Ananias

Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, lied to the apostles about the proceeds from the sale of their property and faced divine judgment.

Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, was a member of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. They sold a piece of property and brought a portion of the proceeds to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. However, they had conspired to keep back part of the money for themselves. When confronted by the Apostle Peter about their deception, Ananias fell down and died instantly. Later, when Sapphira came in, unaware of her husband's fate, she also lied about the transaction and met the same judgment. Their story serves as a stark warning against lying and hypocrisy within the church community.

One of the members of the church at Jerusalem, who conspired with his wife Sapphira to deceive the brethren, and who fell down and immediately expired after he had uttered the falsehood (Acts 5:5). By common agreement the members of the early Christian community devoted their property to the work of furthering the gospel and of assisting the poor and needy. The proceeds of the possessions they sold were placed at the disposal of the apostles (Acts 4:36, 37). Ananias might have kept his property had he so chosen; but he professed agreement with the brethren in the common purpose, and had of his own accord devoted it all, as he said, to these sacred ends. Yet he retained a part of it for his own ends, and thus lied in declaring that he had given it all. “The offence of Ananias and Sapphira showed contempt of God, vanity and ambition in the offenders, and utter disregard of the corruption which they were bringing into the society. Such sin, committed in despite of the light which they possessed, called for a special mark of divine indignation.”