Ananias and Sapphira Hide the Truth
January 29, 2020
Commentary
The last few verses of chapter 4 tell how church members were selling their possessions and bringing the money to the church. The people were praising God for the generous offering of Barnabas. Ananias and Sapphira decided that they would like to have the people think they were as spiritual as Barnabas, so, they hatched a plot. They agreed to sell their property and simply pretend they were giving all they had received from it to the church when they were only giving part of it (vv. 1-4). This act was judged harshly because dishonesty, greed and covetousness are destructive in a church, preventing the Holy Spirit from working effectively (vv. 5-10).
This story demonstrates the honesty of the Bible. It might well have been left out as it reveals the imperfection of the early church. The Bible, however, refuses to present an idealized picture of anything. It is one of the great virtues of the Bible that it shows us its heroes, warts and all. Their sin of hypocrisy was motivated by pride, a sin that God especially hates and judges (Prov. 8:13). If we are more concerned about our reputation than our character, there is no end to what we will do to make ourselves “look good” before others.
Ananias and Sapphira did not need to sell their property. After they sold it, they did not need to bring any of the proceeds to the church. They pretended to be more devoted to Christ than they were, and they were judged for their deceit. God judges all sin, but not always in the same manner. His judgement on Ananias and Sapphira produced shock waves among the believers, making them realize how seriously God regards sin in their lives (v. 11). There is no substitute for personal purity, and there is a price to pay if we don’t remain pure.
Application
It is easy for me to condemn Ananias and Sapphira, but I need to look at my own life to see if my witness is backed up by my practice. Do I mean the songs I sing, or everything I pray in public? (Matthew 15:8).
Acts 5:1– 11 (NET)
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 2 He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed 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 for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? 4 Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!”
5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. 6 So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said, “Yes, that much.” 9 Peter then told her, “Why have you 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 At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.
Illustration: Cromwell “ “Paint Me Warts and All”
Once a court painter painted the portrait of Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was disfigured by warts upon his face. The painter, thinking to please the great man, omitted the disfiguring warts. When Cromwell saw the picture, he said, “Take it away, and paint me warts and all.” (Source Unknown).