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But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it, at the apostles' feet.

3

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6

And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

Acts 5:3

5:3 lie to the Holy Ghost. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not greed, for they did give a substantial gift to the church. Rather it was pride, desiring the praise of others in the church, and lying, in order to gain that prestige. Even so, it might not seem to be such a crime as to warrant immediate death. The judgment, however, came from God, not Peter, and was accomplished by providential miracle. In this very first church of our church age, it was absolutely vital that hypocrisy not gain a foothold and set a dangerous precedent. Consequently, it was expeditious in God’s eyes, for Him to enact His judgment of death on sin speedily (Romans 6:23) in this case.

Acts 5:4

5:4 unto God. In Acts 5:3, Peter said Ananias had lied to the Holy Ghost: in Acts 5:4, he said Ananias had lied to God. Thus, God and the Holy Ghost are used synonymously, showing clearly that the Holy Spirit is God.

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