Verses: Acts 5:1-11
Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
We know nothing about Sapphira's background, only that her husband's name was Ananias. "Of these unhappy people we have no farther account than what is recorded here. In reference to birth, connections, etc., their names are written in the dust." (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible)
What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
The first four chapters of the books of Acts are full of excitement and
growth. Jesus ascended up to heaven after His resurrection and the
disciples gathered in Jerusalem waiting for the promise. The Spirit was
poured out in Acts chapter two and 3,000 souls were added to the
church. A lame man was healed in chapter three which caused the priests
and Sadducees to bring Peter and John before the council in chapter
four. Chapter four ends after Peter and John are released, with the
people praying for boldness and having all things common. They were
selling land and possessions and laying the proceeds at the apostles'
feet.
It is at this point that Acts chapter five opens. "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet." There was no sin in keeping part of the money. The sin was in lying about it.
"The sin of Ananias was not in keeping back part of the purchase money, but in pretending to have brought all to the Apostle. He wished to pose as a saint, and at the same time to line his own nest." (A Devotional Commentary by F. B. Meyer, B.A.)
"Ananias and Sapphira were evidently persons who professed faith in Christ with the rest of the disciples. While all were making sacrifices for the present necessity, they came forward among the rest, pretending to bring all the money they had got for a possession, which they had sold. A part of this price, however, they kept back, not being willing to trust entirely to the bounty of Providence, as the others did; thinking probably, that, as the whole was their own, they had a right to do with it as they pleased. And so they had: they were under no necessity to sell their possession; but the act of selling it for the ostensible purpose of bringing it into the common stock, left them no farther control over it, nor property in it; and their pretense, that the money which they brought was the whole produce of the sale, was a direct lie in itself, and an attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, under whose influence they pretended to act. This constituted the iniquity of their sin." (Adam Clarke)
When Ananias took the money to the apostles, God immediately revealed this lie to Peter. Verse 5 says, "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Immediately, Ananias fell down and gave up the ghost.
Did she reach a place when she needed to reset? If so, did she? For good or evil?
Sapphira is a great example of how each of us is responsible for our own actions. Even though she had agreed with her husband about keeping the money back, she was not struck dead at the same time as Ananias.
Verse 7 says that it was about three hours later when Sapphira came in. Evidently, Ananias was buried and she was not informed. "She came in about three hours after, expecting to share in the thanks of the house for her coming in, and consenting to the sale of the land, of which perhaps she was entitled to her dower or thirds; for she knew not what had been done. It was strange that nobody ran to tell her of the sudden death of her husband, that she might keep away; perhaps some one did, and she was not at home; and so when she came to present herself before the apostles, as a benefactor to the fund she met with a breach instead of a blessing." (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible)
In verse 8, Sapphira was given an opportunity to come clean. Peter didn't accuse her, but asked "Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much." This was her moment to make things right. She had no way of knowing if her husband had changed their story, but she stuck to their agreement.
"Ananias and his wife agreed to tell the same story, and the bargain being private, and by consent kept to themselves, nobody could disprove them, and therefore they thought they might safely stand in the lie, and should gain credit to it. It is sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good harden one another in that which is evil." (Matthew Henry)
After confirming their lie, just as Ananias had, Sapphira fell down immediately and gave up the ghost. "It was not by Peter’s words, nor through Peter’s prayers, nor through shame, nor through remorse, that this guilty pair died, but by an immediate judgment of God. It was right in this infant state of the Church to show God’s displeasure against deceit, fraud, and hypocrisy: had this guilty pair been permitted to live after they had done this evil, this long-suffering would have been infallibly abused by others; and, instead of leading them who had sinned to repentance, might have led them to hardness of heart by causing them to presume on the mercy of God. That hypocrisy may be afraid to show her face, God makes these two an example of his justice." (Adam Clarke)
We have many examples in the Bible of marital unity that lead to great things being done for the kingdom of God. Sadly, this couple's unity was their downfall. The Pulpit Commentary concludes the account with this: "Buried her by her husband. What a strange example of conjugal unity! One in their Jewish religion, one in their conversion to the faith of Christ, one in their hypocrisy, one in their terrible death, one in their common grave! one in the undying record of their guilt in the Book which is read by every nation under heaven!"
It is at this point that Acts chapter five opens. "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet." There was no sin in keeping part of the money. The sin was in lying about it.
"The sin of Ananias was not in keeping back part of the purchase money, but in pretending to have brought all to the Apostle. He wished to pose as a saint, and at the same time to line his own nest." (A Devotional Commentary by F. B. Meyer, B.A.)
"Ananias and Sapphira were evidently persons who professed faith in Christ with the rest of the disciples. While all were making sacrifices for the present necessity, they came forward among the rest, pretending to bring all the money they had got for a possession, which they had sold. A part of this price, however, they kept back, not being willing to trust entirely to the bounty of Providence, as the others did; thinking probably, that, as the whole was their own, they had a right to do with it as they pleased. And so they had: they were under no necessity to sell their possession; but the act of selling it for the ostensible purpose of bringing it into the common stock, left them no farther control over it, nor property in it; and their pretense, that the money which they brought was the whole produce of the sale, was a direct lie in itself, and an attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, under whose influence they pretended to act. This constituted the iniquity of their sin." (Adam Clarke)
When Ananias took the money to the apostles, God immediately revealed this lie to Peter. Verse 5 says, "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Immediately, Ananias fell down and gave up the ghost.
Did she reach a place when she needed to reset? If so, did she? For good or evil?
Sapphira is a great example of how each of us is responsible for our own actions. Even though she had agreed with her husband about keeping the money back, she was not struck dead at the same time as Ananias.
Verse 7 says that it was about three hours later when Sapphira came in. Evidently, Ananias was buried and she was not informed. "She came in about three hours after, expecting to share in the thanks of the house for her coming in, and consenting to the sale of the land, of which perhaps she was entitled to her dower or thirds; for she knew not what had been done. It was strange that nobody ran to tell her of the sudden death of her husband, that she might keep away; perhaps some one did, and she was not at home; and so when she came to present herself before the apostles, as a benefactor to the fund she met with a breach instead of a blessing." (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible)
In verse 8, Sapphira was given an opportunity to come clean. Peter didn't accuse her, but asked "Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much." This was her moment to make things right. She had no way of knowing if her husband had changed their story, but she stuck to their agreement.
"Ananias and his wife agreed to tell the same story, and the bargain being private, and by consent kept to themselves, nobody could disprove them, and therefore they thought they might safely stand in the lie, and should gain credit to it. It is sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good harden one another in that which is evil." (Matthew Henry)
After confirming their lie, just as Ananias had, Sapphira fell down immediately and gave up the ghost. "It was not by Peter’s words, nor through Peter’s prayers, nor through shame, nor through remorse, that this guilty pair died, but by an immediate judgment of God. It was right in this infant state of the Church to show God’s displeasure against deceit, fraud, and hypocrisy: had this guilty pair been permitted to live after they had done this evil, this long-suffering would have been infallibly abused by others; and, instead of leading them who had sinned to repentance, might have led them to hardness of heart by causing them to presume on the mercy of God. That hypocrisy may be afraid to show her face, God makes these two an example of his justice." (Adam Clarke)
We have many examples in the Bible of marital unity that lead to great things being done for the kingdom of God. Sadly, this couple's unity was their downfall. The Pulpit Commentary concludes the account with this: "Buried her by her husband. What a strange example of conjugal unity! One in their Jewish religion, one in their conversion to the faith of Christ, one in their hypocrisy, one in their terrible death, one in their common grave! one in the undying record of their guilt in the Book which is read by every nation under heaven!"
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