104. ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA

"Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God".

Aim

To show that God knows everything that is in out heart and that we cannot lie to Him.

Acts 5:1-11

THE ECCLESIA IN JERUSALEM (2:41-42)

We have already learned that the work which the Lord Jesus gave Peter and the other apostles to do was to preach the Gospel. Their work began in Jerusalem when three thousand were baptised on the day of Pentecost. These met together regularly to learn from the apostles and to break bread, just as brethren and sisters do today. They were called the "ecclesia" of God. This word "ecclesia" is a Greek word, meaning an "assembly (or meeting) of called-out ones". Anyone who believes the Gospel and is baptised into Christ is really obeying God's call to serve Him. Such a person is separating himself from the wickedness of the world and joining himself to the family of God, or the ecclesia.

THE ECCLESIA GREW DAILY (4:31-37)

The brethren and sisters were so thrilled that God had forgiven their sins and given them hope of life eternal that their love for each other grew. They gladly sold their possessions and shared all that they had with their poorer brethren and sisters. If any had land or houses, they sold what they did not need and willingly brought the money to the apostles for the work of the Truth. There was a true family feeling amongst them.

THE SIN OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (5:1-2)

But not everyone who offered and an honest heart. There was a certain brother and his wife, named Ananias and Sapphira, who sold some property. They had seen how generous many brethren and sisters were who sold their possessions and gave the money to the apostles. No doubt they were warmly thanked and praised for their kindness. Ananias and Sapphira wanted their brethren and sisters to praise them too. But they did not really want to part with all the money from the sale. So they decided to keep some for themselves and give the rest to the apostles. The worst part was that they wanted the apostles to believe that what they were giving was all the money they had received. This was dishonest. They might be able to deceive men, but they could not deceive God. How wicked this was and how foolish they were. No-one asked them to give any. They could have kept it all. But they wanted the praise of men.

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA PUNISHED (vv. 3-11)

Proud Ananias set off for the house where Peter and the apostles were gathered together. There he presented his gift. Surely no-one would know how selfish his thought really were. Yet Peter did know. He was not deceived. God had enabled him by the power of the Holy Spirit to see the hidden thoughts of men's hearts. So he knew that Ananias was lying. "Thou has not lied unto men, but unto God", Peter told him. Instead of praise, Ananias felt shame, and no doubt he was afraid when Peter found him out.

He had good reason to be afraid because Peter, in his wisdom, could see that the whole ecclesia must learn this lesson. Immediately Ananias fell down dead. God had punished him straight away, and the young men carried him out to bury him.

Three hours later his wife, Sapphira came, not knowing what had happened to her husband. Peter asked her, "Tell me, whether ye sold the land for so much?" Sapphira said, "Yea, for so much". Like Ananias, she was deliberately lying. Her punishment was the same. Peter spoke sternly to her, and she too fell down dead and was carried out and buried next to her husband.

What a terrible thing to happen in the midst of the ecclesia. They had been so happy when they were baptised and their sins were forgiven. They had marvelled at God's power to heal, but now His great power was used to kill.

LESSON FOR US

"God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7), but He hates lying (Prov. 12:22). Ananias and Sapphira tried to cheat, because they wanted praise. They did not love God at all. If we really love God, it will be seen in truthful words and actions, and in true kindness and love to brethren and sisters and their children.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

When Peter rebuked Ananias he said, "Why has thou conceived (worked out) this thing in thine heart?" In Jer. 17:9 we are told, "the heart is deceitful about all things, and desperately wicked". Jesus said of the many Jews who listened to him, "This people honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me" (Matt. 15:8). They were hypocrites. Like Ananias and Sapphira they pretended to do good, but their heart was wicked. God has said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart" (Matt. 22:37). How careful we must be to have a pure and honest heart, for God looks on the heart.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. What does the word "ecclesia" mean?

2. How did the brethren and sisters show their love for each other?

3. What did Ananias and Sapphira bring to the apostles?

4. How did Peter know they were lying?

5. What happened to Ananias and Sapphira?

6. Why was it necessary for Ananias and Sapphira to die?

7. What important lesson do we learn from the story of Ananias and Sapphira?

Detailed Answers

8. Ananias and Sapphira thought that they could deceive God.

1. What did Ananias and Sapphira do that was wrong?

2. Tell how Ananias and Sapphira were punished.

3. God does not want us to be like Ananias and Sapphira. What better example can we show?

Additional Answers

9. Ananias and Sapphira were hypocrites.

1. What does this mean?

2. How must we be different?