instant judgement

Acts 5:1-11 
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

At the end of chapter 4 we hear about a community that shared possessions and met each others needs. It is clear that that happens as a result of the gospel, not as some enforced or even voluntary effort to create a community. It happened because they loved the person in need and recognized everything they had as a gift.

The problem with Ananias and Sapphira is not that they kept part of the money for themselves, as Peter makes it clear that the entire property was theirs to do whatever they wanted with it. The problem is that they were trying to pass it off as the full amount. They were trying to give the impression of generousity. They lied in order to protect or cultivate a reputation.

God judges them and they die. While this seems harsh, that is just due to the instant nature of it. We know that the result of sin is death, it is God's grace to us that this sort of instant judgement on our sin is unusual, but it is no less than they, or us deserved. It happened to that couple straight away, it could happen in 50 years time but it will happen unless we repent and trust in Jesus, who died that death in our place.