The Legacy 0f Ananias and Sapphira

Steve Nale

THE apostle Peter asked Ananias a very poignant question in Acts chapter 5, verse 3. "...Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price for the land?" Ananias had just conspired with his wife, Sapphira to attempt to deceive Peter and the other apostles about the amount of money they had received for a piece of ground they had sold. The money from the sale was to be used to help alleiviate the needs of the saints in the burgeoning Jerusalem church after the conversions on the Day of Pentecost. Many had done this (Acts 2:34), but Ananias and Sapphira "kept back part of the price," while implying by their actions that the full price was being contributed. Peter referred to their action as "lying to God" and "tempting" the Spirit of the Lord. They paid for this deception with their lives. They also left a five-fold legacy worth noting.

Great fear came upon the church and outsiders. Verse 11 says, "And great fear came upon the church and upon as many as heard these things." The word translated "fear" is phobos, meaning fright or terror. This great sin of Ananias and Sapphira and its immediate punishment got the attention of the people! As a result...

Greater respect for the power of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by that fear. When Ananias lied to Peter he was lying to an inspired apostle. The Holy Spirit knew the mind of Ananias, hence, so did Peter. Those in attendance now had to view their own honesty (or lack of it) knowing the power of the Holy Spirit to know the hearts of man.

Greater respect for the church by outsiders is demonstrated by the conduct of those who were not Christians toward the assemblies of the saints. They esteemed them highly according to Acts 5:13. They saw them assembling together at Solomon's porch and observed the wonders and signs performed by the apostles under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As a result...

Greater growth of the church occurred as more and more men and women were moved to accept the apostles' teaching, confirmed by the signs they performed (Acts 5:14). Finally,

Greater interest in the healings done by the apostles followed these conversions as more and more of the sick and demon possessed were brought to the apostles for healing. The faith of the people in the Holy Spirit was definitely building.

Such was the legacy of two deceitful Christians who thought they could hide the true intents of their hearts from God. God dealt with them swiftly and harshly. Such should be a lesson for us today. "Behold therefore the goodness and the severity of God..." Rom 11:22