The Meaning of Acts 5:10 Explained

Acts 5:10

KJV: 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.

YLT: and she fell down presently at his feet, and expired, and the young men having come in, found her dead, and having carried forth, they buried her by her husband;

Darby: And she fell down immediately at his feet and expired. And when the young men came in they found her dead; and, having carried her out, they buried her by her husband.

ASV: And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Acts 5:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 5:1-11 - Lying To The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of God is the source of generous and liberal giving. It is a poor substitute to set up bazaars, and fairs, and ice cream suppers. When the Church is filled with the Holy Spirit, her pockets will be easily emptied before His gracious, thawing presence. Let the sun arise in the heavens, and the frozen streams are instantly liberated and begin to sing on their way to transform wildernesses into gardens.
Mark the contrast between Ananias and Barnabas. The same phrases are applied to each. The sin of Ananias was not in keeping back part of the purchase money, but in pretending to have brought all to the Apostle. He wished to pose as a saint, and at the same time to line his own nest. In the act of consecration, we must not allow one corner for Satan or selfishness to possess, because instantly we shall have to concede the right of way, and a thoroughfare will be opened, along which all manner of contraband may be smuggled in. Peter had no doubt as to the personality of the Holy Spirit. You cannot lie to an influence! Note the interchange of Holy Spirit and God in Acts 4:3-4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 5

1  After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife,
3  at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead;
12  and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles;
14  to the increase of the faith;
17  the apostles are again imprisoned;
19  but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all;
21  when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple,
29  and before the council,
33  they are in danger to be killed;
34  but through the advice of Gamaliel, they are kept alive, and are only beaten;
41  for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching

Greek Commentary for Acts 5:10

Immediately [παραχρημα]
Hence her death was regarded as supernatural like that of Ananias. [source]
By her husband [προς τον ανδρα αυτης]
Face to face to her husband. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 5:10

Luke 21:26 Failing [ἀποψυχόντων]
Only here in New Testament. The word originally means to leave off breathing; to swoon. Thus Homer, when Laertes recognizes Ulysses:“He threwRound his dear son his arms. The hardy chief, Ulysses, drew him fainting ( ἀποψύχοντα ) to his heart.”Odyssey, xxiv., 846.So also Sophocles, of Hector dragged behind Achilles' chariot:“He breathed out his life ( ἀπέψυξεν βίον ).Ajax, 1031.Matthew alone uses the simple verb, ψύχω , to breathe or blow. See on wax cold, Matthew 24:12. Luke uses four compounds of this simple verb, all of which are peculiar to him. Compare cool, Luke 16:24; refreshing, Acts 3:19; gave up the ghost, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:10. [source]
Acts 12:23 Because [αντ ων]
Αντι — Anti with the genitive of the relative pronoun, “in return for which things.” He accepted the impious flattery (Hackett) instead of giving God the glory. He was a nominal Jew. He was eaten of worms (γενομενος σκωληκοβρωτος — genomenos skōlēkobrōtos). Ingressive aorist middle participle, “becoming worm-eaten.” The compound verbal adjective (σκωληχ — skōlēx worm, βρωτος — brōtos eaten, from βιβρωσκω — bibrōskō) is a late word (II Macc. Acts 9:9) of the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, used also of a tree (Theophrastus), here only in the N.T. The word σκωληχ — skōlēx was used of intestinal worms and Herodotus (IV. 205) describes Pheretima, Queen of Cyrene, as having swarms of worms which ate her flesh while still alive. Josephus (Ant. XIX. 8, 2) says that Herod Agrippa lingered for five days and says that the rotting of his flesh produced worms, an item in harmony with the narrative in Luke. Josephus gives further details, one a superstitious sight of an owl sitting on one of the ropes of the awning of the theatre while the people flattered him, an omen of his death to him. Luke puts it simply that God smote him. Gave up the ghost Effective aorist active of εκπσυχω — ekpsuchō to breathe out, late verb, medical term in Hippocrates, in the N.T. only in Acts 5:5, Acts 5:10; Acts 12:23. Herod was carried out of the theatre a dying man and lingered only five days. [source]
Acts 12:23 Gave up the ghost [εχεπσυχεν]
Effective aorist active of εκπσυχω — ekpsuchō to breathe out, late verb, medical term in Hippocrates, in the N.T. only in Acts 5:5, Acts 5:10; Acts 12:23. Herod was carried out of the theatre a dying man and lingered only five days. [source]
Acts 5:5 Fell down [πεσων]
Second aorist active participle of πιπτω — piptō fell all of a sudden while listening. Gave up the ghost (εχεπσυχεν — exepsuxen). First aorist active indicative of εκπσυχω — ekpsuchō late verb in lxx and Hippocrates, to breathe out, to expire. In the N.T. only here, Acts 5:10; Acts 12:23. It is needless to blame Peter for the death of Ananias. He had brought the end upon himself. It was the judgment of God. Physically the nervous shock could have caused the collapse. [source]
Acts 5:5 Gave up the ghost [εχεπσυχεν]
First aorist active indicative of εκπσυχω — ekpsuchō late verb in lxx and Hippocrates, to breathe out, to expire. In the N.T. only here, Acts 5:10; Acts 12:23. It is needless to blame Peter for the death of Ananias. He had brought the end upon himself. It was the judgment of God. Physically the nervous shock could have caused the collapse. [source]
Acts 5:6 The young men [οι νεωτεροι]
Literally the younger men (contrast with οι πρεσβυτεροι — hoi presbuteroi the elder men). Same as νεανισκοι — neaniskoi in Acts 5:10 and so no order in the young church. Perhaps these young men were acting as ushers or actual pallbearers. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 5:10 mean?

She fell down then immediately at the feet of him and breathed her last Having come in the young [men] found her dead having carried out they buried [her] by the husband of her
Ἔπεσεν δὲ παραχρῆμα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξέψυξεν εἰσελθόντες οἱ νεανίσκοι εὗρον αὐτὴν νεκράν ἐξενέγκαντες ἔθαψαν πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς

Ἔπεσεν  She  fell  down 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πίπτω 
Sense: to descend from a higher place to a lower.
παραχρῆμα  immediately 
Parse: Adverb
Root: παραχρῆμα  
Sense: immediately, forthwith, instantly.
πρὸς  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρός  
Sense: to the advantage of.
πόδας  feet 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πούς  
Sense: a foot, both of men or beast.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐξέψυξεν  breathed  her  last 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκψύχω  
Sense: to expire, to breathe out one’s life.
εἰσελθόντες  Having  come  in 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἰσέρχομαι  
Sense: to go out or come in: to enter.
νεανίσκοι  young  [men] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: νεανίσκος  
Sense: a young man, youth.
εὗρον  found 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
αὐτὴν  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
νεκράν  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.
ἐξενέγκαντες  having  carried  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐκφέρω  
Sense: to carry out, to bear forth.
ἔθαψαν  they  buried  [her] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: θάπτω  
Sense: to bury, inter.
ἄνδρα  husband 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
αὐτῆς  of  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.

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