*Acts 5:1-16
Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead by God for deceitfully giving only part of the proceeds from selling their property.
- The Story of Ananias and Sapphira:
- Ananias and his wife Sapphira sell a piece of property but decide to keep part of the proceeds for themselves while pretending to donate the full amount to the apostles.
- Ananias presents the partial amount to the apostles, but Peter confronts him, asking why he has lied to the Holy Spirit and kept some of the money for himself.
- Peter explains that the land was theirs to control before and after the sale, but they chose to deceive the community and God.
- Upon hearing Peter’s words, Ananias falls down and dies. The young men wrap up his body and bury him.
- About three hours later, Sapphira arrives, not knowing what has happened to her husband. Peter questions her about the amount for which they sold the land, and she confirms the partial amount.
- Peter confronts her about agreeing with her husband to test the Spirit of the Lord. Immediately after his words, she also falls down and dies. She is then buried beside her husband.
- These events instill great fear among the entire church and all who hear about them.
- The Apostles Heal Many:
- Following these events, the apostles continue to perform many signs and wonders among the people. They meet regularly at Solomon’s Colonnade in the temple.
- The group of believers continues to grow in number, with more men and women believing in the Lord.
- As the apostles’ reputation grows, people even carry the sick into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall on them as he passes by.
- Crowds gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them are healed.
5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.