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Ananias and Sapphira were not struck down by God.

Acts 2:44: "Now all who believed were together and had all things in common and sold their goods and divided them among all, as anyone had need."

Acts 4:32 "Now the multitude of those who believed were as one heart and soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. No one lacked for anything."

There were many followers including Barnabas, who had possessions and sold them and laid them at the feet of the apostles. Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a possession and Ananias kept a part back and Sapphira assented with him to hold a part back. Ananias laid only a certain part of the money received from the sale at the feet of the apostles.

The lifestyle of a true believer was one that incorporated giving and not claiming ownership of any possession because all things come from God. A true believer shares all that he/she has so that no one is in need. A believer understands that their possessions are not their own.

Ananias and Sapphira failed to realize that giving is not a single act, but rather that it is a lifestyle of submitting all things to God. Peter said to Ananias, "You have not lied to men, but to God." The Bible states that in hearing this Ananias fell down and expired, meaning he breathed out his soul. Sapphira came three hours later and when asked her how much she sold the land for she agreed with her husband. Wives are subject to their husbands but should not be in agreement with them in sin. Sapphira then fell down and expired at Peter's feet. She breathed out her soul.

Both Ananias and Sapphira lied. They lied not to the apostles and the community, but to the Holy Spirit, to God. In the apostles work for God, the Holy Spirit and the apostles were one. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit by their scheme of holding back a part of their possessions. The Holy Spirit communicated to Peter what they had done. Now the whole congregation knew what they had done and that they were not true believers and that their act was not a voluntary act of worship. They were not struck done by God. For them knowing that the congregation now knew their lie and that which had been concealed in their hearts was exposed was too much for them. The life of Christ, the Holy Spirit was not resident in them and they condemned themselves and gave up their souls.

Learn more about this author, Gloria S. Akande.
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