The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

7 And there was passed about the space of three hours, when his wife came in ignorant of that which was done. 8 And Peter said unto her, Tell me, sold ye the field for so much? she answered, Surely for so much. 9 And Peter said unto her, What is this that ye are agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of those which have buried thy husband are at the door which shall carry thee out. 10 And immediately she fell down at his feet, and gave up the ghost. Furthermore when the young men came in, they found her dead, and when they had carried her out, they buried her beside her husband. 11 And there came great fear upon all the Church, and upon all which heard these things.

7 And there was passed about the space of three houres, when his wife came in ignorant of that which was done. 8 And Peter said vnto her, Tell me, solde yee the fielde for so much? shee answered, Surely for so much. 9 And Peter said vnto her, What is this that yee are agreed togither to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feete of those which haue buried thy husband are at the doore which shall carry thee out. 10 And immediatly she fell downe at his feete, and gaue vp the ghost. Furthermore when the yonge men came in, they found her deade, and when they had caried her out, they buried her beside her husband. 11 And there came great feare vpon all the Church, and vpon all which hearde these things.

7 That punishment wherewith the Lord punished Sapphira, containeth no new thing: save only that the example was the more confirmed thereby. And it came to pass by the certain providence of God that the Church should see apart the obstinate wickedness and treacherous mind of them both. Seeing their faults were alike they might hau• ben known together: but this was more fit and profitable for the church, that they might severally bewray their own wickedness. Neither was Sapphira provoked by the sight of her husband to dissemble (as it falleth out oftentimes) that the fault could be ascribed to shamefastness: but of her own accord, and being pricked forward by no other means, she seemeth to be no better than her husband. Moreover their wickedness in lying was like, for as much as she may see by Peter his interrogation that that their guile was found out.