And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
The young men at once wrapped up Ananias's body after he fell dead at Peter's exposure, carried it out and buried it without delay. He died because he and Sapphira sold a possession and brought only part of the price as if it were the whole, lying to the Holy Ghost which is lying to God. His swift death was a visible sign of divine displeasure and retributive justice against avaricious hypocrisy, covetous withholding, and breaking a vow pledged to God. Great fear came on all who heard of it, and the swift check kept the rapidly growing young church from disgrace and demoralization. The death and burial stand as a fearful and perpetual warning to Christians of all ages that God requires faithfulness in vows, searches out hidden deception, and will not be mocked.
Immediate Context and Aftermath
The verse records what happened the instant Ananias fell down dead at Peter's exposure, that the young men arose, wound or wrapped up his body, carried it out, and buried him immediately without delay. He died upon Peter's words revealing that he and Sapphira had sold a possession, kept back part of the price with his wife's knowledge, and brought only a certain part to the apostles as if it were the whole. They had sought a living from the common stock and the high esteem given to those who sacrificed for the poor. No undue influence had compelled them, for the property was their own and in their own power. But they had pledged certain lands to God under the direct influence of the Spirit and then deliberately agreed to withhold part.
After the burial, the priests and rulers in council planned to turn the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira into a charge that the apostles had murdered them. That murder charge was joined to a charge of insurrection and of conspiring to deprive the priests of their authority and put them to death. They hoped the mob would then take the matter in hand and deal with the apostles as it had dealt with Jesus. They pressed that accusation because converts were multiplying, many who did not accept Christ were weary of arbitrary Jewish rule and wanted decided change, and they feared that if those dissatisfied people embraced the apostles' belief and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, the anger of the whole people would turn against the priests, who would be made to answer for the murder of Christ.
Nature of the Sin
Ananias with Sapphira sold a possession and kept back part of the price with his wife's knowledge while bringing only a certain part to the apostles as if it were the whole. In pretending to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost and attempting to deceive the apostles they lied not to men but to God, for lying to the Holy Ghost is lying to God. They claimed to give the full sale price to God though they had sold the land for more, after pledging certain lands to God under the direct influence of the Spirit and then deliberately agreeing to withhold part. No undue influence had compelled them, for the property was their own and in their own power, yet their false claim brought punishment without delay. His death and burial were part of the sudden punishment for deceiving the apostles and the Holy Spirit while pretending to give all the proceeds of the sale, teaching that God condemns deception and selfish dishonesty.
The lie was avaricious hypocrisy, professing to serve God while secretly serving money and worshiping mammon. Ananias and Sapphira professed godliness while secretly cherishing iniquity, acting as deceivers by pretending to make an entire sacrifice for God while covetously withholding a portion for themselves. The Spirit of truth revealed their real character to the apostles, detecting their deceit by the evidence of the Spirit of God. His death and burial were a solemn warning against professed believers who loved money and withheld entrusted funds from God's work.
Covetousness was cherished until Satan filled his heart and gained control of his mind once the pledge was questioned. As a holy God He hates such hypocrisy and falsehood. Lying, prevarication and falsehood are not slight evils but an enormous sin which God regards with abhorrence, for which He immediately struck Ananias dead, as He did Sapphira his wife.
The sin was breaking a vow pledged to God and practicing fraud against God, pretending to give all the proceeds while withholding part of what was promised and vowed. They sought a living from the common stock and the high esteem given to those who sacrificed for the poor. No one was compelled to give up possessions, but they agreed together to practice lying and fraud at the cost of their lives. Their deliberate deception after pledging the land's proceeds brought instant death.
That withholding was an attempt to rob God of what He claims in the tithing system and of means entrusted to them for advancing His cause, while thinking the brethren would never know it. God searches the heart so that the motives and purposes of men cannot be hidden from Him, and He did not accept their offering. A small offering given unwillingly while money is spent on self-gratification is no more acceptable to God than their dishonest offering.
They wished to be regarded as giving all and to gain favor and a reputation for liberality, self-denial, self-sacrifice and devotion, sacrificing truth to gain that favor. Desiring commendation for good deeds yet unwilling to give all to God, they sold their possessions and kept back part of the price while laying the rest at the apostles' feet, hoping to be thought liberal and self-denying, but the Holy Spirit read the deception. No one can withhold what belongs to God and prosper, for all are God's property, and defrauding Him brings swift judgment.
God's Swift Judgment
God visited swift, fatal, terrible judgment that did not linger, for upon Peter's exposure Ananias gave up the ghost and was struck dead as a visible sign of divine displeasure, a signal manifestation of wrath and retributive justice and of the Saviour's deep contempt for all deception. After he died as the consequence of deceiving God about his offering, the young men arose, wrapped or wound up his body, carried it out, and buried him immediately without delay, and his death was a terrible manifestation of divine judgment. The sudden death and burial was a check Infinite Wisdom knew was needed, and the stern, sudden punishment fell because, desiring commendation for good deeds yet unwilling to give all to God, they sold possessions and kept back part of the price while laying the rest at the apostles' feet, hoping to be thought liberal and self-denying.
The apostles knew the true state of the case by the Spirit, for the Spirit of truth and the discerning Spirit of Christ in the church revealed their real character and searched him out, showing that God sees, knows the exact truth of every case, and condemns hidden deception and lying to God as a fearful offense. No undue influence had compelled them, for the property was their own and in their own power, but in pretending to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost and attempting to deceive the apostles they had lied not to men but to God, and Satan filled his heart and gained control of his mind once covetousness was cherished and the pledge was questioned. The sudden judgment is an evidence of God's retributive justice, made a special example and a signal evidence of discernment that was a terror to hypocrites and evil-doers.
The judgment punished underhanded, deceptive dealing in His work with sudden death for keeping back what was professed to be given, for coveting, stealing, embezzling, and dissembling under a show of full honesty, and for neglect of duty and deception in sacred trust, of which ministering angels take note. The same sure punishment will fall now for deceptive, unstraightforward and oppressive dealings in the Lord's work, using lawyers to take advantage of circumstances, doing injustice, hindering the triumph of truth, exacting exorbitant prices, conniving at fraud, and diverting His means into a wrong channel. It was judgment on the first dishonesty and the first departure from truthful dealing in the Christian church, committed while the Holy Spirit's grace and light and power were working and therefore sin against the Holy Spirit, and Peter's dealing was directed by the Lord to prevent untold evil from workers who think they are not paid enough and appropriate money or goods to supply the fancied deficiency.
No one was compelled to give up possessions, but Ananias and Sapphira wished to be regarded as giving all while keeping part, appropriating money to their own use and falsely representing that they had given the whole amount, agreeing together to practice lying and fraud at the cost of their lives, for God struck them both with death. The judgment forever rid the church of this foul blot upon its purity and removed the stain and the hypocrite, showing that God does not tolerate deliberate sin and will not be mocked, and that every hidden evil however secret and every unjust, selfish action will be searched out and punished. Their deaths show that God would not tolerate deception and falsehood in the newly formed church, and that He will be glorified in those who serve Him.
The standard of the gospel was no lower than in the days of Joshua, for as with Achan's hidden sin in ancient Israel, so in the New Testament hidden sin was exposed and met with swift judgment, showing God's dealings in the gospel age are consistent with His dealings with ancient Israel and that the case stands recorded that the whole world may have a testimony of how God regards dishonest practices. The result of their deception was loss not only of the life that now is but of the life to come.
Effect on Early Church
The immediate burial after the sudden death brought great fear and reverential awe upon all who heard of it. It was a swift, public judgment for deliberate hypocrisy and fraud toward God, and that terror fell especially upon hypocrites and evildoers. The discerning Spirit of Christ in the church had searched out pretended godliness, and the signal evidence of that discernment could not long be endured by deceivers.
That marked judgment produced greater caution and more thorough self-examination among believers and new converts. Reverential fear awakened, and the motives of actions were tested as converts learned the solemn warning against professing to serve God while secretly serving money. Infinite Wisdom knew this swift check was needed to keep the rapidly growing and rapidly increasing young church from disgrace. Without it the young church would have become demoralized by persons professing to serve God while worshiping mammon, loving money and withholding entrusted funds from His work.
While trials and persecution continued, only those willing to forsake all for truth desired to be disciples, because deceivers could not long remain with those who in habit and disposition constantly represented Christ, so the church remained comparatively pure. The presence of Ananias and Sapphira, who had joined the disciples, shows that unworthy or false members may be found among believers. In any great religious movement those carried away by feeling who soon reveal selfishness and vainglory can never be an honor to the cause.
Warning for Later Believers
The carrying out and burial stand recorded as a fearful, marked, lasting and perpetual warning to Christians of all ages and to all who profess Christ afterward. The warning is that God requires faithfulness in keeping vows and in performing what is pledged, and that selfishness, fraud against God, covetousness, hypocrisy, pretense and robbing God are grievous sins. Ananias and Sapphira had pledged certain lands to God under the direct influence of the Spirit and then deliberately agreed to withhold part, pretending to give all while keeping back part of the price, and the instant death that followed was retributive justice showing that God sees, searches out and condemns such deception against His sacred claims and dignity. Covetousness was cherished until Satan filled the heart and gained control of the mind once the pledge was questioned, so the lie was not to men but to God, and the sudden judgment was made a special example to guard the rapidly increasing young church from becoming demoralized and to hinder no part of His work.
The same avaricious sin continues in many Ananiases and Sapphiras today, whom Satan tempts to dissemble from love of money. They withhold from the treasury of God by various plans and excuses the means entrusted to them for advancing His cause, professing to serve God while worshiping mammon in avaricious hypocrisy detected by the Spirit. If the same punishment fell now there would be many dead bodies in churches requiring burial.
Though no visible punishment follows every repetition of that withholding now, it remains a grave offense that will be judged. Guilt rests on others in proportion to similar offenses in keeping back part of the price while presenting it as the whole and breaking a pledge made to God. Transgressors may also feel its consequences in this life.
The same sure punishment will fall now for deceptive, unstraightforward and oppressive dealings in the Lord's work. That includes using lawyers to take advantage of circumstances, doing injustice, hindering the triumph of truth, exacting exorbitant prices, conniving at fraud, diverting His means into a wrong channel, and dishonestly handling gifts given to God's work. Underhanded dealing that keeps back part with the knowledge of others and lies to the Holy Ghost, which is lying to God, brought sudden death and great fear on all who heard, and dishonest handling still brings judgment.
The first departure from truthful dealing warns against workers who think they are not paid enough and appropriate money or goods to supply the fancied deficiency. Joined with them is Judas, whose covetousness led him to steal from the Lord's treasury by taking from the bag of gifts for the work without accounting for it. He reasoned that his labors were not sufficiently appreciated and that he had a right to pay himself according to his own ideas, a principle that perverted his conscience.
All who handle sacred things and carry responsibility are warned that God knows whether they are faithful stewards. God searches the heart, so human motives and purposes cannot be hidden or concealed from Him, and every hidden evil however secret will be searched out and punished. He requires them to exemplify the mind of Christ, to put away selfishness, selfish meanness, peculiar traits of character and all underhand dealing, and to maintain strict integrity in every transaction and every phase of the work. The Saviour's deep contempt for all deception was shown when the Holy Spirit read the desire for commendation joined with unwillingness to give all, and the same Spirit still condemns all underhand dealing today, calling for a transformed and honest life cultivating the Christian graces. Ministering angels take note of neglect of duty and deception in sacred trust, where pretense of entire consecration covers a lie to the Holy Spirit, and the result of such deception is loss not only of the life that now is but of the life to come. God will be glorified in those who serve Him.
Christian parents must impress the enormity of that immediate judgment upon their children, praying with them and warning them against falsehood rather than excusing it, for lying, prevarication and falsehood are not slight evils but an enormous sin regarded with abhorrence. God calls sinners to forsake sin and turn to Him, because the influence of one unrepentant sinner is defiling and corrupts many others. Their fearful doom warns against covetousness and the deceitful keeping of unlawful gain and against every kind and every species of fraud, deception and dishonesty in the church, including secret fraud, for God knows and will punish hidden wrongdoing.
The young men at once wrapped up Ananias's body after he fell dead at Peter's exposure, carried it out and buried it without delay. He died because he and Sapphira sold a possession and brought only part of the price as if it were the whole, lying to the Holy Ghost which is lying to God. His swift death was a visible sign of divine displeasure and retributive justice against avaricious hypocrisy, covetous withholding, and breaking a vow pledged to God. Great fear came on all who heard of it, and the swift check kept the rapidly growing young church from disgrace and demoralization. The death and burial stand as a fearful and perpetual warning to Christians of all ages that God requires faithfulness in vows, searches out hidden deception, and will not be mocked.
Immediate Context and Aftermath
The verse records what happened the instant Ananias fell down dead at Peter's exposure, that the young men arose, wound or wrapped up his body, carried it out, and buried him immediately without delay. He died upon Peter's words revealing that he and Sapphira had sold a possession, kept back part of the price with his wife's knowledge, and brought only a certain part to the apostles as if it were the whole. They had sought a living from the common stock and the high esteem given to those who sacrificed for the poor. No undue influence had compelled them, for the property was their own and in their own power. But they had pledged certain lands to God under the direct influence of the Spirit and then deliberately agreed to withhold part.
After the burial, the priests and rulers in council planned to turn the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira into a charge that the apostles had murdered them. That murder charge was joined to a charge of insurrection and of conspiring to deprive the priests of their authority and put them to death. They hoped the mob would then take the matter in hand and deal with the apostles as it had dealt with Jesus. They pressed that accusation because converts were multiplying, many who did not accept Christ were weary of arbitrary Jewish rule and wanted decided change, and they feared that if those dissatisfied people embraced the apostles' belief and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, the anger of the whole people would turn against the priests, who would be made to answer for the murder of Christ.
Nature of the Sin
Ananias with Sapphira sold a possession and kept back part of the price with his wife's knowledge while bringing only a certain part to the apostles as if it were the whole. In pretending to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost and attempting to deceive the apostles they lied not to men but to God, for lying to the Holy Ghost is lying to God. They claimed to give the full sale price to God though they had sold the land for more, after pledging certain lands to God under the direct influence of the Spirit and then deliberately agreeing to withhold part. No undue influence had compelled them, for the property was their own and in their own power, yet their false claim brought punishment without delay. His death and burial were part of the sudden punishment for deceiving the apostles and the Holy Spirit while pretending to give all the proceeds of the sale, teaching that God condemns deception and selfish dishonesty.
The lie was avaricious hypocrisy, professing to serve God while secretly serving money and worshiping mammon. Ananias and Sapphira professed godliness while secretly cherishing iniquity, acting as deceivers by pretending to make an entire sacrifice for God while covetously withholding a portion for themselves. The Spirit of truth revealed their real character to the apostles, detecting their deceit by the evidence of the Spirit of God. His death and burial were a solemn warning against professed believers who loved money and withheld entrusted funds from God's work.
Covetousness was cherished until Satan filled his heart and gained control of his mind once the pledge was questioned. As a holy God He hates such hypocrisy and falsehood. Lying, prevarication and falsehood are not slight evils but an enormous sin which God regards with abhorrence, for which He immediately struck Ananias dead, as He did Sapphira his wife.
The sin was breaking a vow pledged to God and practicing fraud against God, pretending to give all the proceeds while withholding part of what was promised and vowed. They sought a living from the common stock and the high esteem given to those who sacrificed for the poor. No one was compelled to give up possessions, but they agreed together to practice lying and fraud at the cost of their lives. Their deliberate deception after pledging the land's proceeds brought instant death.
That withholding was an attempt to rob God of what He claims in the tithing system and of means entrusted to them for advancing His cause, while thinking the brethren would never know it. God searches the heart so that the motives and purposes of men cannot be hidden from Him, and He did not accept their offering. A small offering given unwillingly while money is spent on self-gratification is no more acceptable to God than their dishonest offering.
They wished to be regarded as giving all and to gain favor and a reputation for liberality, self-denial, self-sacrifice and devotion, sacrificing truth to gain that favor. Desiring commendation for good deeds yet unwilling to give all to God, they sold their possessions and kept back part of the price while laying the rest at the apostles' feet, hoping to be thought liberal and self-denying, but the Holy Spirit read the deception. No one can withhold what belongs to God and prosper, for all are God's property, and defrauding Him brings swift judgment.
God's Swift Judgment
God visited swift, fatal, terrible judgment that did not linger, for upon Peter's exposure Ananias gave up the ghost and was struck dead as a visible sign of divine displeasure, a signal manifestation of wrath and retributive justice and of the Saviour's deep contempt for all deception. After he died as the consequence of deceiving God about his offering, the young men arose, wrapped or wound up his body, carried it out, and buried him immediately without delay, and his death was a terrible manifestation of divine judgment. The sudden death and burial was a check Infinite Wisdom knew was needed, and the stern, sudden punishment fell because, desiring commendation for good deeds yet unwilling to give all to God, they sold possessions and kept back part of the price while laying the rest at the apostles' feet, hoping to be thought liberal and self-denying.
The apostles knew the true state of the case by the Spirit, for the Spirit of truth and the discerning Spirit of Christ in the church revealed their real character and searched him out, showing that God sees, knows the exact truth of every case, and condemns hidden deception and lying to God as a fearful offense. No undue influence had compelled them, for the property was their own and in their own power, but in pretending to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost and attempting to deceive the apostles they had lied not to men but to God, and Satan filled his heart and gained control of his mind once covetousness was cherished and the pledge was questioned. The sudden judgment is an evidence of God's retributive justice, made a special example and a signal evidence of discernment that was a terror to hypocrites and evil-doers.
The judgment punished underhanded, deceptive dealing in His work with sudden death for keeping back what was professed to be given, for coveting, stealing, embezzling, and dissembling under a show of full honesty, and for neglect of duty and deception in sacred trust, of which ministering angels take note. The same sure punishment will fall now for deceptive, unstraightforward and oppressive dealings in the Lord's work, using lawyers to take advantage of circumstances, doing injustice, hindering the triumph of truth, exacting exorbitant prices, conniving at fraud, and diverting His means into a wrong channel. It was judgment on the first dishonesty and the first departure from truthful dealing in the Christian church, committed while the Holy Spirit's grace and light and power were working and therefore sin against the Holy Spirit, and Peter's dealing was directed by the Lord to prevent untold evil from workers who think they are not paid enough and appropriate money or goods to supply the fancied deficiency.
No one was compelled to give up possessions, but Ananias and Sapphira wished to be regarded as giving all while keeping part, appropriating money to their own use and falsely representing that they had given the whole amount, agreeing together to practice lying and fraud at the cost of their lives, for God struck them both with death. The judgment forever rid the church of this foul blot upon its purity and removed the stain and the hypocrite, showing that God does not tolerate deliberate sin and will not be mocked, and that every hidden evil however secret and every unjust, selfish action will be searched out and punished. Their deaths show that God would not tolerate deception and falsehood in the newly formed church, and that He will be glorified in those who serve Him.
The standard of the gospel was no lower than in the days of Joshua, for as with Achan's hidden sin in ancient Israel, so in the New Testament hidden sin was exposed and met with swift judgment, showing God's dealings in the gospel age are consistent with His dealings with ancient Israel and that the case stands recorded that the whole world may have a testimony of how God regards dishonest practices. The result of their deception was loss not only of the life that now is but of the life to come.
Effect on Early Church
The immediate burial after the sudden death brought great fear and reverential awe upon all who heard of it. It was a swift, public judgment for deliberate hypocrisy and fraud toward God, and that terror fell especially upon hypocrites and evildoers. The discerning Spirit of Christ in the church had searched out pretended godliness, and the signal evidence of that discernment could not long be endured by deceivers.
That marked judgment produced greater caution and more thorough self-examination among believers and new converts. Reverential fear awakened, and the motives of actions were tested as converts learned the solemn warning against professing to serve God while secretly serving money. Infinite Wisdom knew this swift check was needed to keep the rapidly growing and rapidly increasing young church from disgrace. Without it the young church would have become demoralized by persons professing to serve God while worshiping mammon, loving money and withholding entrusted funds from His work.
While trials and persecution continued, only those willing to forsake all for truth desired to be disciples, because deceivers could not long remain with those who in habit and disposition constantly represented Christ, so the church remained comparatively pure. The presence of Ananias and Sapphira, who had joined the disciples, shows that unworthy or false members may be found among believers. In any great religious movement those carried away by feeling who soon reveal selfishness and vainglory can never be an honor to the cause.
Warning for Later Believers
The carrying out and burial stand recorded as a fearful, marked, lasting and perpetual warning to Christians of all ages and to all who profess Christ afterward. The warning is that God requires faithfulness in keeping vows and in performing what is pledged, and that selfishness, fraud against God, covetousness, hypocrisy, pretense and robbing God are grievous sins. Ananias and Sapphira had pledged certain lands to God under the direct influence of the Spirit and then deliberately agreed to withhold part, pretending to give all while keeping back part of the price, and the instant death that followed was retributive justice showing that God sees, searches out and condemns such deception against His sacred claims and dignity. Covetousness was cherished until Satan filled the heart and gained control of the mind once the pledge was questioned, so the lie was not to men but to God, and the sudden judgment was made a special example to guard the rapidly increasing young church from becoming demoralized and to hinder no part of His work.
The same avaricious sin continues in many Ananiases and Sapphiras today, whom Satan tempts to dissemble from love of money. They withhold from the treasury of God by various plans and excuses the means entrusted to them for advancing His cause, professing to serve God while worshiping mammon in avaricious hypocrisy detected by the Spirit. If the same punishment fell now there would be many dead bodies in churches requiring burial.
Though no visible punishment follows every repetition of that withholding now, it remains a grave offense that will be judged. Guilt rests on others in proportion to similar offenses in keeping back part of the price while presenting it as the whole and breaking a pledge made to God. Transgressors may also feel its consequences in this life.
The same sure punishment will fall now for deceptive, unstraightforward and oppressive dealings in the Lord's work. That includes using lawyers to take advantage of circumstances, doing injustice, hindering the triumph of truth, exacting exorbitant prices, conniving at fraud, diverting His means into a wrong channel, and dishonestly handling gifts given to God's work. Underhanded dealing that keeps back part with the knowledge of others and lies to the Holy Ghost, which is lying to God, brought sudden death and great fear on all who heard, and dishonest handling still brings judgment.
The first departure from truthful dealing warns against workers who think they are not paid enough and appropriate money or goods to supply the fancied deficiency. Joined with them is Judas, whose covetousness led him to steal from the Lord's treasury by taking from the bag of gifts for the work without accounting for it. He reasoned that his labors were not sufficiently appreciated and that he had a right to pay himself according to his own ideas, a principle that perverted his conscience.
All who handle sacred things and carry responsibility are warned that God knows whether they are faithful stewards. God searches the heart, so human motives and purposes cannot be hidden or concealed from Him, and every hidden evil however secret will be searched out and punished. He requires them to exemplify the mind of Christ, to put away selfishness, selfish meanness, peculiar traits of character and all underhand dealing, and to maintain strict integrity in every transaction and every phase of the work. The Saviour's deep contempt for all deception was shown when the Holy Spirit read the desire for commendation joined with unwillingness to give all, and the same Spirit still condemns all underhand dealing today, calling for a transformed and honest life cultivating the Christian graces. Ministering angels take note of neglect of duty and deception in sacred trust, where pretense of entire consecration covers a lie to the Holy Spirit, and the result of such deception is loss not only of the life that now is but of the life to come. God will be glorified in those who serve Him.
Christian parents must impress the enormity of that immediate judgment upon their children, praying with them and warning them against falsehood rather than excusing it, for lying, prevarication and falsehood are not slight evils but an enormous sin regarded with abhorrence. God calls sinners to forsake sin and turn to Him, because the influence of one unrepentant sinner is defiling and corrupts many others. Their fearful doom warns against covetousness and the deceitful keeping of unlawful gain and against every kind and every species of fraud, deception and dishonesty in the church, including secret fraud, for God knows and will punish hidden wrongdoing.