a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. With his wife’s knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. (Acts 5:1-2a; Common English Bible)

The Greek verb translated in many translations as ‘keep back’ but in the above more simply ‘withhold’ is νοσφίζω nosphizó ‘to sequestrate for oneself’.  The more common usage of this Greek word ‘to embezzle, pilfer or purloin’ is more problematic in the context of this singular incident that beset the foundational Church with fear when first Ananias and then his wife, were struck dead by God as the result of this act.  After all, as the head quotation shows this was Ananias and Sapphira’s asset to theirs to dispose of as they pleased; they stole from no one.  

A full examination of the incident is required to understand their grievous fault.  Luke’s narrative continues:

He (Ananias) brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles. 

Peter asked, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land?  Wasn’t that property yours to keep? After you sold it, wasn’t the money yours to do with whatever you wanted? What made you think of such a thing? You haven’t lied to other people but to God!” 

 When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified. Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him. (Ibid 5:2b-6)

We note that Peter does not dispute that Ananias indisputably owned the land and the proceeds for its sale, and that he therefore was in his rights to keep or bestow as he chose.  So, he did not defraud anyone by withholding some part of it, the fault was not disclosing that he had done so.  Again, context is needed.   Earlier, Luke records that after the apostles, Peter and John, escaped punishment for performing miracles in the name of Jesus as the Christ, the burgeoning congregation fell to prayer…

After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking God’s word with confidence.  The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common.  (Ibid 4:31-32)

And there was one of their number who exemplified this:

Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (that is, “one who encourages”), was a Levite from Cyprus. He owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles.  (Ibid 4:36-37)

Of course, his example allows an early introduction to the man who would be so instrumental in the early ministry of Paul, but there is another reason for the illustration; Barnabas was whole-hearted and seen to be so.

The Jews, like Ananias and Barnabas – we must assume that every member of the early church was Jewish at this time, either by race or conversion, that is they were Gentile proselytes and thus knew the Law of Moses – recalled the temporal and conditional covenant, for blessing for obedience and especially curses for disobedience.   Having outlined the former, Moses says:

‘But if you don’t obey the Lord your God’s voice by carefully doing all his commandments and his regulations that I am commanding you right now, all these curses will come upon you and find you…’ (Deuteronomy 28:15)

What follows is a very long list that is reminiscent of the many afflictions of Job, and like with Job, it does not include God taking the offender’s life.

So, Ananias, if he had the opportunity to stand before God like Job, might well say to him, how is striking me dead just? I simply lead people to believe I was giving whole-heartedly; and even if that is deceptive, I did not actually lie to Peter; what law have I broken?  

But under the New Covenant there is a change, what God requires is now internally available:

… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.  (2 Corinthians 3:3)

This promised by the prophets such as Jeremiah (31:33) and Ezekiel (11:19) to Israel, (note, the apostle Paul see applicability to the mostly pagan converts of Corinth, also) means now by conviction of the Spirit all may know the mind of God, and He every person’s intent.

By the same token then God is free to judge motive, not only acts – indeed, even by the Tenth Commandment regarding the prohibition of coveting, it is seen that this internal sin was exposed to God – so Ananias’ intention to withhold some of assets while seeming to give all is those sinful, and thus he has no compelling counter-argument to place before God.  And it should be added that no conclusion can be drawn that he and his co-conspirator, his wife, though harshly disciplined lose their salvation.  For all Luke says, they died believers, albeit deceitful ones.

While none can be certain of God’s purposes, the example of Ananias and his wife served to show the early Church that under the New Covenant, God would judge undisclosed intention as well as deeds.

Jesus trailed this in the extensive early teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. He took some of the Ten Commandments, such as the prohibition on adultery and murder, and declared attendant emotion or imagined act to be outlawed.  He also counselled against public displays of generosity, 

‘… when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.’  (Matthew 6:2-4a)

But of course, a display of generosity was exactly where Ananias erred.  He did one thing before Peter, and another before God, yet Peter was alerted by His Spirit to the deceit.  There can be no hidden areas under the New Covenant, hence Jesus says what is in hearts of men and women will be judged…

And your Father (in heaven) who sees in secret will reward you. (Ibid 6:4b)

From God the Father the source of all, and through his Son who withheld nothing even his life, every bankrupt man or woman is gracefully promised riches beyond knowing.  This is surely one lesson all may learn from Ananias’ attempted deception.