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Ananias and Sapphira

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and (A)kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s [a]full knowledge. And bringing a portion of it, he (B)laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has (C)Satan filled your heart to lie (D)to the Holy Spirit and to (E)keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not [b]under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but (F)to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias (G)fell down and breathed his last; and (H)great fear came over all who heard. And the young men rose up and (I)wrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

Now there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you were paid (J)this much for the land?” And she said, “Yes, that much.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to (K)put (L)the Spirit of the [c]Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she (M)fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And (N)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard these things.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 5:2 Or collusion
  2. Acts 5:4 Or in
  3. Acts 5:9 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Judg 3:10

Ananias and Sapphira

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”

And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”

10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

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