Deception and Fall
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
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. 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? 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. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. (Acts 5:1-5)
Ananias and Sapphira were an influential couple in the early church. They experienced the same move of God and participated in the same powerful services witnessed by everyone else. They saw incredible miracles, heard bold and fiery preaching, and listened to the testimonies of believers' generosity, like that of Barnabas. However, merely being part of a spiritual atmosphere doesn’t guarantee that one truly lives out their faith. Amid such an environment of power and generosity, this couple lied about what they contributed to the Lord. Their sin wasn’t about keeping the money; Peter made it clear that they were never obligated to give anything. Their sin lay in pretending to give everything while secretly holding back part of it for themselves. They sought the appearance of holiness without the genuine need to surrender. The Holy Spirit immediately revealed to Peter what had transpired when the couple gave their money. He asked them questions and exposed their deception. Notice that Peter didn’t say they lied to the church or the apostles; rather, he told them that they lied to God. Right after Ananias met with Peter and told a lie, he fell dead. Later, his wife came in, repeated the lie, and she also died.
Practical Application
God takes integrity seriously. If you commit to doing something, see it through. Additionally, God will not move powerfully in a place where sin is tolerated. If we desire more of His power, we must all embrace holiness.
