"The story must be ranked among the most difficult for modern readers of Acts."
‍— I. Howard Marshall

Our unity as a church is not based upon intellectual uniformity.

In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things love.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Acts 5:1-11

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

"The shock of discovery and the realization of having manipulated God overstressed them and they died."
— M. Robert Mulholland Jr.

"It is needless to blame Peter for their death. They brought the end on themselves. It was a judgment of God. Physically the nervous shock could have caused the collapse.
— Archibald Robertson

"It is a world in which sin is taken seriously, and in which a person convicted of sin against the Spirit might well suffer a fatal shock."
‍— I. Howard Marshall

Bottom Line

God invites us to live without ceilings or walls

Action Steps

• Where is there a ceiling between you and God?
• Where is there a wall between you and another person?
• How might God be inviting you to live more honestly and transparently?

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21