The Berean

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"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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Acts 5:1-10

(1) BUT A certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, (2) And with his wife's knowledge {and} connivance he kept back {and} wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. (3) But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to {and} attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly {and} appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? (5) Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread {and} terror took possession of all who heard of it. (6) And the young men arose and wrapped up [the body] and carried it out and buried it. (7) Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not having learned of what had happened. (8) And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? Yes, she said, for so much. (9) Then Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed {and} conspired together to try to deceive the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out [also]. (10) And instantly she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men entering found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. (4) As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal {and} under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed {and} purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.

Amplified® Bible copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

We can perceive a mixed bag of Ananias and Sapphira's sins involved in this tragedy. Acts 4:36-37 informs us of Barnabas' sacrificial gift for the well-being of the newly formed church. Pride and desire for acclaim motivated the couple to give a gift but without the honesty or sacrifice exhibited by Barnabas and others.

"Why has Satan filled your heart" (verse 3) is the equivalent of "Why have you dared?" They were free to give whatever percentage they set, for Peter says that the entire property sale price was under their control. Their sin lay in deceitfully alleging that the amount they gave was the whole of the sale price, when it was actually only a part. They deviously exaggerated their offering.

Some think this judgment was harsh, but Peter did not. He spoke of the sin as inspired of Satan, and the passage makes clear that both Ananias and Sapphira were fully aware of what they were doing (verses 2, 9). Conscious deceit is spiritually disastrous because trust is completely violated. They should have known better.

God interpreted their action as tempting Him, seeing how much they could get away with. Their way of reaching their goals is so opposed to the gospel that God could not allow it to go unchallenged; it would have set the whole mission of the church off course. Honesty and integrity are the standard of God's way of life. Sin is no light thing with God.

These people were living behind a deceptive façade, one similar to the idea that, if one keeps the front windows clean, it does not matter how dirty the back ones are. They allowed themselves to become tools working to destroy the family relationship of trust within the church. God forcibly reminded them and us that He will not abide that.

We must treat one another with fairness and loving kindness, or we will not be in His Family. Ananias and Sapphira are shocking reminders to us that we will not get away with deceitfully cheating or taking advantage of our brethren. God may not appear to be in the picture, but only the faithless have this blindness. The penalty will be paid—unless repented of, it is only a matter of time. Ananias and Sapphira paid quickly as a lesson to us.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Presumption and Divine Justice (Part Two)



 

Topics:

Ananias and Sapphira

Deceit

Deceitfulness of Heart

Deceitfulness of Sin

Deception

Deception, Guarding against

Presumption

Presumptuous

Presumptuousness

Self Deception




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