Acts 5 - Introduction

The Deceit Of Ananias And Sapphira Acts Five

Pictured in Acts chapter five is the deceitful action and death of Ananias and Sapphira. They were killed because of a premeditated sin. Their death had nothing to do with not giving the whole price of their property. They lost their lives because they lied. They lied about the amount they were giving. Their desire was to receive praise of the brethren. Their focus should have been on pleasing God. Sincere love for God should have motivated truthfulness and acceptable service to God.

The Spirit of God made Peter aware of the sins of this couple. This sin, like all sin, had its beginning in the heart. Ananias had conceived this thing in his heart. The crime of Ananias was not keeping part of the money. He could have kept any or all of it. Sadly, both this man and his wife were part of this sinful act. The punishment for their sin was a speedy death.

This practice of discipline caused fear among the Christians and others as well. "Great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." (Acts 5:11) The thing that some think will hinder the growth of the church only helped. "Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." (Acts 5:14)

Nothing could stop the apostles from preaching the gospel. Threatings and beatings could not stop them. They preached Christ, and Him crucified. They preached the resurrection from the dead. This was the preaching that most offended the priests. Whatever our position in life, we should seek to make Christ known, and to glorify His name. "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (Acts 5:42)

Acts 5:1-11

The danger of willful sin Acts 5:1-11: Ananias and Sapphira were guilt of a serious, willful sin. A willful sin is a grave, spiritual error for those that want to go to heaven. They agreed to lie about the price that they received for some land. Their desire was to have the praise of men. Ananias' sin was not in keeping the part but in pretending to give the whole.

Ananias was just making a show of charity. None but Satan could have put this lie in Ananias' heart. However, Peter knew of his lies by divine revelation. It was a terrible, premeditated sin. A premeditated sin aggravates the guilt of that sin and the severeity of punishment.

People need to know how God feels about sin and how severe punishment will be. Sin was so repulsive to God that it cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives. They agreed together in this fraud. To agree together in a fraud and a lie is very dreadful. Ananias and Sapphira were united in marriage, religion, sin, death and eternity.