Ananias and Sapphira: The Cost of Deception and Greed
Ananias and his spouse, Sapphira were prosperous members of the Church during this season of collaborative mission. The narration of Ananias and Sapphira is obtained in Acts 5 and in fact, it is a sad story. While they sold part of their personal property, the two privately intrigued to detain a fraction of the profit for themselves and deceive regarding the total.
Ananias just placed a part of the money at the disciples’ feet and professing he had donated all to the crunch. By spiritual revelation, Peter summoned Ananias for deceiving to the Holy Spirit and to Lord. In response to hearing Peter’s words, Ananias fell down and died.
After nearly three hours, Sapphira reached there, she also lied regarding the offerings and while her lie had been revealed, she also fell down and died at Peter’s feet. The sin of Ananias was not that he retained a part of the sale of his wealth for himself although that he deceived regarding it in a venture to make himself seem more bountiful to people. (Acts 5:4)
God’s cause for accomplish to deaths of Ananias and Sapphira indulge His abomination of sin, the deception of the couple and the lesson for the rest of the church, intermittently.
The abrupt, devastating deaths of Ananias and Sapphira worked to clarify and to apprise the church; “Great fear seized the entire church” (Acts 5:11)
Paul alluded Ananias while he shared his testimony in Acts 22:12
“A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly honored by all the Jews living there”
The sad tale of Ananias and Sapphira is not some ambiguous occasion from the Old Testament about the disobedience of Mosaic Law.
It is reminder to us at present that God sees heart (1 Samuel 16:7) that He dislikes sin and is worried for the purity of His church. (1 Corinthians 11, 1 John 5)
Ananias and Sapphira’s Narration
Ananias and Sapphira determined to plan confronting the Lord as they sold property, offer just some of the profit to the disciples, though profess that they gave all amount. Their lie was spotted by the Holy Spirit stating Peter what was occurrence. Ananias did the intrusion, Peter opposed him and Ananias died immediately. After three hours, Sapphira came seeking for her husband, persisted their bald-faced lie, was reprimand by Peter and died as well.
This story is stated in Acts 5:1-11
“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, consequently sold a piece of property. With his wife’s well aware of he retained part of the money for himself, although brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.” Then Peter stated, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you obtained for the land? Didn’t it associated to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your discard? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied only to human beings though to God”
Ananias and Sapphira’s Significance
Ananias and Sapphira’s scheme was much more delicate sufficient that they thought they could escape with it. But God often knows the true worth of one’s giving. More significantly, He is aware of the specific conditions of every heart. Certainly, Ananias and Sapphira were beside no commitment to grant anything to the Church. They were not determined for their lack of benevolence. Despite, they were judge for attempting to deceive God. In fact, every lie is an audacious statement of disbelief confronting the divine Lord God. God sees and is aware of all and surely does not take such sins vaguely.
The People’s Reaction
There were two groups of people, believers and unbelievers. In every instance, they accomplished “great fear”. A great amazement fell on them, a great sense of the existence and power of God seek out and analyze 1 Samuel 11:7-2, Chronicles 14:14 and Proverbs 23:17. To the unbeliever, it is the terror of God’s discernment, seek out Hebrews 10:27-31. To the believers, it is the fright of anguish the Holy Spirit and of protecting God’s annoyance, seek out Ephesians 4:30. It is noteworthy that while the sin of Ananias and Sapphira had been concerned with and the culprit had been detached, God blessing descended, only read Acts 5:11-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Ananias and Sapphira were representatives of the church who sold property and just dispensed a fraction of the revenue to the church, when declaring to have stated the quintessence. Peter supervised over the arbitration of Ananias and Sapphira and God then killed them both in the church. The tale of Ananias and Sapphira is a censuring to worshipper to live lives of righteousness and assure that their acts corresponding with their belief. It consequently acts as a reminder that God knows everything and detests sin.
