BRUCE C WEARNE looks at what the experience of Ananias and Sapphira – recorded in Acts 5 – taught the disciples about being whole-hearted in their efforts to follow Jesus...
(At this time) a man named Ananias, with the complicity of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property and, with his wife’s concurrence, kept back a portion for themselves, then bringing the remaining sum to lay it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why, oh why, has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not entirely at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Having heard these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came upon them all when they heard of it. The younger men got busy, and wrapping him up carried him out to bury him. (Acts 5:1-6/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne)
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FOR SALE: Believers had sold property and shared the proceeds – something Ananias and Sapphira wanted capitalise on to make themselves look good. PICTURE: Aaron Murphy/www.freeimages.com
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The apostles were beginning to understand what Jesus had meant when He talked about “taking up the cross” and following Him. Following Jesus was to be everything or nothing. Many had joined and many had decided that what they owned should now be shared with the entire community. No reservations. No holding back. This process of sharing, of having all things in common, may have been a necessary part of an attempt to establish the “Jesus synagogue” in Jerusalem on a secure footing. The community was able to go about its work. It was “up and running”.
It is important to realise that this sharing, of “having all things in common”, was not a pre-requisite for faith in Jesus Christ. There may have been strong, perhaps even subtle, pressure exerted on members of the community to join in this process. And Ananias and Sapphira were part of the community and as disciples of Jesus they too wanted to be part of it.
But…there is a significant “but” here. Many translations begin with a “but” at this point in the book. They simply weren’t part of it in their hearts. And their duplicity was found out. Ananias was exposed. The two of them had conspired to pretend to give all. We do not know everything about the commercial and real estate transactions of those times. But it is clear from what Peter said that Ananias and Sapphira did not have to sell the land; once it was sold they did not have to give all the proceeds to the community. But they conspired to make it look like that – and in God’s providence they were found out.
God’s Holy Spirit was the One who brought about a miracle. It is an awful miracle, but a miracle it is nevertheless. Ananias, when confronted by his deceit, fell down and died. It is written with same “great awe” (“phobos megas”) that this event elicited from the community. It confirmed to all those who professed faith in Jesus that they were involved in a work that belonged to God, that was owned by God Himself. This was the Almighty with whom there is no subterfuge. They belonged to Him. He does not engage in deceit for the sake of keeping up appearances. The word had to be spread indiscriminately like the sower broadcasts the seed in all directions. And Jesus had told His disciples that some would fall among thorns (Luke 8:4-18).
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