This is one of the stories which demonstrate the almost stubborn honesty of the Bible. It was in that atmosphere that the rebuke of Peter acted as it did. This story shows two things about the early Church, the expectancy of men's minds and the extraordinary respect in which the apostles were held. It is on record that once Edward the First blazed with anger at one of his courtiers and the man dropped dead in sheer fear. But it does show us something of the atmosphere which prevailed in the early Church. There is no need to make a miracle of it. There is no more vivid story in the book of Acts. And great awe came upon the whole Church and upon all who heard these things. When the young men came in they found her dead and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Peter said to her, 'Tell me, did you sell the piece of ground for so much?' 'Yes,' she said, 'for so much.' Peter said to her, 'Why is it that you agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Look now, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out.' Immediately she collapsed at his feet and breathed her life out.

The young men rose and bound him up and carried him out and buried him.Īfter an interval of about three hours his wife came in and she was not aware of what had happened.

Peter said to him, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you have deceived the Holy Spirit and kept back part of the price of your ground? While it remained yours did it not remain your own, and after it had been sold was it not entirely at your disposal? Why did you put this business into your heart? It is not to men you have lied but to God.' As Ananias listened to these words, he collapsed and breathed his life out. He brought some part of the price and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

5:1-11 A man called Ananias, together with his wife Sapphire, sold a bit of ground he had, and surreptitiously kept back part of the price, and his wife knew about it.

William barclay daily bible study