Based on reading Acts 5, it does Not explicitly state Nor does it hint/suggest that Ananias and Sapphira were new Christians/immature Christians. Their sin wasnt that they didnt give everything. Peter replied, "Why is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?" Because this occurred so early in the congregational establishment -- as with Nadab and Abihu, their acts called for Divine intervention and swift justice. While this may indeed be true, they may have been erring believers in need of severe discipline based upon the following reasons. is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.. It spreads. 314-316, for a fuller explanation of why this is the correct understanding of this verse. What shall I do if I can't believe that God is for me? 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. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of It means that God did not judge believers for their sin. Three hours after Ananias' death his wife arrived, unaware of what had happened. The major sin of Ananias and Sapphira was dishonesty, deceit, hypocrisy, pretense, presenting a false image of themselves, implying a greater spirituality than they actually possessed, letting people think more highly of them than what they knew was warranted. We don't know if they were given a second chance. We know that someday that person will ask us how things are going and we will have to tell him honestly. There was no coercion involved. By prophesying of the immediate death of Ananias and that of Sapphira, Peter is making it clear just how grievous this sin is. Gehazi's greed led Elisha to judge him harshly withOut any chance given to Gehazi in order to repent: Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you You seem? 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. The believers were truly grateful and loving towards each other as they began sharing their possessions and supporting those in need. They wanted the praise of men. These two shocking deaths served as an example to the body of Christ that God hates hypocrisy. Thereafter, remains the final judgment upon resurrection. To be clear, nowhere does Acts 5 say that Ananias and Sapphira were not believers. We understand hypocrisy to be a deliberate and calculated effort to deceive, as it was with Ananias and Sapphira, and we may not be consciously doing that. And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him (Acts 5:6). 303ff. It is possible to fall from grace, but this is a drastic step and should not be equated with individual sins. Scriptures about Gods ultimate judgment towards unbelievers. The Story of Ananias and Sapphira. Perhaps they had previously - the whole story is not recorded. Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a chance to repent? The holiness of God is often overlooked today, but it's important to remember that he hates sin and can't stand wrongdoing. So we will allow the Spirit of Jesus Christ to work in us to bring us into His likeness. What happens to Ananias and Sapphira is alarming. Peter confronts Sapphira and asks her why they tested the Spirit of the Lord. Why such a radical and drastic punishment on the spot? But they were obligated to be honest (Acts 5:4). Lets be honest. Is there a more recent similar source? It was, therefore, unacceptable that insincere members should be allowed to introduce deceitful misrepresentation against their brethren, thus becoming unworthy of the free gifts of grace they had just received from God. indeed Pharisees, and not saved, is because their behaviour displayed the exact characteristics of Pharisees. Is it possible that [they] were still saved despite the exemplary punishment they received?". Is Salvation only in the Mass? Peter asked her the price of the land that she and Ananias had sold, and she stated the same untruthful price that Ananias had given. Thats why God doesnt just wipe out the whole planet even though there is so much sin and evil. It is only by God's grace that we are spared today. 8 And Peter said to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. And she said, Yes, for so much. 9 But Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Here, Sapphira followed her husband's lead in giving the rehearsed account to the apostles (Acts 5:2, Acts 5:8-9). I think God recognised their strategy and brought it to an abrupt end. What are Christians generally most prone to mask from each other? And for every member who operates in the power of the flesh rather than the Spirit, for every one who lives for the praise of men rather than for the glory of God, the effectiveness of Christs church is reduced so much the more. They were numbered among that powerful, caring community of believers. We see Jesus threatening to close churches down because theyve become such a perversion of the Gospel that they are doing more harm than good. feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. 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? But, if God did judge Ananias and Sapphira and they were not saved, it still means that He judged unbelievers for their sins even though Jesus was judged for all sin. Ananias (/nna.s/; Hebrew: , romanized:Chnanyah) and his wife Sapphira (/sfar/; Hebrew: , romanized:afrah) were, according to the biblical New Testament in Acts of the Apostles chapter 5, members of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. 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). Questions: Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? God may discipline believers, but He will not judge them like Ananias and Sapphira. Discipline yes, but not judgment like this. Peter asked her, Tell me whether you sold your land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? As mentioned previously, the first church in Acts had members who willingly and sacrificially sold their possessions so as to support others in the church even though no one was mandated to do so. 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. We see this most often through the healing miracles, but it is equally true of this judgment. 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. [5], The Lutheran New Testament Professor Matthew L. Skinner claims the story is meant to be gallows humour. 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. his spirit, than he who captures a city. We can probably deduce/infer that Gehazi being a servant to a Godly prophet should have known better because Gehazi is someone who is part of God's ministry. Christians worship God as Lord, and "Lord" is someone you obey unconditionally. Ananias and Sapphira "agreed together" - i.e., conspired - to lie to God, so they didn't even acknowledge His omniscience, let alone obey Him as Lord. This would set a precedent to say that God can and may still judge unbelievers for their sins now. Well the reality is that, while Christ paid the price for everyones sins, its only those who are in Christ that receive the benefit of that and are therefore safe from Gods judgment. The need for each partner to come out looking better than his mate causes him to mask his true inner person, and so entrenches him more firmly in his wretched hypocrisy. Annanias and Saphira sinned just before they died (were killed), but that doesn't mean they weren't previously saved. Three hours later, his wife comes in, not knowing of her husband's death. At no point does Luke represent them as being those outside the Church; rather, they are seemingly portrayed as those being under the authority of the Apostles to the extent that Peter himself pronounces judgment over them. Had a wonderful time. 4. The Bible is brutally honest in its recording of redemptive history. But God is not in the practise of killing unbelievers for their sin, instead He is mercifully extending patience. Each partner is keeping score of who gives in the most, who gets the most attention, who shows the most appreciation, who has the most faults, or some other trivial area of contention. With all he could do there was a certain awkwardness and stumblingness . It only says that they conspired to deceive. But they got caught out. (Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 16:13-15). (Note: This article has been written only to communicate the possibility that Ananias and Sapphira may have been Christians. (SUBSCRIBE HERE). 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. The Death of Sapphira, by Ambrosius Francken the Elder Ananias ( / nna.s /; Hebrew: , romanized : Chnanyah) and his wife Sapphira ( / sfar /; Hebrew: , romanized : afrah) were, according to the biblical New Testament in Acts of the Apostles chapter 5, members of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. You will see some famous names including Moses that committed the sin unto death. Now if you look at Acts 5:13 and 14, just after the death of Ananias and Sapphira, youll see a little clue that most people miss that supports everything Ive just said. Their story is rarely shown in art, but is the subject of one of the Raphael Cartoons, and a panel on the Brescia Casket, both illustrated here. Which is really more important to usto maintain the appearance of spirituality, or genuinely to be what God wants us to be? Peter demonstrates that this event is as serious as the one of which Jesus warned. Is Koestler's The Sleepwalkers still well regarded? People who you'll probably never meet, this side of heaven. When confronted, they stuck to their story, and when they were exposed they dropped dead of fear. joining the Church. They lived in the days of the churchs greatest purity and power. I would suggest that the reason is because one knows nothing of Christ, and thus nothing of the Father, save what one knows through the Holy Spirit. To this end, they sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price while giving the rest to the Apostles (Acts 5:1-2). The Book of Acts records Pharisees trying to infiltrate the church. We look bac Outside of Christ, people are still in their sins and will one day ultimately be held accountable for them on the Day of Judgement. 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. Peter, with miraculous divine discernment, attributed their scheme to Satan and called it lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). His only thought was the need of other Christians and the glory of God. the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. To consider this further, this article will offer some argumentation that supports the contention that these two people were actually saved. Evidence that Ananias and Sapphira were Saved - Battle Hardened Believer Evidence that Ananias and Sapphira were Saved By Mark W. Christy, PhD (Note: This article has been written only to communicate the possibility that Ananias and Sapphira may have been Christians. Jude also calls these kinds of people waterless clouds, swept along by the winds. Is imputed righteousness a lie? Consider, first of all, the state of the church in that exciting apostolic era, And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them (Acts 4:32). There was no trace of fleshly pride in it whatsoever. Ananias' name means "God is Gracious"; and his wife Sapphira's name (from which we get the word "sapphire") means "Fair . Iain. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. This was not discipline, this was judgement and death for sin. James 3:2). Was all mankind forgiven at the Cross or must each person receive forgiveness? Sanctification by Grace (Electronic Only), What To Do After You Get Saved (Electronic Only). What did mean when He said 'It is Finished' in John 19:30? It then follows with the two examples (1 good and 1 not good) of people selling their property to give to the church. 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. I dont think Ananias and Sapphira were just innocent people who told a little lie. If all it took to banish a . By committing this sinful deception in their relationship with believers, they by extension deceived the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is not true there is no evidence Ananias and Sapphira were not saved as some may claim--Peter had stated as much when he declared Satan had filled their hearts, rebuking their blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. He states that, "The story aims for gallows humor, but we read Acts in a different place today. Peter gave her an opportunity to be honest. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is found in Acts 5, and it is a sad story, indeed. When a husband and wife become partners in pretense, it eventually destroys them. Unbelievers are spiritually 'dead' and cannot believe the gospel or make any moves towards God. : ), 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. Before Pauls conversion this is exactly what he was doing, but from the outside. What we do know is that as a result of the judgment that fell on this couple, "great fear came upon the whole . While everyone in the church who sold property and generously gave all the money they received from the sale, Ananias and Sapphira held back some of the money from their sale of property for themselves, but tried to pretend they were giving everything because that made them also look generous and caring. It certainly is an interesting age were so many can be reached so easily now. A) Why were Ananias and Sapphira [of Acts 5:1-11] not given a second chance? 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. Who were the rest that didnt dare join the Church? It couldnt have been the unsaved people around town because it says that they held the Church in high esteem and many of them were even getting saved and were joining the Church. How approachable are you? He gives of himself only to get something in return, and he usually keeps track of how much he gets. You are assuming Ananias/Sapphira were saved. Perhaps we should recall how God once reacted to two very foolish young men, Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu as they offered "strange fire": Leviticus 10:1-2: "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. Somehow or other, Ananias could not summon up that gladness and that singleness of heart with which all the other contributors came up that day. 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. It attracted a couple named Ananias and Sapphira. Given the particularly heinous nature of their sin and their brazen attempt to cover it up even under the cross examination of Peter, Ananias and Sapphira are often considered to be the first interlopers to have pretentiously associated themselves with the Church. Pretend! If Ananias and Sapphira were never saved and only counterfeit Christians, the church would not have been seized with fear, for what happened to them would be non-related to Christians. Many scholars have noted parallels with the story of Achan (Joshua 7), and Havelaar (1997) notes various parallel events in pagan literature, in particular one close parallel in an event recounted by Herodotus about a certain Glaucus who tried to tempt the gods at Delphi by lying about money he had kept dishonestly, and was subsequently deprived of descendants. Its one of Satans favorite traps. Personally I think its quite obviously referring to the party of the Pharisees. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? 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.