Acts 5:6-11 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.’ And she said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ 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.’ 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. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.”
Wow! How would you like to have Peter as your pastor? Severe consequences for trying to deceive. In Acts 5:3 “But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?” It’s not the land and it’s not the money, it’s the lie! The deceit. This team was trying to have the recognition without the sacrifice. A gift that costs nothing is worth nothing. The church in Acts 4 was giving sacrificially and these two were conniving. Dangerous business indeed.
Key Points:
- Deception and Greed:
- Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property but chose to keep back a portion of the proceeds for themselves while pretending to give the full amount. Their sin was not in withholding part of the money but in deceiving the community and lying to the Holy Spirit.
- Peter’s Confrontation:
- Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronts Ananias about his deceit. He questions why he allowed Satan to fill his heart, emphasizing that he lied not just to the community but to God Himself. Peter highlights that the property was Ananias’s to do with as he wished, but the deception was the issue.
- Immediate Consequences:
- As a result of his deceit, Ananias falls dead after hearing Peter’s words. Later, when Sapphira arrives, she faces the same fate as Peter exposes her knowledge of the deception. This swift and severe judgment underscores the seriousness of their sin.
- Impact on the Community:
- The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira evoke great fear among the believers. The gravity of the consequences serves as a powerful lesson about the importance of truthfulness and integrity within the Christian community.
This account in Acts 5 emphasizes the holiness of God and the importance of sincerity and honesty within the early Christian community. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of attempting to deceive God and His people.