December 12, 2023 — Does the Bible Say…?
“Does the Bible really say Peter has such….power?”
“But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.” Acts 5:1-11
We are told that the early believers were of one heart and mind. They were of one mind so much that they held all of their possessions together, sharing them willingly with those in need. If someone sold land, the money from the sale was given to the Apostles to be used as needed for everyone. Two members of this group were Ananias and his wife, Sapphira; they also had some property which they sold. But instead of giving everything from the sale to the Apostles, they kept back a portion for themselves. The money they laid at the feet of the Apostles’ was not the whole sum. However, Ananias made it seem that he had given all of the money to the group stating he did not hold any back. Peter, filled with the power of the Spirit, knew instantly that Ananias was lying—not just to him but to G-d—and exposed his hypocrisy. Ananias fell down and died. Wait, what? He died right there at the feet of Peter. We are left to assume that he died simply because Peter caught him in a lie. But that is not all. When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to G-d, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peter’s feet.
Some speculate that these two deaths were from natural causes. Perhaps Ananias died from shock – we know of people who have died presumably from the shock of the news of a loved one’s death. Perhaps they died of guilt. We don’t know for sure. The question is why. Why would G-d kill two people for lying?
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is a difficult story. There is too much left out to give us some sense of reason. But rules are rules, and the good of the group outweighs the good of the individual if there is to be harmony, order and faith. When someone breaks the rules, then consequences will follow – and sometimes harsh consequences. There will never be harmony if there is dissension within the group. One or two “weak links” will keep the entire group from meeting goals and objectives. From the perspective of the small community of believers, if the sin of one or two is not dealt with harshly and swiftly, then doubt and fear will begin to destroy the cohesiveness of the group.
And, if Peter had the power to raise people from the dead and to heal, is it out of the realm of possibility to think he had the power to pass the ultimate judgment. I guess that is one of the many questions I can ask G-d one day.
Pastor Dave
Lutheran Schreff 