Empowered Disciples 11

Ananias and Sapphira

Last week we looked at the last part of chapter 4 of Acts and this morning we are beginning chapter 5.

The text we looked at last week really ties into the story line that we are going to be looking at this morning.

Last week we looked at how the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and because of that they were in unity.

The believers were helping each other out, so that no one went without.

Everyone viewed what they had as it belonged to the Lord and if someone was in need they would sell their belongings to help them.

The last two verses of chapter 4 we heard of Barnabas and how he went and sold a trac of land and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet.

The story we are going to look at today is in contrast to the story of Barnabas.

You may have heard of Ananias and Sapphira before, and if we say that Barnabas was a good and obedient disciple, we might say that Ananias and Sapphira are not so good or obedient.

With that there is a certain encouragement in this story for it shows us that even in its greatest days, the church was a mixture of good and bad.

The judgment that Ananias and Sapphira face may seem harsh, nonredemptive, and out of keeping with the gospel.

Perhaps Luke was showing that along with discipleship goes responsibility; and this applies to all disciples, all believers of Jesus Christ.

The Action

Acts 5:1–2 NASB95

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.

In the end of chapter 4 we seen that Barnabas sold a trac of land and gave all that he got from it to the apostles.

Now we see that Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property.

Like Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira had evidently pledged to give the full proceeds of the sale to the community of believers.

Now we need to understand that a person does not embezzle their own funds but those of another, in this instance those that rightfully belonged to the common Christian fund.

Ananias and Sapphira had embezzled what was sacred, what belonged to the community in whom the Holy Spirit resided.

Jesus called this practice hypocrisy, which simply means wearing a mask, playing the actor.

Hypocrisy is deliberate deception, trying to make people think we are more spiritual than we really are.

That was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, putting on a lovely front in order to conceal the sin in their lives: sin that ultimately cost them their lives.

Ananias and Sapphira were not judged for keeping some of the money.

Peter makes it clear the property belonged to them and the money was theirs to manage.

Their sin was hypocrisy—wanting the reputation of sacrifice without actually making the sacrifice.

• God is more concerned with integrity than image.

Ananias Questioned

Acts 5:3–6 NASB95

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

When Ananias placed the reduced portion at the apostles’ feet, Peter confronted him with his deception.

How Peter knew it was an incomplete sum the text does not say.

The emphasis on the Spirit throughout the passage would indicate that it was inspired, prophetic insight on Peter’s part.

Peter knew that Ananias’s gesture was a lie.

He had not given his pledge but only a part.

Peter questions Ananias, first asking why have you allowed Satan to fill or enter your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?

Why have you kept some of the price of the land?

Peter then states in question form, while it was unsold it was still in Ananias’ possession, after selling it the amount it sold for was Ananias’ possession, but once him and his wife pledged it to the Christian community it became God’s.

We must remember that the community was of one heart and soul.

This spiritual unity lay behind their not claiming their possessions as their own, their sharing everything they had.

They were the community of the Holy Spirit, and in this community they placed all their trust, found their identity and their security.

But this was not so with Ananias.

His heart was divided.

He had one foot in the community and the other still groping for a toehold on the worldly security of earthly possessions.

Jesus spoke of this in Luke 16:13

Luke 16:13 NASB95

13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Ananias’ actions were in effect a denial, a falsification of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the community.

All this had happened because Ananias had allowed the archenemy of the Holy Spirit, Satan, to enter his heart.

In filling the heart of one of its members, by entering the heart of Ananias’ Satan had now entered for the first time into the young Christian community as well.

Peter reminds Ananias that he had been under no compulsion.

He did not have to sell his land.

Even if he sold it, he still could have retained the proceeds.

The act of dedicating the land to the community was strictly voluntary.

Once pledged, however, it became a totally different matter.

It had been dedicated to the community.

In lying about the proceeds, he had broken a sacred trust.

Ultimately, he had lied to God.

Not that he had not betrayed the community.

Not that he had not lied to the Holy Spirit.

Rather, to betray the community is to lie to the Holy Spirit that fills the community, and to falsify the Spirit of God is an affront to God Himself.

When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.

How did he die?

Was it from shock from overwhelming guilt and remorse upon the exposure of his sin?

Was he struck down by God?

The text does not say.

The note about the fear that came upon all who heard about it, however, would indicate that they at least saw the hand of God in it all.

The young men arose, wrapped up Ananias body, and carried him outsider the city to bury him.

They wasted no time in ceremony, for they were back in three hours.

See Hidden sin may remain unseen for a time, but eventually God exposes what is concealed.

• Secret sins are never truly secret from God.

• The Holy Spirit cannot be deceived.

• Believers should regularly examine their hearts and confess sin before it grows.

Sapphira Questioned

Acts 5:7–11 NASB95

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

About three hours later Sapphira appeared on the scene.

We are not given a lot of details about the scene, like who all was present, where was she the last three hours, why was she not with her husband when he gave the gift.

The point being made though is that her outcome was going to be grim just like her husbands.

She joined Ananias in the conspiracy with the funds, she would also join him in death.

Peter confronted her about the sale price, just as he had confronted Ananias.

Peter did not pronounce a curse or judgment on either Ananias or Sapphira.

Peter’s questioning of Sapphira left her the opportunity of repentance, and one can probably assume the same for Ananias, that there was an opportunity to repent.

Peter’s role was to confront - not to judge.

The judgment came from God.

Peter laid before her the consequences of her action.

She had joined with her husband in testing the Spirit of the Lord.

This time the expression was not of lying to the Spirit but of testing Him, to see how far He would go in His tolerance.

This was the first Sapphira had heard of her husband’s death, and she fell down immediately at Peter’s feet, dead.

Peter’s words scarcely sound redemptive.

He was fulfilling the prophetic role of the divine mouthpiece, pronouncing God’s judgment on her for her conspiracy with her husband.

The repetition is not by chance: it is the whole point of the story.

The church is a holy body, the realm of the Holy Spirit.

By the power of this spiritual presence in its midst, the young community worked miracles, witnessed fearlessly, and was blessed with incredible growth.

The Spirit was the power behind its unity, and its unity was the power behind its witness.

But just as with God there is both justice and mercy, so with His Spirit there is also an underside to His blessings.

There is His judgment.

The Spirit is not to be take lightly.

As the Spirit of God He must always be viewed with fear in the best sense of that word, reverent awe and respect.

We must understand the fear of God, as a child I feared my earthly father, knowing if I did wrong he would discipline me, that discipline came out of love for me and to help me learn right from wrong.

The fear of God is similar, we must have reverent awe and respect for God, knowing if we do wrong there are consequences.

The church can only thrive as the people of God, if it lives within the total trust of all its members.

Where there is unity of trust, that oneness of heart and mind, the church flourishes in the power of the Spirit.

Peter's question gave Sapphira a chance to separate herself from the lie.

Instead, she chose agreement with sin over obedience to God.

• Every believer faces moments of decision when confronted with truth.

• God often provides opportunities for repentance before judgment.

• Surrounding yourself with the wrong influences can lead you into compromise.

Conclusion

The story of Ananias and Sapphira reminds us that:

1. God desires sincerity, not spiritual performance.

2. God sees what others cannot see.

3. God calls His people to repentance and integrity.

The result of this event was that "great fear came upon all the church" (v. 11).

The early church learned that the same God who graciously saves is also holy and worthy of reverence.

For us this passage is a reminder that a church where misfits are welcome, broken are made whole, and family is found must also be a church where honesty is valued, repentance is practiced, and authenticity is celebrated.

God can work powerfully through imperfect people, but He calls His people to walk in truth.