Acts 5:1-11
Ananias and Sapphira
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes," she said, "that is the price."
9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
1 John 4:4-6
The Disciples are from God
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
This is a very tough, interesting lesson for two people who were originally wanting to donate some money to the new church...If all of us were struck down for lying or double-talk, many would die...I think the situation of Ananias and Sapphira is unique...The church is just starting up after Jesus' death...The two sold some property, but the two kept back part of the money for himself-with his wife's full knowledge, and they took the rest of the money to the apostles...Ananias did donate to the apostles...We might assume Ananias was pretending that this was the whole amount for the land...I think one point that needs to be made is that the church is new...These are the earliest of the followers of the Truth...God knew how the existing followers of Jesus felt and knew how the new followers of Jesus felt on all things...The two could not undermine the new community of the church in their actions...Integrity is an issue here...Ethics and morality is another issue here...The new church needed Truth and integrity as well as unity...Ananias and Sapphira should have thought twice before joining a holy fellowship and not understand all that is required...This was the start of the Church of Christ, God did not want it blemished...The the first church members and followers of Jesus would be quickly aware of these events...
We know something was done wrong...Peter, either sees something in the face and eyes of Ananias, or knew somehow what the selling price of the property sold was...St. Peter asks Ananias why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept some money for yourself...Peter tells him, he has not lied to men, but to God...When Ananias heard this, he died...Three hours later, his wife comes in and Peter asks Sapphira if this is the amount they received for the land...She lies and says, yes...She also falls down and dies after lying...Like her husband, God has made an example of her for lying...
The Disciple John said that they are from God, and whoever knows God listens to them; but whoever is not from God does not listen to them...This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood...
Great fear seized the new church and the whole church was aware and heard of these events...Ananias and Sapphira who tried to deceive the apostles had died...The new members of the church had seen or heard about this...They were aware that God knows what is in our hearts...Not only would the fear be there by the death of Ananias, but it would be further reinforced when his wife had also died, because of the same incident...
God' punishment here was swift...Lying to God cost the two their lives...The new members knew the power of God...The new members saw the power of God...A great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events of Ananias and Sapphira...