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.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Πέτρος
Peter
G4074
Πέτρος
Peter
Strong's:
G4074
Word #:
3 of 28
a (piece of) rock (larger than g3037); as a name, petrus, an apostle
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
5 of 28
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,
αὐτήν
her
G846
αὐτήν
her
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
6 of 28
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
Τί
How
G5101
Τί
How
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
7 of 28
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
ὅτι
is it that
G3754
ὅτι
is it that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
8 of 28
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
συνεφωνήθη
have agreed together
G4856
συνεφωνήθη
have agreed together
Strong's:
G4856
Word #:
9 of 28
to be harmonious, i.e., (figuratively) to accord (be suitable, concur) or stipulate (by compact)
πειράσαι
to tempt
G3985
πειράσαι
to tempt
Strong's:
G3985
Word #:
11 of 28
to test (objectively), i.e., endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πνεῦμα
the Spirit
G4151
πνεῦμα
the Spirit
Strong's:
G4151
Word #:
13 of 28
a current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital prin
κυρίου
of the Lord
G2962
κυρίου
of the Lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
14 of 28
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θαψάντων
of them which have buried
G2290
θαψάντων
of them which have buried
Strong's:
G2290
Word #:
19 of 28
to celebrate funeral rites, i.e., inter
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπὶ
are at
G1909
ἐπὶ
are at
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
23 of 28
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
24 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θύρᾳ
the door
G2374
θύρᾳ
the door
Strong's:
G2374
Word #:
25 of 28
a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
26 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Historical Context
Testing the Spirit parallels Ananias and Sapphira to wilderness generation who tested God (Numbers 14:22) and died outside the promised land. Both questioned whether God truly saw and cared about His people's behavior. The 'feet at the door' indicated young men's return, ready for identical service.
Questions for Reflection
- How do believers 'test the Spirit' by seeing whether God notices secret sins?
- What does the coordinated judgment (both dying identically) teach about God's impartial justice?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Peter's charge - 'How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?' - reveals the conspiracy's true nature: testing whether God would notice their deception. The Greek 'symphōneō' (agreed together) literally means 'sounded together,' emphasizing coordinated action. 'Tempt' (Greek 'peirazō') means test in sense of probing boundaries, similar to Israel's wilderness testing (Psalm 78:18). The phrase 'behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door' announced imminent identical judgment, giving momentary warning before execution.