Acts 5:9 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Peter names the couple's collusion as agreeing together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord, and tells Sapphira she will share her husband's burial.
What Does Acts 5:9 Mean?
The word 'agreed' uncovers the heart of the matter: this was a covenant of deceit made inside a covenant of marriage. The feet of the young men who buried Ananias are already at the door, and Peter's question echoes Israel's old sin of putting the Lord to the test (Exodus 17:2).
To 'tempt' the Spirit is to test him, acting as if God will not notice or will not mind. The verse also speaks soberly about loyalty: the bonds God gives us, marriage chief among them, are meant to strengthen us toward truth, never to bind us together in falsehood. Love that is faithful to God is the love that truly serves a spouse.
Acts 5:9 in the Original Language
symphoneo (συμφωνέω), 'agreed together' -- to sound together, to act in concert; the root of the word symphony.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 5:9
What does Acts 5:9 mean?
Peter names the couple's collusion as agreeing together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord, and tells Sapphira she will share her husband's burial.