THERE are lies without words; and the earliest annals of the church afford a solemn instance of such a case. The attempted deception by Ananias and Sapphira was the first great blot on the fair page of the history of God’s assembly on earth.
They were tempted to deceive the Holy Ghost, and they yielded to the temptation. At that season grace was specially working in the hearts of the saints, so that a spirit of self-sacrifice and consideration for the needs of others was displayed in such a degree as has never been done since. The hearts of Ananias and his wife were filled by Satan, so that they strove to appear among men as those possessing a piety and devotion which, as a matter of fact, they did not possess.
Joses (or Joseph) Barnabas, a Cyprian Levite, gained for himself a good degree in the roll of spiritual fame at that time. He owned a field which he voluntarily disposed of for the general benefit of the poor brethren and sisters, and laid the proceeds of the sale at the feet of the apostles to be used for this purpose. The circumstances of his case were evidently such as to call for special honorable mention in the scriptures above many others who acted similarly at that time.
Then it was that Satan sought to introduce a counterfeit of this eminent saint. Ananias and Sapphira his wife were tempted by him to represent to the assembly that they had done the same as Joseph Barnabas. Like him they sold a possession; and they brought a sum of money which, like him, they laid at the apostles’ feet, leaving the saints to draw the conclusion that they had devoted the whole to the poor, as he had done.
It cannot be said that they fell suddenly, through being overtaken by surprise. There was a deliberate plot concerning which they had consulted together, and agreed as to the details (verse 9). Ananias and Sapphira probably assured themselves that no questions were likely to be asked as to the amount realized by the sale of their possession, so that they would not therefore have actually to tell the saints a falsehood.
But, as has happened so many times before and since, they who were beguiled of Satan to deceive others were themselves deceived by the prince of darkness (2 Tim. 3:1313But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)). They altogether overlooked what it is always of the utmost peril for any man, whether saint or sinner, to forget, viz., the presence of God. In this case, there was more than the general fact of the eyes of the Lord running to and fro the earth, beholding the evil and the good. In a manner not known on earth before, the saints were “an habitation of God through the Spirit.” For God the Holy Ghost descended at Pentecost to dwell in the assembly. He was there to produce the fruit of grace in the saints. And the “great grace” of Acts 4:3333And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33) was the result of His action, as well as the “great power.”
Thus Ananias and Sapphira by their gift to the apostles were simulating the work of the Holy Spirit in the souls of the brethren. For the grace they professed to have they did not possess. Their donation was the work of the flesh and not the fruit of the Spirit. But if they succeeded in deceiving men, they could not deceive God.
Their sin in thus denying the presence of the Holy Spirit in the assembly was brought home to them sternly and solemnly by the apostle Peter. “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?... Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” It was a “sin unto death.” Peter did not pray for him. But God, in the righteous government of His own house, took away the offender by the stroke of sudden death, so that others might be impressed with the sanctity of His presence, and “pass the time of their sojourning in fear.”
The occurrence is a striking parallel to the sin of Nadab and Abihu on the setting up of the tabernacle in the wilderness. Contrary to the word of Jehovah, they offered incense before Him, using “strange” fire. Instead of rising acceptably to the Lord, this brought down His direct judgement, and they were both slain (Lev. 10:1, 21And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. 2And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1‑2)). “I will,” said He, “be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.” He would have the sons of Aaron and all the congregation of Israel learn that His presence was in the sanctuary.
The offering of Barnabas was true incense and well-pleasing to the Lord; but that of Ananias and Sapphira was not offered with “fire from off the altar.” It was but the imitation of the Spirit by the flesh. Their good work was for the eyes of men, not for the eyes of God. Barnabas thought not of himself but of others and their needs; this was the spirit of Christ. Ananias and his wife had themselves and their own credit chiefly in view; this was the spirit of the Pharisees. The Lord condemned this spirit, when on earth; and from on high He judged the first indications of it in His members here below.
Beloved, let us be warned by these solemn examples. Let us not ape a spirituality we do not possess. Let the “abundance” be in our hearts, not in our mouths. Let the best side of our actions be Godward, not man ward. Remember God does not compel any of us to sacrifice ourselves for others. “Whiles it remained was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?” said Peter to Ananias. But when he gave it away, it was offensive to God that he should pretend to give the whole sum, yet secretly reserve a part for himself.