What Does Acts 5:8 Mean in the King James?
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek uses the same verb for Peter’s “Tell me” and the introduction to her reply: his question draws out the words that confirm their shared account.
THE MEANING
A concealed agreement enters the open through her spoken answer: she gives the shared account her own voice. The verse shows how an answer can expose participation in a claim, not just name a price.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A false account does not become true when another person confirms it; repetition makes the agreement clearer, not the claim truer.
THE ROOT
Εἰπέ
eipe
GROWS FROM
λέγω (legō; with the aorist form εἶπον, eipon)
say, tell, state
“tell / said” in this verse is eipe. Peter’s command and the introduction to her reply both come from λέγω, framing the question and answer as one speaking exchange. English uses “tell” and “said,” while Greek repeats the same verb family and draws attention to her confirmation.
ALSO GROWS
logos: word, message, account
λόγος
The same word family links a spoken statement with the word or account it conveys.
dialegomai: converse, discuss
διαλέγομαι
This compound carries the same speaking root into an exchange between people, like the question and answer here.
ἀπέδοσθε
apedosthe
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι (didōmi), in ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi)
give, hand over, transfer
The Greek verb translated “sold” is built on δίδωμι, “give,” and can describe handing something over or transferring it. Peter asks for the amount of that transfer; her reply makes the claimed figure part of the account she confirms.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: give
δίδωμι
This is the base verb inside ἀποδίδωμι, showing the transfer contained in the act of selling.
paradidōmi: hand over, deliver
παραδίδωμι
This related compound makes the handover sense plain: a sale involves something being given over.
metadidōmi: share, impart
μεταδίδωμι
This related compound carries the same giving root into sharing something with another.
THE PATTERN
A spoken agreement can expose concealment; repeating a claim does not make it true.
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.THE THREAD
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.The Greek uses λέγω again for Peter’s “said,” the same verb family framing his “Tell me” and her reply in verse 8. His next words name the agreement behind the answer, making the exchange itself reveal what the figure concealed.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us