| Downloads |
 |
 |
Two Whom God Struck Dead—The Sin of Annanias and Sapphira
This morning we come to the rather infamous story of Ananias and Saphira. While just the mention of those names usually brings certain thoughts to our mind, there is a lot to this story that is often left out. Right away we think of lying. And rightfully so. But there is much more to this story, as we will see today.
When we think of people being struck dead by God we have other examples besides Ananias and Sapphira. In the Old Testament we read of Nadab and Abihu who were struck dead by God because they offered improper fire upon God’s altar. And Uzzah was struck dead by God because he touched the Ark as it was being transported to Jerusalem. This morning we add to that list Ananias and Sapphira who were struck dead by God because they lied.
All of these have a few things in common. To begin with there is nothing in the Bible to suggest that these people were not saved. (more about this later.) And each was struck dead because of what we might think of as “little” sins.
Each of these examples should help us to remember that God takes sin seriously. It is also important to note that in each of these cases we have new beginnings for God’s people. That is to say that a new era was being inaugurated. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that in each of these instances God was highlighting just how serious He is about the purity of His people.
Let’s look at the domino affect of what a church might go through as we look into the context of this story.
Three truisms in the life of a church:
I. |
Where there is Prayer there will be Unity |
Acts 4:32-33
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Now we must keep in mind that these verses come off the heels of the disciples praying. The result of this prayer is unity. We could even go back a step further and say that persecution breeds prayer. But this multitude is unified. These verses sound almost identical to what we looked at at the end of chapter two.
There was no selfishness, but rather sharing. The result was that the apostles were witnessing with “great power.” Also, God’s favor was upon them. That is what grace means. Now this isn’t the same as saving grace, this is the grace that God gives us throughout our Christian walk.
*So prayer breeds unity and:
II. |
Where there is Unity there will be Community |
Acts 4:34-36
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
We see this church acting as a tightly knit community. When we looked at the almost identical passage in chapter 2 we found that this is not some type of Socialism, which is forced sharing, but this is Community-ism, which is freely sharing. We see that where there is community there is generosity.
Here we read once again of the harmony and unity in the early church. There is no doubt that God is reminding us of this just before he teaches us about Annanias and Sapphira. One of the lessons to be learned is that unity in the community can be broken at any time in a church. And just like in this case, it will usually come from within.
But here we have Barnabas, who of his own volition decided to sell his possessions and give the money to the apostles. He was not commanded to do this. Again I want to stress that this was a phenomenon found only in the early church. Why did some of them sell their property and give the proceeds to the apostles? We don’t know for sure. It is possible that they knew that Jesus had taught that Jerusalem would soon be destroyed—in AD 70. We don’t know for sure. But what we do know is that this is not set forth as a mandate for believers. But we are mandated to be unified.
Now Barnabas’ name means “Son of Encouragement.” And what an encouragement he was to the church. Some believe that Barnabas was actually the rich young ruler Christ had witnessed to. We do not know for sure, but it is an interesting thought.
It is important to note that nothing in the text suggests that he did this to gain favor in the sight of man. For, as we will see this is in stark contrast to Ananias and Sapphira. Our motivation for what we do is key with God.
So with this setting in mind, let’s examine the Sin of Ananias and Sapphira.
III. |
Where there is prayer, unity, & community there will be Satan’s hostility |
Acts 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much." But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Satan cannot stand when believers get along. Now remember that this is the earliest church. This is the first church. Satan first tried to bring the church down from the outside. He brought persecution from outside the church. That has not worked to this point, so now Satan will attempt to bring the church down from within. Now hear this: Satan has learned that it is more effective to destroy a church from within. This is what he does today. How many church splits begin outside the church? I’ve never heard of one. They crumble from within.
Acts 5:1
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.”
The word “but” sets up a stark contrast between Barnabas and Ananias & Sapphira. Now we don’t know the intention of their hearts in doing this. Having seen Barnabas do it and the people being so encouraged by him, perhaps both Ananias and Sapphira wanted some part of the spotlight. We don’t know for sure, but clearly their intentions were not totally pure.
Acts 5:2
and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Now Ananias decided to keep some of the money they received from the sale. Nothing in the text says that they couldn’t do that. So that is not where the sin lies. The sin lies in that they led the apostles, and others, to believe that they were donating all of the proceeds. Now the text does not tell us exactly how they conveyed that to the people, but the text makes it clear that they did.
Acts 5:3-4
But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
Verse 3 makes it clear that somehow they led Peter to believe that they were giving all of the money gained from the sale. Now again, hear this: The sin was not that they did not give all the money, but that they lied about it and pretended that they were giving all of the money.
Verse 3 is also not teaching us that we don’t have to take personal responsibility for our sin. We can’t just say “the Devil made me do it!” As we will see, both Ananias and Sapphira paid for their sin. It was true that Satan was involved, but God held them responsible.
As Christians, we better not buy into this mindset of our culture where nothing is your own fault. The psychiatrist or psychologist may tell you that things aren’t your fault, but God isn’t going to tell you that.
Now this is important. I am tired of Christians who blame their ungodly actions on others. For instance, I have spoken to Christians who are having trouble in their marriages and they say well, “my pastor isn’t doing enough to help us, or this person isn’t doing enough to help us.” You and your spouse made a covenant before God—no one else. Yes others can help, but take responsibility. I refuse to counsel anyone who won’t take responsibility.
Observe 4 important biblical truths taught in vv. 3-4:
1. |
Satan will attempt to destroy the unity of the church.
– “why has Satan filled your
heart”
|
This certainly should not surprise us. But notice that in this instance he used people from within, not from the outside, to try to break up the unity in the church.
2. |
The Holy Spirit is indeed God!
|
These verses make it clear that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God. (v. 4 – “lie to the Holy Spirit”; v. 5 – “You have not lied to men but to God.”)
3. |
God is not against us owning private property -
While it remained, was it not your own?
|
I mention this, because I had said back in chapter two that Peter was in no way teaching some form of Communism or Socialism. In fact, he is teaching Christian Communityism!
4. |
We are to give as we feel led – “And
after it was sold, was it not in your own control?”
|
There are false teachers who throughout church history have attempted to use this story to scare people into selling their possessions and giving all the proceeds to the church, or to the false teachers themselves. That is not what this text is saying. In fact, you have thousands of believers at this point in the early church, and not all are selling their goods and bringing the proceeds to the apostles. Furthermore, we do not see them being charged with any sin for not doing so.
Acts 5:5-6
When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
Ananias did not even have a chance to answer the question Peter had asked him. Now remember many are watching this. Also, we must remember that this is the beginning of the church age. So God may be using Ananias and Sapphira as an object lesson. Now we must keep several things in mind here: First, the text says nothing about Ananias and Sapphira not being saved. This may well have been their “sin unto death.” You say well, “it isn’t fair how God dealt so harshly with them.” I don’t know about that, but I do know this: It isn’t fair how God deals so graciously with us!
Actually God dealt justly with Ananias and Sapphira. The rest of us who have lied and not been struck dead have received grace ; and by the way that would include all of us (even the newborns for God says that “we come from the womb speaking lies”)
Now what a godly church this was. You know how I know that? Look at v. 7:
Acts 5:7
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Why do I say that this was a godly church? Because apparently gossip wasn’t yet rampant in the church. Three hours had past and word had not yet reached his wife. Now, I am being both humorous and serious. You know sometimes people will tell me things that I don’t need to know. I’ve even had people call me up and say things like pastor, “you may have heard this or that rumor and I just wanted to let you know that it is true.” I don’t want to hear that. In fact, I have been told things that I later find out aren’t even true. I have a personal policy of deleting rumors. Yes, it is still on the hard drive of my mind, but I try to forget about it because I don’t want to think negatively about people.
If you are going to gossip, do it in prayer. Talk to God about it. And while you are doing that, pray for the person or persons in question. You will see how God will change your heart.
Peter asks Sapphira a question: “
Acts 5:8
And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."
Back up in v. 2 we are told that she clearly knew what was going on. And she, too, has lied to God. And Peter, with many watching said:
Acts 5:9
But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
Now it is good for a husband and wife to work together as a team, but not when it comes to sin! She finds out real quick that her husband was killed and she would get the same judgment.
Acts 5:10
Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Again, there is no hint in this passage that they are not saved. Instead they are presented as an object lesson for the church. Yes, they were taken to heaven, but this is not the legacy we want to leave behind.
Also, do you see the irony here. Back in v. 2 we read that Ananias put the money at the disciples feet, now we read that Sapphira falls down at their feet.
| Conclusion: | |
|
Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. This was the desired result. Even though we live many years removed from this event, we too, are now among “all who heard these things.” And so, we too, should fear God and be reminded this morning just how serious God is about the purity of His church. |
|
| To the unbeliever | You should fear most of all. If God would punish a true believer as He did, then what will the judgment be for those who do not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior? |
