the sum.- , the feet) This is more express than if his expression were, they who have buried.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Job 31:33 – covered Ecc 8:3 – stand
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
Act 5:8. For so much. This phrase is all from TOSOUTOS which Thayer defines at this place, “For so much,” just as it is in the text. Robinson combines his definition and explanation in one sentence and gives us, “Of a specific amount, so much and no more.” The necessary conclusion is that when Sapphira came into Peter’s presence, he named the amount that her husband had brought, then asked her if that was exactly the price they had received for their property. She confirmed it by repeating the very word the apostle had used. This was the first time that the lie of which they were accused of doing was directly stated as far as the record informs us. But Peter did not have to hear the falsehood verbally for his own information; he was being informed by the Holy Spirit. The statement was drawn from her so that all could know about the wicked attempt of this couple to practice deception.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 5:8. And Peter answered unto her. Her entrance into the assembly of saints, where one sad thought was present in each ones heart, was, as Bengel happily says, equivalent to her speaking. So Peter, looking at her, answers her mute look of inquiry, her voiceless question, with the words, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? pointing at the same time to the pile of gold Ananias had laid at his feet three hours before. Was it for so muchnaming the sum given him by her husbandthat ye sold the land for? Now, even in this supreme moment, had she possessed the noble courage to confess the truth, she had been saved; but she held stedfastly to the same miserable deceit, and in the presence of the Church and of the apostles of that Lord she professed to love so well, repeated the lie, Yea, for so much.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
8-10. She came in prepared to act out fully the part which she had agreed upon with her husband. (8) “Then Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? She said, Yes; for so much. (9) Then Peter said to her, Why is it that you have agreed together to put to proof the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. (10) Then she immediately fell at his feet and expired: and the young men coming in found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.” In her case, Peter knew what was about to take place, and declared it; but there is no indication that he exerted his own will or miraculous power to cause her death. We regard her death, like that of Ananias, as a miracle wrought independent of the power lodged in the apostles.
In the question, “Why have you agreed together to put to proof the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter expresses the result of their agreement, though it may not have been what they had in view. They did put the Spirit to proof, by testing his powers. If he had failed under the test, the consequences, as we have suggested above, would have been disastrous. But now that the test applied has triumphantly vindicated the fullness of apostolic inspiration, it was not likely that such another attempt could be made.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Peter graciously gave Sapphira an opportunity to tell the truth, but she did not. He did not warn her ahead of time by mentioning her husband’s death because he wanted her to speak honestly. She added a spoken lie to hypocrisy.