But a certain man named Ananias and Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself. While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was not it in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.”
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those that heard these things. Then the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out and burred him.
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry your out.”
Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
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What do you think was the couple’s motivation? They had witnessed other people selling possessions and giving the monies to the apostles. They witnessed the sharing of the funds. Had they heard that Jesus told one man that to be perfect he should sell all he had, give to the poor and “follow me?” Do you think they started out meaning to give it all to the church then lacked the faith to follow through? Do you think they wanted the attention that came with the actions, but lacked the conviction? We know that vanity is a pardonable offence, but one taken to God in prayer. We know that lacking faith is a pardonable act, but one taken to God in prayer. We know that doubt and lack of conviction are pardonable, but these are things we take to God in prayer.
Let us read between the lines of the scripture to what may have happened. The couple saw great things being done and wanted to be part of what was happening. But they wanted it for the greatness and glory it would bring them. They saw the acts and not the spirit behind the acts. They saw the glory, but not that it was God’s glory. So they agreed together to sell their possessions. They agreed together to give the monies to the church and then doubted. Without seeing the spirit behind the act, they did not have the understanding that the Holy Spirit brings. They did not take their fears to God in prayer, because they wanted the glory for themselves. Without the gift of faith and assurance that God would care for them, they agreed to keep some of the funds for themselves. They agreed together to lie to the Holy Spirit, because they did not see the spirit behind the actions. They saw works without faith.
Once the couple allowed their lack of faith and understanding to give way to the fears of the world, they reasoned that they needed to hold back a portion of the monies for themselves. They discussed the reasons and their needs and calculated an amount to keep. At that point they had not yet crossed the line. What do you think Peter would have done if they had come to him and confessed their fears? Would he have said, “The land was yours and the proceeds are yours to do with as you are led?” Would Peter have led the couple to God in prayer? From the examples we have seen earlier in the book of Acts, I believe the answer to both questions would have been yes. But the couple agreed to keep their fears to themselves. They did not take them to God nor did they take them to the church. As a result of trying to fix it for themselves, they agreed to lie to the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 12:10 Jesus said, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”
The apostles had times when they doubted. At one time Jesus called them “you of little faith.” The couple’s lack of faith would have been forgiven. Peter lied to protect himself while our Lord was being taken to the cross and denied Jesus three times. So the couples lie in and of itself could have been forgiven. But the couple lied against and to the Holy Spirit, that in their lie they pretended to be part of the one spirit.
Can we as individuals see some of the steps taken by and not taken, by that couple, in our own lives? Is there something in your life that you try to fix for yourself? Is there something in your life that you do not take to God in prayer? When you doubt, do you ask the church family for help? Are there things you fear that the church family would not understand? Are there things you want to hide, even from God? How far are you willing to go to keep a secret? As a church family do we provide an atmosphere of love? Do you, as an individual, feel that you can bring anything to your church family? Do you, as a member of the church, open yourself up to your brothers and sisters? As an individual, do you feel you can take everything to God in prayer? If not, will you ask your church family for help? Will you ask members of your church family to pray with you and for you?
Did the reading of Acts 5:1-11 affect how you think and feel about God as a parent? Is there anything your child could do that would cause you to end their life without them taking another breath? Did God end the lives in anger? Remember, the Word of God alive on this earth said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven. The couple committed an act that would not be covered by the blood of Jesus. What kind of life could the couple live without forgiveness? Did God end their lives in anger? Or did God end their lives as an act of mercy?
Have you ever heard something on the news or read about something in the paper so evil that you could not start to understand? Have you ever thought, “how could someone do such a thing?” If someone is living without forgiveness, they are living without hope. If someone is living without forgiveness, they are living without the heart and mind of Christ. If someone is living without forgiveness, they are living with their sins. Now think about never being able to receive Jesus. Think about never being able to receive forgiveness. Think about never being able to come home to God. Would death be merciful?
In I Timothy 1:13-14 Paul writes, “… although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did ignorantly in unbelief.”
Paul blasphemed against Jesus Christ and the Church, but was forgiven. Paul was a party to the death of Stephen and was forgiven. King David took another man’s wife and then the man’s life and was forgiven and called a man after God’s own heart. In the example found in Acts 5 the couple blasphemed against the Holy Spirit when they agreed together to lie to God, with their comments to Peter and the intent in their hearts. The couple agreed in their hearts to lie to the Holy Spirit. Their actions were forgivable but the intent in their heart separated them from God with an unpardonable act. As God showed mercy to Paul and David through forgiveness, he also showed mercy to the couple by taking their lives instead of leaving them to suffer life without forgiveness. God was merciful. The couple had committed an act that Jesus had said would not be forgiven; an act that the One that came so we could be forgiven said would not be forgiven. Our Lord is faithful in his promises. Our God is loving and merciful.