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“Hypocrisy in Faith: Ananias and Sapphira: Misappropriation and Pretense”
Part 3 of a 4-part series “What Does God Mean to You When . . .?”
Scripture Reading: Acts 4:29-5:11 adapted
The Believers Pray for Boldness
29”
And now, Lord, listen to their threats. Lord, help us, your servants, to
speak your word without fear. 30Show your mighty power by healing,
performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the
name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31After they had prayed, the place where
they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then
they preached the word of God with boldness.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32
The group of followers all felt the same way about everything. They lived in
harmony, being one in mind and heart. All those in the group felt that what
they owned was not their own, so they shared with one another everything
they had. 33With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34There was no
one in the group who was in need. From time to time, people sold land or
houses and brought the money received from the sale, 35 and turned it over
to the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the
people. 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed
Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of
Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37He sold a field he owned and
brought the money to the apostles.
Ananias and Sapphira
1
But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira,
sold some property. 2He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming
it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
3
Peter asked, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you
could deceive the Holy Spirit? You’ve held back some of the money you
received for the land. Before you sold the land, it belonged to you. And even
after you sold it, you could have used the money any way you wanted. Why,
then, did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to people – you
have lied to God!”
5
As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.
Everyone who heard about this was filled with fear. 6Then some young men
wrapped his body in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
7
About three hours later his wife – Sapphira – not knowing what had
happened, came in.
8
Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for
your land?”
“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
9
And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test
the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are
just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
10
Immediately, she dropped dead in front of Peter. When the young men
came back, they found Sapphira dead. So they carried her outside and buried
her next to her husband.
11
The whole church and everyone else who heard about these things were
filled with fear.
Introduction
In the course of this sermon series, we have been taking a look at the relationship between
God and his people – essentially the Church!
We have been taking a look at some case studies that challenge us to examine our own
relationship with God.
Each of these case studies is an examination of human nature – our own human nature – and
the response each one of us has to particular situations or circumstances.
Each of these FOUR (4) character studies challenges what we say our relationship with God
is all about.
They also challenge the depth of our actual relationship with God in our day-to-day living.
We first looked at Adam and Eve and complicity with the world – Satan – versus obedience to
God and the consequences of sin.
It was about the choices we make and the consequences of those choices.
This was the first family of God’s family.
The following week, Pastor Joyce spoke about Hosea, a prophet of God and Gomer, his
unfaithful wife.
This message was a close examination of that part of who we are that we desperately want to
keep private and hidden,
that part of ourselves that raises itself up and begins to dictate and detract from the
presence of the living Christ in our lives.
It challenges our ‘Christian’ motivation for the choices we make.
It challenges the rightness or the wrongness of the relationships we make.
It challenges our own faithfulness in relationship to God . . . and therefore, others.
This story is another look into life that is lived within the family of God.
Today, we are going into the New Testament to the story of another couple – Ananias and
Sapphira.
This, too, gives us another glimpse of life in the Church – of the persons who make up the
body of Christ.
Ananias and his wife Sapphira were members of the Early Christian church in Jerusalem.
Now, we might be tempted to think that, when we first start reading the Book of Acts, that the
picture of the early church as a Spirit-filled community of faith is just too ideal,
too much like a fairy-tale with the always happy ending.
But the writer Luke wants people to see the church as real – ‘warts and all.’
In just a few short weeks, this early church had experienced explosive growth – first 3,000
people, then 5,000 and, by the time this story takes place many, many more.
But in spite of the largeness of the new congregation, this was a fellowship that was without
divisions or polarized groups.
“This oneness of faith and purpose, but especially of love, is an identifying mark of the
Christian Church, just as love is the true badge of a Christian.” (Airhart, 1977, pp. 59-60)
It was a generous church where giving to support the needs of others was done on a purely
voluntary basis – an attitude based on love, not on law.
“It was an astonishing display of love in action, of selfless concern for the needs of
others.” (Airhart, 1977, p. 60)
It was also an effective church in its witness to the love and power of the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
A living witness,
a true ‘living object lesson of God’s love’,
a real reflection of Jesus that is supported by such a life-style is always a powerful and
convincing force.
“If the Church’s testimony lacks impact or is easily brushed aside, perhaps
attention should be given to the quality of the fellowship.” (Airhart, 1977, p. 60)
There is an important point we need to realize.
“It is not what we do when [we are] under close supervision that reveals and
determines our character. It is what we do in our leisure, when the restraints are off
and we are ‘on our own.’ What do we do then, and where do we go?” (Ralph Earle, 1966,
p. 234)
And because it was a church whose character was all of the above, it was also a church that
was enjoying the overflowing blessings of God.
Not just to the leadership,
not just to those who may be considered the spiritually elite – but to the whole church.
We all want to be a church that is characterized by its unity,
its generosity,
and its effectiveness in evangelism and outreach.
But the secret to being all of that is this was a people who lived out Spirit-filled lives each and
every day making the Church a Spirit-empowered Church.
We see this in the closing verse of Acts 4.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
29”
And now, Lord, listen to their threats. Lord, help us, your servants, to
speak your word without fear. 30Show your mighty power by healing,
performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the
name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31After they had prayed, the place where
they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then
they preached the word of God with boldness.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32
The group of followers all felt the same way about everything. They lived in
harmony, being one in mind and heart. All those in the group felt that what
they owned was not their own, so they shared with one another everything
they had. 33With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34There was no
one in the group who was in need. From time to time, people sold land or
houses and brought the money received from the sale, 35and turned it over to
the apostles; and the money was distributed according to the needs of the
people. 36For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed
Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of
Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37He sold a field he owned and
brought the money to the apostles.
And so we see that the first followers of Jesus did not consider their possessions to be their
own but held all things in common in order to use what they had on behalf of those in want.
For example, Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, sold a plot of land and donated the profit to the
apostles.
And this brings us to the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
Remember, they were also members of the Early Christian church in Jerusalem.
And I have every reason to believe that they were part of the church where “. . . they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . . [and] they preached the word of God with
boldness.” (Acts 4:31 adapted)
This couple had been part of the church for a while.
People knew who they were – they were not lost in the crowd,
they could be called by name.
They were not just a brand-new addition to the family of God.
Ananias and Sapphira enjoyed the full blessings of God as had all the others who were
part of the church on Jerusalem.
They were evidently Christians – by profession of faith and by practice.
If you have read the Book of Acts from the beginning, you will realize that as soon as the
Holy Spirit came upon the Early Church, Satan began his ferocious counter-attack.
Pentecost was followed by persecution.
Satan assaults us from THREE (3) different positions:
1. He attacks with physical violence – trying to destroy the church from the outside.
2. He attacks through moral corruption – destruction coming from within the church.
3. He attacks through the subtle ploys of distraction – keeping us too busy with
programming and forgetting Kingdom priorities.
It is hard to understand how there could be such hypocritical behavior in the Church so
soon after Pentecost.
Let’s read their story.
Ananias and Sapphira
1
But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira,
sold some property. 2He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming
it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
3
Peter asked, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you
could deceive the Holy Spirit? You’ve held back some of the money you
received for the land. Before you sold the land, it belonged to you. And even
after you sold it, you could have used the money any way you wanted. Why,
then, did you decide to do such a thing? You have not lied to people – you
have lied to God!”
5
As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died.
Everyone who heard about this was filled with fear. 6Then some young men
wrapped his body in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
7
About three hours later his wife – Sapphira – not knowing what had
happened, came in.
8
Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for
your land?”
“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
9
And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test
the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are
just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
10
Immediately, she dropped dead in front of Peter. When the young men
came back, they found Sapphira dead. So they carried her outside and buried
her next to her husband.
11
The whole church and everyone else who heard about these things were
filled with fear.
As told at the beginning of Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira, following Barnabas' example, also
sold their land – but withheld a portion of the profit.
Ananias presented his donation to Peter.
Peter replied, "Why is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy
Spirit?"
Peter pointed out that Ananias was in control of the money and could give or keep it as he
saw fit but had withheld it from Peter and lied about it.
Peter stated that Ananias had lied not only to him but also to God.
Ananias died on the spot and was carried out.
Everyone who heard about the incident feared the Lord.
Three hours after Ananias' death his wife arrived, unaware of what had happened.
Peter asked her the price of the land that she and Ananias had sold, and she stated the same
untruthful price that Ananias had given.
And Peter charged her as well with lying to God.
She also fell dead, apparently a punishment for deceiving God. (Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 2013)
The morality or the ‘rightness’ of the incident has been the source of some commentary.
It has been described as “one of the most unnerving episodes in the whole of the New
Testament.” (Dunn, 1997)
Something has changed in the life of the church.
In the briefest span of time, this couple changes from real Christians to hypocrites.
“[This one] act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of God.”
(Stott, 1990, p. 109)
“To all appearances, Barnabas and Ananias did the same thing. Both sold a
property. Both brought the proceeds of the sale to the apostles, and both
committed it to their disposal.” (Stott, 1990, p. 109)
But now there is a difference.
Barnabas committed himself to give 100%.
Whereas Ananias, conspiring with his wife Sapphira, pretended to give 100%
A double sin is committed here – dishonesty and deceit.
Barnabas had received special commendation and recognition for his generous gift to the
church.
Evidently, Ananias and Sapphira were eager to have somewhat the same recognition.
They wanted their ‘pat-on-the-back’ as well.
“They wanted to enjoy the acclaim of the church, as Barnabas did, without making
a genuine sacrifice.” (Longnecker, 1995, p. 109)
So they went through the same act of selling and giving.
“[We now have] two hypocrites posing as consecrated Christians.” (Ralph Earle, 1966, p.
235)
Holding back a portion of what has been designated as a gift to God is a “misappropriation.”
Whether it is from our financial resources,
from our own abilities,
from the minutes and the hours of our days – we need to be good stewards of what has
been given to us – and what we have promised,
what we have committed to God.
“The issues of stewardship are crucial in a Christian’s life. [Treasure, time, or
talent] become either our useful servant or our diabolical master. In this case, the
love of money [treasure] and praise was the root of a situation which grew quickly
into horrendous proportions.” (Airhart, 1977, p. 61)
Fraudulent faith!
Hypocrisy in the life of the church.
Hypocrite is defined as:
 a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
 a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated belief or feelings.
Peter’s complaint to Ananias and Sapphira was not that they lacked honesty, but that they
lacked integrity.
They deliberately choose to sin.
Both husband and wife intended to give the impression they were good Christians.
“How deceitful sin is! In a setting in which the Spirit flamed within the Church in
living generosity and honest openness of heart, this pair plotted together,
deliberately and carefully, to deceive the Church.” (Airhart, 1977, p. 62)
“Why had this member of the church allowed Satan to fill his heart and cause him
to lie to God?” (Earle, 1965, p. 309)
Why do we cheat God by giving the least amount in our tithes and offerings when we
promised God a whole lot more?
Why do we lie to make ourselves look good in the eyes of others?
Why do we talk and live one way most every day of the week and then come to church and
put on our Sunday masks of righteousness?
Here’s the thing!
Ananias and Sapphira were recognized for their hypocrisy – not just by God who sees to the
very deepest part of our hearts, but by Peter and other apostles – people on the outside,
people around them,
people with whom they were familiar.
Nothing stays hidden for long!
People see us for what we are.
They recognize the hypocrisy that we try to hide.
They know what is really going on inside our own hearts.
We certainly cannot hide from God, but we cannot hide the real self from the people around
us either.
Like Ananias and Sapphira, fraudulent Christians,
the hypocrites in the Church are . . .
“. . . actually willing to test the mercy of God and the Spirit’s probing light within the
Church. Their lie [is] to God. Refusing the Spirit’s reproof, they are filled instead
with Satan’s delusion. Their consciences [are] seared until they contemplate [and
commit] gross hypocrisy without trembling. Their sin [is] in the end, brazen, defiant,
and contemptuous of the Spirit himself.” (Airhart, 1977, p. 62)
In our Bible study this past Wednesday, we were reminded of this one thing:
“There are two stories for every life. The one you live and the one others tell.” (Albom,
2013)
What is the story that people are telling about you and me?
Is your talk compatible with your walk?
Or do you profess one thing while deliberately acting out in the opposite direction?
Here is the difficult part of the story.
It is dealing with discipline within the church.
It is obvious that only a person can be lied to.
To lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God – and he knows; oh, yes, he knows!
It is also obvious that the purity of the Church is very precious to God.
It is not perfect, by no means!
There will be, as Jesus said, “tares among the wheat.”
Judgment is given – divine judgment.
“Swift sentence was executed on these first two hypocrites. . . .God let it be known
that He hates hypocrisy.” (Ralph Earle, 1966, p. 235)
“Defiant sin is to be dealt with in the Church’s discipline; purity is to be the Church’s
standard.” (Airhart, 1977, p. 62)
There is the necessity of church discipline.
“The church has tended to [waver] . . . between extreme severity [by disciplining
members for the most trivial offences] and extreme laxity [exercising no discipline
at all, even for serious offences]. It is a good general rule that secret sins should be
dealt with secretly, private sins privately, and only public sins publicly. Churches
are also wise if they follow the successive stages taught by Jesus.” (Stott, 1990, p. 112)
And what did Jesus say about church discipline?
“If your fellow believer sins against you, go and show him his fault. But do it
privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have helped that
person to be your brother or sister again. But if you are unsuccessful, take
one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say
may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to
listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the
church’s decision, treat that person as an unbeliever or a corrupt tax
collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17 adapted)
The attack of Satan against the Church is very real indeed.
The only defense we have in and of the Church is Spirit-fullness – surrendered,
committed to the whole will and purpose of God.
The offense of Ananias and Sapphira demonstrated a complete contempt for God.
They revealed a total disregard of the corruption which they were bringing into the church.
They thought more of the grand drama made at the feet of the apostles than of the offence
before God.
This story is a warning to us today about misusing or abusing our own relationship with God.
A life of deceit,
a heart filled with hypocrisy demonstrates to our friends, families and neighbours that our
professing the Lordship of Jesus in our lives is nothing but a lie.
We do not value the things that God values.
We do not live in a manner that glorifies Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Such a defiant and deceitful lifestyle rejects Jesus’ kingship and authority and it only adds to
the mocking of the name of Christ yet again.
It is our prayer that the words of this closing song can come from the very deepest parts of
your hearts.
“All for Jesus! All for Jesus!” (James, Public Domain)
AMEN
Bibliography
Airhart, A. (1977). Acts. In g. e. William M. Greathouse and Willard H. Taylor, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 5. Kansas City, Missouri:
Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City.
Albom, M. (2013). The First Phone Call from Heaven. HarperCollins Publishers.
Dunn, J. D. (1997). Narrative Commentaries: The Acts of the apostles. London, England: Trinity Press International (a subsidiary of
Continuum International Publishing Group).
Earle, R. (1965). Beacon Bible Commentary:John- Acts, Volume III. Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City.
James, A. H. (Public Domain). All for Jesus. C.C.L.I. Song # 136966.
Longnecker, R. N. (1995). The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Acts. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.
Ralph Earle, e. a. (1966). Exploring the New Testament. Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City.
Stott, J. R. (1990). The Messge of Acts: The Spirit, the Church and the world. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press.
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. (2013, August 9). Ananias and Sapphira. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from en.wikipedia.org:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananias_and_Sapphira