Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 5:5-6
Acts 5:5-6. And Ananias, hearing these words While the sound of them was yet in his ears; fell down and gave up the ghost Εξεψυξε , expired. It does not appear whether Peter designed or expected this event to follow upon what he said, though it seems probable, from the sentence he denounced on Sapphira, (Acts 5:9,) that he did. It is likely that Ananias’s own conscience smote him with such horror and amazement at the sight of his guilt, that he sunk down and died at the sense of it. Or,... read more
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 5:5
And Ananias, hearing these words ... - Seeing that his guilt was known, and being charged with the enormous crime of attempting to deceive God. He had not expected to be thus exposed; and it is clear that the exposure and the charge came upon him unexpectedly and terribly, like a bolt of thunder.Fell down - Greek: Having fallen down.Gave up the ghost - This is an unhappy translation. The original means simply “he expired,” or “he died.” Compare the notes on Matthew 27:50. This remarkable fact... read more