She
fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
Acts 5:10-16
Acts 5 [9.] 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.”
Acts 5 [10.] She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
Acts 5 [17.] But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said, “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
Meaning:
Ananias had died after lying to the Holy Spirit, and Peter had just asked Sapphira, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9). These verses complete her story and then describe a season of great power and growth in the Jerusalem church.
- “She fell down immediately at his feet, and died”
Sapphira had shared in the lie, and she shared in the judgement (Acts 5:1-8). Burial in Jerusalem usually took place on the day of death, and the young men who had buried Ananias now laid her beside her husband.
- “Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things”
Luke calls the believers “the assembly”, God’s gathered people. The fear was not panic but deep reverence: they had seen that God was truly present among them and that he is holy. Scripture teaches, “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). The same fear spread to those outside the church who heard what had happened.
- “By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people”
This was the answer to the believers’ prayer that God would stretch out his hand to heal “and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30). The apostles met openly “in Solomon’s porch”, the colonnade on the east side of the temple courts where Jesus himself had walked and taught (John 10:23).
- “None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. More believers were added to the Lord”
These sentences seem at first to pull in opposite directions. Many understand “the rest” as people outside the church: after the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, no one dared to attach himself to the believers casually, though the public held them in honour. Others think the phrase refers to the apostles, whom even other believers did not dare to approach lightly. Either way, the result was not a shrinking church. Multitudes of men and women believed and were “added to the Lord”, joined not merely to a group but to Christ himself.
- “so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them”
People’s hopes ran so high that they laid the sick in the streets, hoping Peter’s shadow would fall on them. During Jesus’ ministry people had begged “that they might touch just the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well” (Mark 6:56). Later in Acts, “God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul” (Acts 19:11). Luke does not say the shadow itself healed anyone. Some see popular expectation that God graciously met; others see God’s power working through the apostle. Luke’s emphasis is that “they were all healed”, the healing coming from the Lord.
- “Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem”
For the first time the news spread beyond the city, beginning the movement Jesus had foretold: “You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Significance of Acts 5:10-16
- Holiness and growth together
The church that had just experienced God’s judgement became a church of great growth. A community that takes God seriously is not weakened by it.
- The works of Jesus continue
Jesus said, “he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also” (John 14:12). The healing ministry of the apostles showed that the risen Lord was still at work through his people.
Cross-References:
Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom." Reverent fear of God.
Mark 6:56: "and as many as touched him were made well." Similar faith during Jesus’ ministry.
John 14:12: "he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also;" Jesus’ works continue through his followers.
Conclusion: Sapphira died like her husband, and great fear came on the church and on all who heard. God then worked many signs and wonders through the apostles in Solomon’s porch. Outsiders held back from joining casually, yet multitudes truly believed, and the sick were brought from Jerusalem and the surrounding towns, and all were healed.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible