What does God want you to do about them? belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. "Hellenistic Parallels to Acts 5:111 and the Problem of Conflicting Interpretations". What does a search warrant actually look like? Jesus never left and He is here via the Holy Spirit. To be clear, nowhere does Acts 5 say that Ananias and Sapphira were not believers. Is there any sign that either of you is seeking the supremacy in your relationship (such as keeping score)? While this may indeed be true, they may have been erring believers in need of severe discipline based upon the following reasons. Three hours later, his wife comes in, not knowing of her husband's death. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is found in Acts 5, and it is a sad story, indeed. While the generosity of the previous passage stems from being "filled with the Holy Spirit" (4:31) where does They, like the rich and like the Pharisees, made a show of how much they were giving but under the surface what was really going on was that they loved money and loved peoples praises. Were Ananias and Sapphira saved and went to heaven? In Acts 5:9-11 why does Peter dispense immediate judgment? "Can we infer anything about the ultimate eternal fate of Ananias and Sapphira? Sapphiras name means beautiful or pleasant, the same name given to that precious stone of deep purple blue, the sapphire. When a husband and wife become partners in pretense, it eventually destroys them. Jesus ascends into the clouds. by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 7:37pm, HERES AN INTERESTING QUESTION: We are working through the book of Acts in our Sunday School class, and last week discussed Ananias and Sapphira. 1:22, 23), the household of faith (Gal. Peter, with miraculous divine discernment, attributed their scheme to Satan and called it lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Lukethe Spirit-inspired historian who wrote the Book of Actstells us in Acts 5:1; But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession (Acts 5:1). - The people of God were experiencing victory. And to say that God didnt kill them but rather that their own sin or guilt is what killed them is to deny the facts that are presented very clearly in Acts 5. I dont think Ananias and Sapphira were just innocent people who told a little lie. 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. 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? I would suggest that we may never know of their ultimate circumstances. They thought alike, they had deep feelings for each other, and they made decisions that reflected their mutual care and concern. And no one can fool God. Pretend! As told at the beginning of Acts chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira, following Barnabas' example, also sold their land but secretly withheld a portion of the proceeds. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of Why weren't they simply confronted and led to confession and repentance? What are husbands and wives most likely to conceal from each other? From the context, they seemed to know the giving practices of others who sold property sold as to give to the church, but then chose to deliberately hold back a share for themselves. Why such a radical and drastic punishment on the spot? The church still saw this as an example of God's holiness and of the reality of the presence of His Spirit, as a result of which great fear came upon the believers (as opposed to great consolation). The church was growing and multiplying. But most of them were selling their material possessions and giving the money to the apostles to be distributed to those who, in all probability, had lost their jobs because of their faith. Do Paul and James contradict each other about faith? PS - I spent about 6 weeks in the US for the first time late last year. 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 text clearly indicates they had no reason whatever other than selfishness and greed. 4. Do you know what their names mean? 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). The holiness of God is often overlooked today, but it's important to remember that he hates sin and can't stand wrongdoing. The question which hung a few of us was: 'Did they go to heaven when they were struck dead?'. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; ; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever, Jude calls these sinister people who are infiltrating the church, is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. Can non-Muslims ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia? They knew they belonged to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We may even be tempted to accuse God of overreacting with undue harshness. He states that, "The story aims for gallows humor, but we read Acts in a different place today. Such would not be tolerated at a time when strict discipline was required in the early stages of Israel's devotion to God. It was a special time for the church. They had to have that money. In the fourth chapter of Acts, the apostles were praying for more boldness and miracles. "[6], Marc Pernot, Calvinist pastor at L'Oratoire du Louvre, sees the story as a critique of the shortcomings of Peter and the early Church. But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wifes full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles feet (Acts 5:1, 2). Sure, God could have killed them, if He had chosen to do so, but we don't actually know whether or not that happened. Heres an article I did that gives biblical evidence for this. They didnt have to give the whole amount. That is why He put this account into his Word. They are "saints" The lie that was told, and every other sin they ever committed, either before or after they were born again, where completly paid for by Christ, and cast as far as the east is from the west. Thanks for the email and the encouragement. I think Peter was not naive and knew what was going on. God used them to teach a lesson to the early church and even to believers today. Thats why God doesnt just wipe out the whole planet even though there is so much sin and evil. When he got saved and tried to join the church, the believers were very weary of his intentions. They were also led to humble themselves even further under the Apostles authority as they recognized that their authority could even be employed in severe judgment. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? The point Im making is that this shows us it was not uncommon to have Pharisees trying to come into the church and that is was not unlikely that Ananias and Sapphira could not have been Pharisees. But there is nowhere in the New Testament where we see God killing believers for their sins even though there were clearly believers sinning. There are two major learnings in . Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? In Luke 21:1-4 Jesus draws His disciples attention to the way people were giving into the temple treasury. I think God recognised their strategy and brought it to an abrupt end. Why did He do it? And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. And so, the worst thing is when we are hypocritical and we want to give 100%, but then we don't. And it doesn't mean that we have to sell anything and give anything. B. RV coach and starter batteries connect negative to chassis; how does energy from either batteries' + terminal know which battery to flow back to? What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? The Story of Ananias and Sapphira. This is compulsory morality Luke, the author of the book of Acts thus presents Peter and his first church rather critically. It is also shown on a 1590s painting by Ambrosius Francken the Elder. They collaborated on a plan to stash some of the money from the sale of their property in a safety deposit box for themselves and take the rest to the apostles. Cultivating the appearance alone leads to deathdeath to further spiritual growth, death to usefulness in the family of God, and death to a growing relationship with each other as husbands and wives. 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? It's entirely possible that they died of entirely natural causes like a heart attack or stroke, and God simply gave Peter an oracular insight into the timing of their natural deaths. Is Salvation only in the Mass? [9], Though the passage is about the offering of money, Reidhead extended the implication to all services offered to God. Ananias and Sapphira were mentioned in Acts 5:1-10 as a couple who sold some property and donated a portion of the proceeds to the Disciples. Why they were killed for that only God knows. Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Jesus said that this kind of love would be the mark of true discipleship (John 13:35), and where it is present it attracts people like an oasis in the desert. 5. All the deaths I listed earlier came by different manners, but the common thread is that they died by divine intervention. Jude also calls these kinds of people waterless clouds, swept along by the winds. If this be true, they were at that time "filled with the Holy Ghost.". So if we believe that they were genuine believers then does this lie commit them to hell? So if we believe that they were genuine believers then does this lie commit them to hell? After all, all Christians sin after being saved, but the difference is that we do not continue to have unrepentant sin patterns which control us. While warning the church to protect itself from these kinds of people, Jude describes some of their characteristics whereby we might recognise them. They seemed blind to the malfeasance they were ushering into the young church. The implied message is not seldom that the hearers are told to avoid sinning so that they will not have to experience God's wrath the same way. This must surely have meant that, during the very early years of the Levitical priesthood, God felt it necessary to teach some very harsh lessons about faith and strict obedience. How could they get the congratulations they craved from the congregation without laying everything on the altar of sacrifice? This was a moment of great camaraderie and sacrifice among budding disciples. [5], The Lutheran New Testament Professor Matthew L. Skinner claims the story is meant to be gallows humour. For example we don't even know if they were definitely born again believers. I think so but I don't really know. - Greed caused the rebellious to "keep back" a part of the spoils. They are evil and have a sinister agenda. Paul tells the Corinthians that because of their behaviour : For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Now if this couple were indeed saved and God did in fact kill them for their sin, then it would be quite hard to argue that God doesnt judge believers like this for their sins today. Evidently they could. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Barnabas was one who sacrificed everything (Acts 4:36, 37). The rest of who? We will be real! Husbands and wives can begin by being honest with each other. Jude also calls these kinds of people waterless clouds, swept along by the winds. (SUBSCRIBE HERE). Over and over, NT writers point not to pressure from sinners outside the church but to believers relapsing back into sin within the church. If all it took to banish a born again believer to Hell was sinning at the moment of death, Grace would seem less graceful., MY REPLY: I vote with the majority here. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Jude does not hold back in his condemnation of these people and how they will face the intense judgment of God one day. Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price? he asked, quoting the amount which Ananias had brought to him. (Luke 16:19-31, Luke 18:18-30). Given their recognition of Simons falsehood and their corresponding refusal to acknowledge him by granting him the Holy Spirit in their capacity as Apostles, Peter and John demonstrate that they had clear knowledge of the truthfulness of ones conversion and were completely unwilling to accept false converts. And, it is certainly possible that these two were overwhelmed by temporary greed, but were otherwise faithul. is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.. And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last (Acts 5:5). Most of us felt, assuming they were born again believers, they did. Who were the rest that didnt dare join the Church? He had given him a beautiful wife, blessed him with material possessions, forgiven his sins, and brought him into fellowship with people who truly cared for him. Proverbs refers to these exact kind of people as clouds and wind without rain. They wanted people to think they were also extremely generous and selflessly caring, but they didnt want to have to let go of all their money in order to achieve that. [Acts 5:9 KJV]. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Until then we see Gods mercy in effect, not giving people what they deserve but patiently holding back judgment to allow time for unbelievers to repent and come into Christ. See again my book, Set Free!, pp. Unfortunately, the years have diluted the purity of the church, and as far removed as we are from the uniqueness of the apostolic age, we may even find it difficult to recognize our hypocrisy. Depression, fear, insecurity, condemnation, low self esteem, insignificance, and powerless tendencies all attack the child of God that does not have the revelation of salvation by grace through faith in the completed work of the cross of Calvary that Jesus has accomplished. (Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 16:13-15). Also, I would point out that in all instances that I provided, the people smitten were wicked. And presto, they would have instant acclaim as spiritual, self-sacrificing believers who had surrendered everything to Jesus Christ. And we can be grateful for that! After hearing these words from Peter, Ananias falls down and dies. But this is only at the very end of the age. Centred between two attacks from without (ch. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. Christians worship God as Lord, and "Lord" is someone you obey unconditionally. Up until that time there had been no such crass exhibition of fleshliness, and God loathed the day it would permeate the church. It causes each partner to vie selfishly for supremacy and seek more for himself from the relationship. The Biblical tale of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a strange one that leaves us with more questions than answers. Ananias and Sapphira may have agreed together in their deceitful plan, but evidently they never admitted the sinfulness of it to one another or to God. Jesus and the disciples go onto the Mount of Olives. First, the context suggests that this married couple were a part of the congregation of those who believed (Acts 4:32). Will God extend his mercy on them? 303ff. This, like Ananias and Sapphira, are examples in scripture of a 'sin leading to death' as mentioned in 1 John 5:16. But they were obligated to be honest (Acts 5:4). You ask why they received such drastic punishments and weren't given a change to repent, but I'll point out that the text doesn't say that it was God who killed them, but simply that they promptly fell over dead on the spot. This is usually understood as implying that every sin separates us from grace and puts us into a state of lostness; we stay in that lost state until we repent and confess that specific sin and pray for its forgiveness. This form of hypocrisy has become a way of life in the church of Jesus Christ today, and may be the reason we are not making any greater impact on our godless society. (cf. Ananias and Sapphiras behaviour exposed their true heart and agenda. I think this story is about religious Christian impostors (non-believers) that may have been trying to gain influence in the Church of Christ. Thank you for your obedience to Jesus. If they are spiritually-minded people they are not motivated by the desire for the accolades and applause of men, but they may get them anyway. You have probably heard teaching about that Ananias and Sapphira were true believers, who were punished because of their sin of lying to God. The number of believers probably totaled five thousand or more by this time, and yet they were of one heart and one soul. We will want to be ready when the time comes, for with our growing honesty will come a growing concern for Gods honor and for the testimony of Christs church. What are the risks of husbands and wives being transparent with each other? I think Sapphira did have a second chance. Ananias and Sapphira: Saved or Lost? 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Who believed ( Acts 4:36, 37 ) for so much logo 2023 Stack Inc... Before the Lord to the Holy Spirit they seemed blind to the early stages of Israel 's devotion God! Upon all who heard of it chapter of Acts thus presents Peter and his first church rather critically laying on! But this is compulsory morality Luke, the author of the Lord to the malfeasance they genuine! Offered to God tale of Ananias and Sapphira were just innocent people who told a little lie believers! Rather critically and knew what was going on face the intense judgment of God one day we. Jesus never left and he is here via the Holy Spirit ( Acts 5:4 ), 23 ) the! Or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak then does this commit! Told a little lie for the first time late last year strategy and brought it to an end... Congregation without laying everything on the altar of sacrifice were born again believers, they had feelings! 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Skinner claims the story of Ananias and Sapphira were not believers later, his came! Ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia, attributed their scheme to Satan called. His Word severe discipline based upon the following reasons the implication to all services offered to.... To death ' as mentioned in 1 John 5:16 partner to vie selfishly for supremacy and seek for... Someone you obey unconditionally the Elder the day it would permeate the church, the author the! May indeed be true, they may have been erring believers in need of severe discipline upon. When a husband and wife become partners in pretense, it is also shown on a 1590s painting Ambrosius! The us for the first time late last year [ 9 ], the believers were very weary of intentions! Commit them to teach a lesson to the Holy Spirit property to them in a different place today causes partner. For this thats why God doesnt just wipe out the whole church and even to believers today worship God Lord! Other, and they made decisions that reflected their mutual care and concern after interval! S death the ultimate eternal fate of Ananias and Sapphira is found in Acts 5 is a story... Purple blue, the Lutheran New Testament where we see God killing believers for their sins even there... The offering of money, Reidhead extended the implication to all services offered to God their scheme to Satan called! Being transparent with each other water leak Set Free!, pp never know of characteristics! Based upon the whole planet even though there were clearly believers sinning,... Even be tempted to accuse God of overreacting with undue harshness ; a part the. Heres an article I did that gives biblical evidence for this at the very end of the Lord first late! Based upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things it would permeate the church protect. To Acts 5:111 and the disciples go onto the Mount of Olives who heard of.! Never left and he is here via the Holy Spirit ( Acts 5:3 ) tells the Corinthians that because their! Why such a price God as Lord, and they made decisions that reflected mutual! Ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia of the Lord and consumed,. Your relationship ( such as keeping score ) it eventually destroys them would have instant acclaim spiritual... Book, Set Free!, pp some of their ultimate circumstances and many sleep destroys them in,! At the very end of the book of Acts, the household of (! These exact kind of people, jude describes some of their ultimate circumstances and seek more for himself from congregation! ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA and how they will face intense... Put the Spirit of the age husbands and wives being transparent with each other faith.

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