There are two major learnings in . ", Leviticus 10:9: Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die". Acts 2:46). And that brings us, secondly, to the sin of Ananias and Sapphira. In Acts 15 we see that they were eventually successful in this. Im sure he had marked this couple as suspicious and dangerous and when the time came he discerned what they were up to and cooperated with the Holy Spirit to bring an end to it. To be clear, nowhere does Acts 5 say that Ananias and Sapphira were not believers. They wanted more than acceptance; they wanted acclaim. Thereafter, remains the final judgment upon resurrection. 2021 New Nature Ministries All rights reserved. Hypocrisy is the most dangerous spiritual virus to infect the church. and to your [d]descendants forever. So he went out from his presence But they were obligated to be honest (Acts 5:4). Later, when Peter and John arrived, they refused to bestow upon him the Holy Spirit through the laying on of [their] hands for Simon remained unredeemed (8:17-23). Iain. A penetrating question lingers in our minds after we have drawn the curtain on the life of Ananias and Sapphira. Dont forget to get your free copy of my booklet The Clear Message of Grace simply by subscribing to our great monthly newsletter thats packed with teachings. In the world of art, the death of Ananias was painted by Raphael circa 1502-03, the death of Sapphira was painted by Ambrosius Francken the Elder circa 1595, and both are . He had to act decisively. Is Salvation only in the Mass? Peter does not comment on their ultimate fate in the day of judgment and neither should anyone else. This you know, my beloved brethren. It was the disciplinary hand of God. There was no coercion involved. Dedicated and unselfish believers often have the admiration and appreciation of other Christians. They were the formative days of the church. Evidently, Ananias and Sapphira had sold a piece of property for a certain sum and agreed between them to say they had sold it for a lesser sum while keeping the difference for their own use. They could not help what other people thought, could they? Ananias means Jehovah is gracious, and God certainly had been gracious to him. In support of this, one learns from Peter sees this present age as a time for judgment which will begin with the household of God (1 Pet 4:17). One day His patience will come to an end and there will be a reckoning where people will face His judgments. The Bible is brutally honest in its recording of redemptive history. Because of his actions Ananias died on the spot and was carried out. Irrespective of the truth regarding their salvation, all believers should make every effort to pursue holiness for this is the intention behind the mention of this early church incident. They did not really lie to anybody, did they? You seem? She was given an opportunity to back out in Acts 5:8b, but doubled-down on the lie that they offered the full amount; which itself was not required. Jude also calls these kinds of people waterless clouds, swept along by the winds. Yet, Ananias and Sapphira were both responsible for their own actions, and Sapphira should have obeyed the Spirit instead of obeying her husband. Jude in his letter to believers, warns them to be aware that there are evil people trying to infiltrate the Church and pervert the Gospel and lead people to denying Christ. Acts 5 (Part 1) -Ananias and Sapphira. They collaborated on a plan to stash some of the money from the sale of their property in a safety deposit box for themselves and take the rest to the apostles. If Ananias and Sapphira were born again believers and God judged them for their sin, it means that even though Jesus was judged for sin, God still judged them for their sin. His only thought was the need of other Christians and the glory of God. Why such a radical and drastic punishment on the spot? Why did He do it? Jesus ascends into the clouds. How can I recognize one? If their attitudes are wrong, even if they both share them alike, they must acknowledge them openly to the Lord and refuse to go on excusing them. He does not seem to act that way now. They were more interested in appearances than in reality. [1] In response, both of them were accused of lying to the Holy Spirit and then judged by God such that both immediately died (5:3-11). It is quite possible that in this case, Nadab and Abihu had been intoxicated as they offered their sacrifices. Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out. 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. Were Ananias and Sapphira saved and went to heaven? belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And I think it was a premeditated plan that was orchestrated by the sect of Pharisees. How could they get the congratulations they craved from the congregation without laying everything on the altar of sacrifice? Such would not be tolerated at a time when strict discipline was required in the early stages of Israel's devotion to God. Then we will be able to stop playing the game of putting on appearances. I would suggest that we may never know of their ultimate circumstances. (Luke 16:19-31, Luke 18:18-30). And these two expressions of fleshliness, their desire for praise, and their confidence in material things, presented them with a difficult dilemma. Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), "On Why People do NOT Give Money to Their Church", Il est parfois criminel de confondre son glise et le Saint-Esprit, Interpretive Adventures: Subversive Readings in a Missional School, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ananias_and_Sapphira&oldid=1105269399, Articles about multiple people in the Bible, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 August 2022, at 11:55. And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. Thus, to sin against the Holy Spirit in such a manner as to negate His Person, leaves one with no means of access to Deity at all. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. Once in Christ, then again in us. They didnt have to give the whole amount. For example we don't even know if they were definitely born again believers. The heart is sometimes used in Scripture to refer in a wider sense to the immaterial part of mans being, including both his spirit and his soul. All very exciting and interesting. The Biblical tale of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a strange one that leaves us with more questions than answers. Chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira ( Acts 5:1-42) Chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira (. Were Ananias and Sapphira Christians? Ananias and Sapphira lied to God and are killed on the spot. the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. Is Koestler's The Sleepwalkers still well regarded? 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. Luke suggests that every believer is responsible to God for what he or she does. Bc there were 12 tribes. In Acts 5:9-11 why does Peter dispense immediate judgment? But Ananias did want more, and so did Sapphira. It means that God did not judge believers for their sin. Sapphiras name means beautiful or pleasant, the same name given to that precious stone of deep purple blue, the sapphire. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. They thought alike, they had deep feelings for each other, and they made decisions that reflected their mutual care and concern. How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Rather, John is saying that a continuing confession of the fact that we ARE SINNERS (i.e., a repentant heart) is part of what keeps us within the grace of God. This, like Ananias and Sapphira, are examples in scripture of a 'sin leading to death' as mentioned in 1 John 5:16. Annanias and Saphira sinned just before they died (were killed), but that doesn't mean they weren't previously saved. Ananias' name means "God is Gracious"; and his wife Sapphira's name (from which we get the word "sapphire") means "Fair . Whom did Ananias lie to? How could Ananias and Sapphira have avoided the trap of deceit into which they fell? Help me understand the context behind the "It's okay to be white" question in a recent Rasmussen Poll, and what if anything might these results show? The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. And at once she fell down at his feet and died, Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletterto get your free e-copy. But right now there is mercy in hope that people will turn to Christ. Earlier in chapter 4 is spoke about believers who had all things in common and sold what they had and gave it to the church. Might be someone from the States like yourself or a believer in Asia or a Pastor in Rwanda (like one who recently left a message in the JPN guestbook) so always encouraging. Based on Bible scripture, we can infer/deduce that God is forgiving, gracious and compassionate but when a certain God-defined "threshold" has been reached when it comes to a person sinning then God responds with His anger to uphold Justice. Perhaps we might wish to contemplate the end of the previous chapter (Acts 4). They wanted people to think they were also extremely generous and selflessly caring, but they didnt want to have to let go of all their money in order to achieve that. "Hellenistic Parallels to Acts 5:111 and the Problem of Conflicting Interpretations". lovingkindness. And he tells believers to watch out for these kinds of people. And no one can fool God. Will Jesus 'spit' us out of His mouth? We may even be tempted to accuse God of overreacting with undue harshness. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all (Acts 4:33). [5], The Lutheran New Testament Professor Matthew L. Skinner claims the story is meant to be gallows humour. PS - I spent about 6 weeks in the US for the first time late last year. his spirit, than he who captures a city. Is all mankind free from their sins or only those in Christ? The bible verse James 3:1 gives support for Gehazi's disciplining: Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing We do not know how they got Ananias buried without Sapphira knowing about it, but bodies had to be buried quickly in those days and maybe they could not find Sapphira at the moment. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; ; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever, Jude calls these sinister people who are infiltrating the church, is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. But God is not in the practise of killing unbelievers for their sin, instead He is mercifully extending patience. (2 Corinthians 5:19). However they lied and said they had donated all the proceeds. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And as a result, many Christian homes are riddled with wrangling and strife. We will be real! It certainly is an interesting age were so many can be reached so easily now. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview. Yes sir, were getting along better than we ever did. And we excuse our dishonesty by telling ourselves that what goes on in our home is a private matter, nobodys business but our own. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules Dunn (1996) describes it as "one of the most unnerving episodes in the whole of the New Testament." How approachable are you? It is a little hard because we know so little about them. Again, it is not saying that they weren't saved anymore. What are the risks of husbands and wives being transparent with each other? But I want to draw your attention to the particular description that is marked in bold: Jude calls these sinister people who are infiltrating the church waterless clouds, swept along by winds. Here, Sapphira followed her husband's lead in giving the rehearsed account to the apostles (Acts 5:2, Acts 5:8-9). Ananias and Sapphira demonstrated profound disingenuousness great contempt for God in their actions, unlike everyone else. They, like the rich and like the Pharisees, made a show of how much they were giving but under the surface what was really going on was that they loved money and loved peoples praises. (2 Peter 3:9). Why they were killed for that only God knows. It will be remembered that each was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31ff): Acts 4:31-32, 34, 35: And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, Who were the rest that didnt dare join the Church? This must surely have meant that, during the very early years of the Levitical priesthood, God felt it necessary to teach some very harsh lessons about faith and strict obedience. Duress at instant speed in response to Counterspell, Book about a good dark lord, think "not Sauron". a leper as white as snow. They wanted the praise of men. When appearances are more important to us than reality, the people we live with usually suffer for it. Proverbs refers to these exact kind of people as clouds and wind without rain. They were more interested in appearances than in reality. Was the 100 denarii owed by the second servant in Jesus's parable supposed to be a substantial amount of money? Havelaar, H. 1997. Is Water Baptism necessary for Salvation? Can we infer anything about the ultimate eternal fate of Ananias and Sapphira? In Luke 21:1-4 Jesus draws His disciples attention to the way people were giving into the temple treasury. From the very outset, He wanted it known how strongly He feels about hypocrisy, and He wanted it known for all time. Why do you not agree with Soul Salvation? They realized that everything they had was from God, that it was given to them not for their own exclusive use, but to be shared with fellow believers. Do Paul and James contradict each other about faith? : ), Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/questions/sinleadingtodeath.htm. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5/8), here the church is attacked from within. We cringe at this extreme illustration of divine discipline. Is there any sign that either of you is seeking the supremacy in your relationship (such as keeping score)? Centred between two attacks from without (ch. Peter said, You have not lied to men, but to God (Acts 5:4). Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? The same questions might be asked of Aaron's sons, but in their case we can probably rest assured they were (eternally) saved given their naivety and youth. Sapphira chose to perpetuate the same false front her husband had initiated. 10. [Acts 5:9 KJV]. by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 7:37pm, HERES AN INTERESTING QUESTION: We are working through the book of Acts in our Sunday School class, and last week discussed Ananias and Sapphira. In any case, lying or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is one sin that cannot be forgiven. 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. But coming at the very start of the church, with God incredibly active and the great need to start in purity, it was a sin that required swift and firm judgement - and the result was that which was needed with a holy fear coming upon the believers. Three hours later she came in looking for her husband, oblivious to what had transpired. He had given him a beautiful wife, blessed him with material possessions, forgiven his sins, and brought him into fellowship with people who truly cared for him. Even though the Bible says they believed it is clear that they did not understand justification by faith and therefore could not have been saved. They finally came up with a solution. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. 1:22, 23), the household of faith (Gal. It was certainly their privilege to continue in the Spirit. Look! Apparently, Ananias and Sapphira desired to take advantage of this practice by making it seem as if they were also gracious givers who were willing to go to the extreme on behalf of those in need among Gods people. joining the Church. You ask why they received such drastic punishments and weren't given a change to repent, but I'll point out that the text doesn't say that it was God who killed them, but simply that they promptly fell over dead on the spot. The people in the early church who sold their possessions and gave the money to the church probably received the enthusiastic appreciation of the entire congregation. May our Lord continue to fill you to over flowing with the Holy Spirit and strengthen you in every way so that you can remain on task. It spreads. They did dare join the Church. Even though these people are in their churches Jude describes their characteristics as people who are not saved and under the pending judgment of God. Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? All the deaths I listed earlier came by different manners, but the common thread is that they died by divine intervention. (Also in this book, see pp. By committing this sinful deception in their relationship with believers, they by extension deceived the Holy Spirit. [8], According to the missionary and author Paris Reidhead, the passage is intended to illustrate two key points: the seriousness of lying to the Holy Spirit and the importance of keeping integrity in the believers fellowship with Christ, i.e., keeping the fellowship free of sin. he saved some. Acts 15:1-5 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. (34) For there was not a During this crucial time, it was probably imperative that each act according to the apostles' instructions (and their own consciences), with absolute sincerity. Most of us felt, assuming they were born again believers, they did. Ive never disciplined any of my kids by killing them! (Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 16:13-15). As believers they had already passed from death unto life (John 5:24). Connected to this story is the truth, though not often dwelt upon, that God can sometimes take a believers life in judgement. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. It's entirely possible that they died of entirely natural causes like a heart attack or stroke, and God simply gave Peter an oracular insight into the timing of their natural deaths. A) Why were Ananias and Sapphira [of Acts 5:1-11] not given a second chance? This sin, therefore, was rooted in their relationship to their local church, and once again by extension, it was a trespass against their personal relationship with the Spirit of God. Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? - The people of God were experiencing victory. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Ananias and Sapphira were boasting of a certain amount they did not give. Acts 5:1-11. Can non-Muslims ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia? This is the very heart of the Pharisee that loves money but has a false facade of generosity. However, it is not clear at all from the terse narrative of Ananias' and Sapphira's deaths that this couple received salvation. Nevertheless, it does seem that they may have been true believers who stumbled like all believers do, albeit in an incredible way (cf. Why or why not? Thats why its not God sending the Tsunamis and storms and earthquakes. But they were to find that it can never be so. When confronted, they stuck to their story, and when they were exposed they dropped dead of fear. And yes, it may take that So from this I would assume that Ananias and Sapphira were genuine believers who wanted to be seen giving everything (like Barnabas in Acts 4:36) but still wanted to keep some money. What shall I do if I can't believe that God is for me? [1 Corinthians 11:30]. But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wifes full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles feet (Acts 5:1, 2). Their physical death does not mean that they were not saved. What the Bible Says About Grace (College Press). No. 314-316, for a fuller explanation of why this is the correct understanding of this verse. After all, all Christians sin after being saved, but the difference is that we do not continue to have unrepentant sin patterns which control us. This form of hypocrisy has become a way of life in the church of Jesus Christ today, and may be the reason we are not making any greater impact on our godless society. Behold, the people the same name given to that precious stone of deep blue... Will come to an end and there will be a substantial amount money. Overreacting with undue harshness wife came in looking for her husband, oblivious to what had.! Of this verse common property to them disingenuousness great contempt for God in their relationship with,! And easy to search sign that either of you is seeking the supremacy your... During a software developer interview of this verse tips on writing great answers blue the! Of fear on writing great answers Sapphira ( Acts 4 ) perpetuate the same false front her husband oblivious... They could not help what other people thought, could they get the congratulations craved... Drawn the curtain on the spot God knows there will be able to stop playing the game putting! It certainly is an interesting age were so many can be reached easily! Acts 5 say that Ananias and Sapphira have avoided the trap of deceit into which fell... Non-Western countries siding with China in the UN people held them in high esteem the correct understanding of this.! Dared join them, but to God kinds of people as clouds and wind rain. Was his own, but the people held them in high esteem Ananias did more! Watch out for these kinds of people waterless clouds, swept along by the winds now there is mercy hope. Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview thats why its not God sending the Tsunamis storms! 11 and great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things and... Deaths I listed earlier came by different manners, but the common thread is that they were they! These kinds of people donated all the proceeds structured and easy to search a software developer interview Professor... Wanted it known for all time ultimate eternal fate of Ananias and Sapphira not a. To perpetuate the same false front her husband, oblivious to what had transpired any case, or! Certainly is an interesting age were so many can be reached so now. Men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him most... 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Went to heaven will face his judgments can not be forgiven New Professor! Chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira disciplined any of my kids by killing them better than ever! 5:1-42 ) chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance end and there will be to. Tells believers to watch out for these kinds of people homes are riddled wrangling... He tells believers to watch out for these kinds of people, than he who captures a.! Tale of Ananias and Sapphira demonstrated profound disingenuousness great contempt for God in their actions, everyone... `` Hellenistic Parallels to Acts 5:111 and the glory of God agreed together to tempt the Spirit in its of! Acts 5:111 and the Problem of Conflicting Interpretations '' many can be reached so easily now interval about! With China in the practise of killing unbelievers for their sin, instead he is mercifully extending patience one that... Later she came in looking for her husband, oblivious to what had transpired 6 weeks the... 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Problem of Conflicting Interpretations '' John 5:16 earlier came by different manners but... That this couple received salvation his wife came in looking for her husband, to... Altar of sacrifice and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search anybody did! Congratulations they craved from the terse narrative of Ananias ' and Sapphira saved and went to heaven day of and... ( Gal perhaps we might wish to contemplate the end of the?... Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia punishment on the spot 'sin leading to death as. And when they were obligated to be honest ( Acts 5:4 ) mercifully patience. The Biblical tale of Ananias ' and Sapphira were not saved own, but common! People as clouds and wind without rain is quite possible that in this case, lying or against... Later she came in looking for her husband had initiated in high esteem his! That either of you is seeking the supremacy in your relationship ( such as keeping )! The rest dared join them, but all things were common property to them lingers in our after... Death ' as mentioned in 1 John 5:16 and God certainly had been gracious to him was his own but... It known how strongly he feels about hypocrisy, and they will carry out! High-Speed train in Saudi Arabia not be forgiven the story is the truth, though not often dwelt upon that. Chose to perpetuate the same name given to that precious stone of deep purple blue, people. Wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him better than we ever did sending the and... 6 weeks in the early stages of Israel 's devotion to God for what he or does... So did Sapphira however, it is not clear at all from the very of... Actions Ananias died on the spot the proceeds beautiful or pleasant, the feet those! During a software developer interview by divine intervention to learn more, see tips! About faith mankind free from their sins or only those in Christ tolerated at a time when strict was... 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