But a man named Anani'as
with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge
he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the
apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart
to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back 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? How is it that you have contrived this deed in
your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." When Anani'as heard
these words, he fell down and died. 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.
In a Nutshell
A great scandal is averted. God Himself intervenes to protect His work from an attempt to use the emerging community of Jesus' disciples as camouflage for personal gain.
Questions
Why does Luke include this incident in his story?
What was the lie of Ananias and Sapphira?
The apostles were beginning to understand what Jesus had meant when He talked about "taking up the cross" and following Him. Following Jesus was to be everything or nothing. Many had joined and many had decided that what they owned should now be shared with the entire community. No reservations. No holding back. This process of sharing, of having all things in common, may have been a necessary part of getting the "Jesus synagogue" in Jerusalem on a secure footing. The community was able to go about its work. It was "up and running".
It is important to realise that this sharing, of "having all things in common", was not a pre-requisite for faith in Jesus Christ. There may have been strong, perhaps even subtle pressure, exerted on members of the community to join in this process. And Ananias and Sapphira were part of the community and as disciples of Jesus they too wanted to be part of it.
But … there is always a but. They weren't part of it in their hearts. They were found out. Ananias was exposed. The two of them had conspired to pretend to give what they had not given. We do not know everything about the commercial and real estate transactions of those times. But it is clear from what Peter said that Ananias and Sapphira did not have to sell the land; once it was sold they did not have to give all the proceeds to the community. But they conspired to make it look like that - and in God's providence they were found out.
God's Holy Spirit was the One who brought about a miracle. It is an awful miracle, but a miracle it is nevertheless. Ananias, when confronted by his deceit, fell down and died. It confirmed to all those who professed faith in Jesus that they were involved in a work that belonged to God. The work belonged to the Almighty. They belonged to Him. He does not engage in any subterfuge.
The word had to be spread indiscriminately like the sower broadcasts the seed in all directions. But Jesus had told His disciples that some would fall among thorns.