Acts 5:9
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.
Acts 5:9 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse from the book of Acts, Peter confronts a woman named Sapphira about her deceitful actions. Sapphira and her husband had conspired together to lie about the amount of money they received from selling their property and giving it to the early Christian community. Peter accuses Sapphira of tempting the Spirit of the Lord by agreeing with her husband to deceive the apostles and the church. Peter's words serve as a warning to those who would seek to manipulate or deceive in the name of God. He goes on to proclaim that the same fate that befell Sapphira's husband, who had just been carried out for dropping dead in front of Peter, awaits her as well. This dramatic moment in the early church underscores the importance of honesty, integrity, and reverence in one's dealings with God and his people.
Theological Overview
When Peter confronted Ananias' wife, Sapphira, in Acts 5:9, he questioned her about why she and her husband had conspired to deceive the Holy Spirit. The word "tempt" in this verse can also be interpreted as "test" or "try". By lying about the amount of money they received for selling their possession, Ananias and Sapphira were testing the Holy Spirit's knowledge and authority. Peter's words are a powerful reminder of the seriousness of attempting to deceive God and the consequences that come with it. The mention of the feet of those who buried Ananias at the door, ready to carry out Sapphira, serves as a warning of the swift judgment that God can bring upon those who intentionally deceive and dishonor Him. This passage highlights the importance of honesty and integrity in our relationship with God and warns against the dangers of trying to manipulate or deceive the Spirit of the Lord.
Acts 5:9 in other translations
American Standard Version
But Peter [said] unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.
World English Bible
But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Douay-Rheims
And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt 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,
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then Peter sayde vnto her, Why haue ye agreed together, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? beholde, the feete of them which haue buried thine husband, are at the doore, and shall carie thee out.