Mistakes: Learning from the first public sin in the early church

Acts 5:1-11 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira. They were members of the early church. Presumably they loved the Lord, or at least found themselves attracted to the body of Christ. They had seen a generous man generously sell some land and give the money to the church. And they aimed to do the same. They sold their property, but rather than give all the money to the church, they kept some back for themselves.

So what's this story about?

It's NOT about Ecclesiastical Authority
At times, this passage has used as a proof text for the use of force by ecclesiastical authority. Ananias and Sapphira try to get away with some money that belongs to the church (they steal), so Peter kills them. Sadly, this was used by the church at times (especially in the Middle Ages) as a justification for the church as being the enforcers of civil law, including capital punishment.

But this isn’t what the text says. Peter confronts Ananias, and Ananias dies. Peter predicts Sapphira’s death, and she dies too. But nowhere in the account is Peter said to have caused it. He doesn’t strike them. He doesn’t pray that God smite them. He doesn’t hire a street tough to do his dirty work for him. And even more - Acts doesn’t it even say that Peter wishes that they would die.

“When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died… At that moment, [Sapphira] fell down at his feet and died.”

It's NOT about the way guilt affects your health and happiness
Some commentators make a lot of medical speculation about their death as a way of pointing out the disastrous affects of deceit on your physical constitution. Annanias and Sapphira are so surprised and terrified and ashamed that they are caught in the act, they have a stroke or a heart attack and die right there on the spot.

I don’t find that very convincing. Nor do I think that’s the main point of what Luke is trying to get across. The truth is: Luke’s not that concerned with the medical definition of the cause of their death. This is even more significant when we take into consideration that Luke is a doctor. The fact that he doesn’t give us the medical details should tell us the point is something else. He’s not concerned with an autopsy here.

It IS about Sin and Judgment
Luke wants us to know that Ananias and Sapphira received the consequences of their sin – namely, death. God is at work. God’s judgment has come. Rather than spelling out the medical details, Luke wants us to be aware that sins brings judgment, and that God doesn’t miss anything.

It IS about Greed
Annanias and Sapphira loved the church. Maybe they loved God. But they loved money more. This is a dangerous thing, friends. And it should be a solemn warning to us. Money is important in the Bible. How we spend it is important to God. As we grow in our faith, this should be reflected in our giving. And it’s not about how much you give, as much as it is about how much you are willing to sacrifice. Remember the poor widow from Mark 12. She only gave two copper coins, while others gave much more, and Jesus commends her giving, because she gave sacrificially.

It IS about Hypocrisy
The deepest sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not greed. Peter even addresses this. The land belonged to them from the beginning. It was theirs. Commentators have their own debates about this, but most now seem to think that there was no compulsory giving in the early church. Remember Peter says, “Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?” As if to say, if you wanted the money, you shouldn’t have offered it as a gift in the first place. The issue here was not that they didn’t give enough. The issue was their deceit, and their hypocrisy. John Calvin says it well: “Luke condemns Ananias for only one crime, his wishing to deceive God and the church with a false offering.”

It IS about Jesus
Their sin is so grievous because their calling is to imitate Christ, and display him for the world around them. But consider the contrast:
- Ananias and Sapphira refused to put the money at the apostles’ feet. Jesus laid his very life at the feet of the Father.
- Ananias and Sapphira refused to share their money with their friends. Jesus handed his life into the hands of his enemies.
- They kept some back for themselves. He expended himself completely on behalf of the world.
- They tried to gain their life and they lost it. Jesus willing lost his life, only to gain it, along with the lives of those he redeemed.