Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11

 

The Church has been growing and glowing, the Lord adding daily those who would be saved.

Until today.

Instead of adding, God the Father, goes godfather, and starts subtracting.

First, one, and then the other; drop dead, right there in front of the preacher.

What’s going on?

Why would God do this?

How’s it apply to you and I?

Let’s try to answer those three questions in the next few moments.

 

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.

What’s going on?

In many English translations, Acts 5 opens with the word, But…

In the original text the Greek word is, de (deh). A conjunction indicating an adverse, or opposing, thought or action to what precedes it.

What comes before is Acts 4, of course. The Church is doing great and growing, with no lack among them. Some willingly sold land and gave the money to the Church. One was a guy named Joe (Joses or Joseph). The apostles were so impressed with the guy, they called him, Mr. Encourager, (Barnabus). The name reflected the encouraging state of the Church.

If only we could’ve framed it and hung it on the wall of HIStory, over the words, “And they all lived happily ever after.”

That was the perfect portrait of our very first Church family, and the closing act of Acts 4.

Long before that was the perfect portrait of our very first family, at the end of Genesis 2. No kids yet. Just the two. Adam and Eve, on their honeymoon. They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.

That’s how Genesis 2 ends and the words: And they all lived happily ever after, would fit nicely there, as well.  

But the Bible is no fairy tale.

And when we turn the page to Genesis chapter three, we see the words: “Now the serpent…” and sin enters the family and things go south from there.

The same thing happens as we cross the line into Acts 5. It opens ominously with the words, “But a certain man…” and sin enters the family and things go south from there.

A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira…

Ananias, means Jehovah is gracious

Sapphira, means beautiful.

So, on the heels of a guy named Joe being honored with a new prestigious name like, Barnabus. Mr. Gracious and Miss Beautiful follow suit and sell some land.

Perhaps, thinking they’ll be honored, even better. After all, if average Joe, got such wonderful recognition; how much more should we, a gloriously, gracious and beautiful, (and humble), couple?

 

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.

In the original text the word used for, kept back, (nosphizó) means to misappropriate, embezzle, withdraw covertly.

So, evidently 100% of the proceeds were earmarked, set aside, for the Lord.

However, like Judas, they pretended piety with one hand, while stealing with the other.  

Nothing is hidden from the eyes of the Lord, not even the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12-13.

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?

See. God sees. Nothing is hidden from Him.

The Holy Spirit showed Peter what was up, and Peter questioned Ananias.

Satan tempted Mr. Gracious to lie and nosphizó, embezzle; but couldn’t make him do it. Ananias couldn’t say, the devil made me do it.

James 1:13-15

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

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.”

They didn’t need to give anything.

They could’ve given the exact same amount, and been blessed for it. They just had to do it honestly, and humbly, cheerfully, (2 Cor. 9:7), not deceitfully, and arrogantly.

They lied, because of pride. They wanted others to think they gave 100% of the proceeds.

They held back part, probably because of greed, maybe because of need. Maybe they needed some of the money. But pride wouldn’t let them admit it.

So, they lied, had pride, and probably greed. None of it was necessary, which is always the case with sin.

    

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.

It’s like God the Father, goes godfather.

Boom!

Ananias drops dead right where he stands without even a moment to respond.

In Acts 4:33, they had great (mega), power, and mega grace but, now, mega fear falls upon them all.

Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

So, the ushers become undertakers.

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.

Bam!

Just like that, lighting strikes twice in the exact same spot. She drops dead, just like her husband.

What in the world is going on?

Is that how it works? If you lie, you die? If you don’t give enough, you drop over dead? Is that why there’s graveyards out behind many old Churches?

No, surely not. That can’t be. Surely there’s been others since then who’ve lied with pride and haven’t died.

Which brings us to our second question:

Why would God do this?

Well, it’s always important to consider context.

Where are we in HIStory? (His story).

In the beginning, not of the world, but of the Church. So, perhaps there’s a parallel.

So, let’s rewind to our introduction to Genesis.

It went something like this:  

You’re admiring the view from the top floor, it’s the most beautiful skyscraper you’ve ever seen. It’s brand new, it smells new.

Your smile reaches the ceiling, because you are the architect.

But then you see it, the biggest, ugliest, crack you’ve ever seen.

Your frown hits the floor, because you are the architect.

You try to control the panic in your voice when you call the structural engineer (you had him on speed dial). You demand a meeting immediately.

You pace fuming, repeatedly looking at the crack, the elevator and then your watch. Finally, frantically, you call the engineer, again. 

“Where are you!? What? Why? Never mind! Don’t move! I’ll be right there!”

You push the down button for the elevator a hundred times. Finally, it opens, you jump in and ride fifty floors to the basement.

“What are you doing down here? The damage is up there!”

The engineer nods, way too calm. “The damage may be up there; but the origin is down here, in the foundation.”

In the Bible.

The manifestation is, Revelation.

The origin is, Genesis.

Now, here in the book of Acts, we’re at the origin, the foundation, of the Church.

Any sin, any spot, any wrinkle, any blemish, sets a precedent and then, migrates and magnifies and is projected throughout.  

Like a new born babe, even the smallest virus, infection, disease, can be fatal.

God would not (could not) allow sin to be embedded in the foundation of the Church.

11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Great fear, mega fear, came upon all the Church and all who heard.

Wait.

We’re the Church. We just heard. Are we shaking?  Did mega fear come upon us? Did we feel anything at all?

Or, are we too far removed? Has the Church become numb? Lukewarm?

Which brings us to our third and final question:

How does it apply to you and I?

Lord, what do You want to say, specifically, to us, here and now.

Today, in our midweek Bible study in Acts, we just read about a couple of people, Ananias and Sapphira, scheming and deceiving.

If you’re with us on weekends you know we just read a similar situation in Genesis 27; where another couple of people, Jacob and Rebekah, are scheming and deceiving.

You may think it’s just coincidence.

Out of 66 books, 1,189 chapters and over 31,000 verses. I know better.

Like a Good Shepherd, He is leading us.  

How does it apply to you and I?

Ananias, and Sapphira, and Jacob and Rebekah, all familiar with the things of God. All trying to obtain blessing from God.

All going about it the wrong way.

All dealing with deception.  

What does the Lord say?

In Matthew 24, when Jesus teaches about the last days, He opens by telling us to take heed, we be not deceived.

Galatians 6:7, Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.

A strong delusion, a mega deception is flooding the hearts and minds of the masses, so they hate the Truth, and love the lie.

But not us, dear family of God. We are not of those ignorant of the devil’s devices. We are not, and will not, be deceived. We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). We listen to, and follow, the Word of God, which is Truth, and Life.

We’re told king David was a man after God’s own heart. As wonderful a compliment as that is, he was, still just a man. And even David, got involved in deception, with Bathsheba. He was quick to repent when confronted by God, through the prophet Nathan. (2 Sam. 12).

From that we have his beautiful prayer of repentance.

Let’s pray, Psalm 51:

Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

The God of my salvation,

And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

Lord, we love You, forever, amen.

 

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11

You Tube:  Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.