1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part 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 keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Commentary
Vs. 1-2 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
With Barnabas’ selfless act recorded and recalled in the Scripture we now read of a husband and wife named Ananias and Sapphira who also sold a possession. However, unlike Barnabas who laid all of his proceeds at the apostles’ feet, Ananias kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, having done, so Ananias likewise appears before the apostles and lays just a portion of the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. Now this act of deception done by him, his wife also being aware of it, will come quickly under the judgment of God!
Vs. 3-4 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Immediately then Peter by the Holy Spirit realizes that what Ananias is doing is not some selfless act to strengthen the church like what Barnabas and many others had done and were doing, but was only his wanting to be seen and thought off in the same light as those who were giving all for the early churches ongoing support and survival. Therefore, Peter will have nothing to do with his evil deed and immediately exposes and rebukes him saying, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Therefore, Peter in publicly rebuking Ananias charges him with being under Satan’s influence and control, not God’s! For even as all the brethren were living in a great holy and reverential fear for God because of all the mighty signs and wonders He was by His Spirit doing through His apostles, Ananias had no such reverence or fear for God, but only presumed upon lying to the Holy Spirit to exalt himself in the eyes of others as if that were no big deal!
Therefore, in lying to the Holy Spirit, in seeking to exalt himself as some sort of selfless giver in the presence of those who truly were, he had only revealed himself as a self-serving liar, and in this a liar to God’s Holy Spirit upon whom he presumed to do such a thing! Now in rebuking Ananias, Peter also makes it clear to Ananias that his possession was his own, he could have kept it, for no one compelled or commanded him to sell it, or even when he sold it, he could’ve just as easily declared here is only a portion of the proceeds. But instead he presumed upon lying to the Holy Spirit to exalt himself, which is basically an act of unbelief, of not believing in God and that His people must always hold a reverential fear for Him. For consider Aarons two priestly sons when God was establishing the priesthood over Israel, who died for their profane offering before the Lord, because the Lord said after He had done so, “By those who come near me I must be regarded as holy, and before all people I must be glorified” (see Lev. 10:1-3). Therefore, in establishing the work of the Holy Spirit through the early church God will not tolerate those who presume upon lying to Him.
Vs. 5 “Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.”
God’s judgment then was swift, for upon hearing Peters words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last. Therefore, great fear came upon all those who heard these things. For truly that is the only way to deal with lying and hypocrisy when it enters a church or assembly, quickly and decisively.
Vs. 6 “And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.”
God Himself then having rendered the judgment on Ananias, the young men arose wrapped him and carried him out and buried him. This then is the sin leading to death (1 John 5:16) as the Bible Knowledge Commentary notes it.
Vs. 7-11 7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
About three hours after these events Ananias wife entered not knowing what had happened to her husband (vs. 7), therefore Peter asked her whether they had sold the land for the amount that Ananias had already lied about to the Holy Spirit, and so when she said yes (vs. 8), Peter immediately told her of her own husbands fate for lying to the Holy Spirit, and then told her that the same judgment would now find her (vs. 9), and with that she fell down at her feet and breathed her last and the young men came and buried her next to her husband(vs. 10). These then were extraordinary days when God though His apostles was rendering His judgment swiftly and decisively. And the result was that the rest of the church and all who heard of these things greatly feared (vs. 11). Now though these events were confined to the days of the Biblical apostles to establish the faith, no one now should dare presume to lie to God and His Spirit for His verdict against such things is now clearly revealed to us all!
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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