Acts 5:1-11--Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5:1-11
English Standard Version

Ananias and Sapphira
5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

​7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

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We mentioned this the last couple times that we were going to start seeing problems within the church and that it was going to come from Ananias and Sapphira coveting the attention and praise the Barnabas got when he sold his property and gave the money to the Church.  They pretended to do the same, but kept some for themselves.  There would have been nothing wrong with them keeping a portion for themselves, but they both were attempting to deceive the apostles and the Church, and they lied and said they had given all of the proceeds when they had only given a part of them.

Peter addresses the issue and says that it is Satan that has filled Ananias's heart and caused him to desire to lie to the Holy Spirit.  When Ananias heard this, he breathed his last breath, for God look his life as warning to others in the Church.  However, his wife who was not present came in shortly after this and she too lied and said that they had given the entire amount when they had not, so Peter declared that she too would die like her husband and the same men that had just returned from burying him would now bury her too.

Because of this great fear fell upon the Church (a good fear to respect and obey God), and upon all who heard these things.  God is not going to put up with those who call themselves by His name lying to Him and acting out of greed, jealously and covetousness.  Those are traits of those controlled by the flesh (see 1 Corinthians 9-11 and Galatians 5:16-21).