1 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 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. 2 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 3 Whiles it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 4 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost; and great fear came upon all that heard it. 5 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and carried him out and buried him. 6 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 7 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 8 But 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 they shall carry thee out. 9 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 10 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.”
Golden Text.—“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor.” Eph. 4:25.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What two disciples are mentioned in this lesson for the first time? What is the first thing said of them? Verse 1. (2) What did they do with the proceeds of the sale? Verse 2. Note 1. (3) What did Peter say to Ananias? What spiritual endowment did Peter here manifest? Verse 3. Note 2. (4) Was there any special requirement that Ananias should sell his property? or that he should even then give all the price? What had he conceived in his heart? Verse 4. Note 3. (5) What was the sudden effect of Peter’s words upon Ananias? What was the effect upon the people? Verse 5. Note 4. (6) What was then done with Ananias? Verse 6. Note 5. (7) Who came into the house some time later? Verse 7. (8) What did Peter say to Sapphira? What was her reply? Verse 8. (9) Then what charge did Peter bring against her? What sentence did he pronounce? Verse 9. Note 5. (10) When was the sentence executed? What was done with Sapphira? Verse 10. Note 6. (11) What effect did this have upon the church and people? Verse 11.
NOTES.
1. In the previous chapter we learn that the disciples were making great personal sacrifice for the benefit of the cause, and that “great grace was upon them all.” None of them lacked anything; for those who had land sold it, and laid the money before the apostles’ feet. So Ananias and Sapphira were ambitious to be thought as generous as the rest, and still keep something to have in case of emergency. The adversary had tried persecution as a check to the work, and now he sows tares. He had attacked the citadel from the outside, and now he sought to introduce hypocrisy on the inside.
2. Peter seems to have been endowed especially with the gift of discerning of spirits. He saw at once that Satan had actuated the minds of Ananias and Sapphira, just as he saw that the heart of Simon Magus was not right. Ch. 8:18-21. The “discerning of spirits” is one of the special gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12; but the apostle John enjoins us all to “try the spirits whether they are of God.” 1 John 4:1.
3. There was no special call for the brethren to sell their lands and donate the proceeds. It was wholly voluntary on their part, as they were actuated by the Holy Spirit. If Ananias and his wife were not disposed just then to make so great a sacrifice, if the amount they brought in had been freely given, and had been the measure of their faith, and had been given for just what it was, there would have been no sin in their retaining the remainder. There had been no demand for it. But they coveted honor, and sought to deceive the Holy Ghost in order to get credit for what they had not done. The sequel proved that such a course will not win. We may deceive man, but not the Spirit of God. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:13.
4. Summary punishment came upon Ananias for his presumption. This was not only a rebuke to Satan, but a striking object-lesson to the church. For a time it put an end to attempts to get into the church at Jerusalem on false pretenses. No unconverted man dared to join himself to them. See verse 13 of lesson chapter. So Satan again resorted to open persecution. See ch. 6:8 and onward. We are not to learn from this example that presumption is any the less offensive to God because not summarily punished. But men do act upon that principle; for the Word says, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Eccl. 8:11.
5. The falsehood had been deliberately planned between the man and his wife. Evidently they had overstepped the bound of mercy, and had placed themselves beyond hope, by becoming the medium of Satan for the introduction of rank deception into this first church of Christ under the new order. Peter had not pronounced sentence upon Ananias. The Lord smote him without any formal sentence; he had heard only his conviction. To make the lesson more impressive, however, and to show that the apostles were His spokesmen, the Spirit of the Lord put the sentence against Sapphira into the mouth of Peter.
6. The Young Men.—Canon Tristram says: “A society of young and able men was attached to each synagogue, who were called the servants of the synagogue, and were held in readiness to perform any menial duties about the place.”
