There are a series of incidents that bring us to question how and what made them happen in the Bible. Sometimes, we queried that man is always the one behind them because the man stood in the perimeter as though they were God.
In the list of dreadful episodes in this regard in the Bible, we are greeted to look critically at the saga of Ananias and Sapphira in the Bible, how they lied, and what Apostle Peter said that led to their tragic passing as the result of the lies they told.
Why should Ananias and Sapphira die for telling lies at the close of the dispensation of the old and the beginning of the new? Is the sin of lying as powerful as others to the extent of deserving a death sentence?
Remember that this is the inception of a fresh era of grace. Yet, the couple died without a second chance. However, we will need to subject this issue to a view and will not conclude if Peter was responsible for their death or if God has chiefly purposed they die for it.
What Is The Degree Of The Sin Of Ananias And Sapphira?
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was deemed grievous not on the mud of the lies they told to Apostle Peter, but that they operated in a proportion of deceit; to have had an extreme or attained an important height in Christian loyalty than they were.
Could this be a reason enough to die? Notably, Ananias and Sapphira committed this kind of sin when every other heart of the believers was connected in an apparent picture of self-reflection.
Acts 4:32, “And the multitudes of them that believed were of one heart.” Despite being many they were single-hearted. It’s dangerous for anyone to contradict or sin against the whole.
Acts 4:32b, “Neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own: they had all things in common.”
It’s entirely clear that Christians had ‘neighborhood practice’; that focuses on ameliorating hardship among them as much as everyone gets what they need.
Ananias and Sapphira displayed hypocrisy, deceit, and selfishness, and were not considerate of others who were loyal to the ‘neighborhood practices’.
What Ananias And Sapphira Should Have Done To Prevent Death
Ananias and Sapphira would not have been in history to be known in the Christian faith as a bad leading example.
Acts 5:4, “While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power.”
As far as the ‘neighborhood practices’ go, there is no law or rule on the amount to be given or dropped to be shared among themselves. Everyone does things in the dictation of their heart.
Apostle Peter revealed that it was in the might of Ananias and Sapphira to determine what they brought without telling lies. It would have sounded well if they met the Apostle and said we sold our land for so and so amount but we will drop so and so amount. They would not have died. And God would not have held them responsible for telling lies in the brethren community whose hearts were singled.
Did Apostle Peter Kill Ananias And Sapphira?
Many have ruled on the scene and inferred that Apostle Peter killed Ananias and Sapphira for telling lies to him even as it remains plain and clear to them.
Peter said the right thing as he discerned by the working of the Holy Spirit; “Why hath satan filled your heart.” And “Why hast thou conceived this thing in your heart.”
In what he made the couple realize. They have not lied unto men, (consisting of him and or other brethren but unto God). He lied to the Spirit of God who is also God. There is nothing to add to the scene that made Apostle Peter a murderer.
However, some detected that the word Apostle Peter passed on Sapphira is enough to be held responsible for the death of the couple. The fact is that he must ask the other for confirmation which he did.
Ananias and Sapphira had both compromised to tell lies. And he had known that both would fall on the judgment.
Why Are People Who Committed Same Sin Today Are Still Alive?
There are a lot of preachers in our days who preached as if Ananias and Sapphira would be the only victims of lies telling, hypocrisy, and deceit all through the dispensation of grace.
The fact is that even in our times, a lot of people are exhibiting the life content of Ananias and Sapphira every day.
God begins every dispensation with a new face of power and glory. It was evident that God manifested that power at the beginning of the Church to open a new chapter as we see in Acts 5:12-16.
In addition, it is not a lie that the equanimity of the Church in its foundation is distinct from now. There are mixed up in the settings and at the same God has lessened the extent of the display of mightiness in this regard but not as none.
