King James Version

What Does Acts 5:10 Mean?

Acts 5:10 in the King James Version says “Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and...” — study this verse from Acts chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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.”

Acts 5:10 · King James Version

Context

8

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

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.

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.

11

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

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Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Sapphira's death - 'Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost' - mirrored her husband's, confirming divine judgment pattern. The Greek 'parachrēma' (straightway) emphasizes immediacy. The phrase 'at his feet' - where she should have humbly confessed - she instead died in deception. The young men finding her dead 'carried her forth, and buried her by her husband' suggests joint grave, eternally linking them in judgment as they were linked in sin. This parallel judgment emphasized that both bore equal guilt.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

That young men 'found her dead' before touching her prevented them from ritual impurity through contact with dead body. Her burial beside Ananias followed Jewish custom of family tombs while serving as perpetual warning. Early church fathers cited this account extensively as warning against hypocrisy.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does equal judgment for both conspirators teach about individual accountability before God?
  2. How should this passage affect your view of sin's seriousness in Christian community?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 23 words
ἔπεσεν1 of 23

“fell she down”

G4098

to fall (literally or figuratively)

δὲ2 of 23

“Then”

G1161

but, and, etc

παραχρῆμα3 of 23

“straightway”

G3916

at the thing itself, i.e., instantly

παρὰ4 of 23

“at”

G3844

properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subj

τοὺς5 of 23
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πόδας6 of 23

“feet”

G4228

a "foot" (figuratively or literally)

αὐτῆς7 of 23

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

καὶ8 of 23

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐξέψυξεν·9 of 23

“yielded up the ghost”

G1634

to expire

εἰσελθόντες10 of 23

“came in”

G1525

to enter (literally or figuratively)

δὲ11 of 23

“Then”

G1161

but, and, etc

οἱ12 of 23
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

νεανίσκοι13 of 23

“the young men”

G3495

a youth (under forty)

εὗρον14 of 23

“and found”

G2147

to find (literally or figuratively)

αὐτῆς15 of 23

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

νεκράν16 of 23

“dead”

G3498

dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun)

καὶ17 of 23

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐξενέγκαντες18 of 23

“carrying her forth”

G1627

to bear out (literally or figuratively)

ἔθαψαν19 of 23

“buried”

G2290

to celebrate funeral rites, i.e., inter

πρὸς20 of 23

“her by”

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

τὸν21 of 23
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἄνδρα22 of 23

“husband”

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

αὐτῆς23 of 23

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 5:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 5:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 5:5

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