7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Sapphira, the wife of Ananias, came on the scene three hours later, not knowing what had happened to her husband. She had an opportunity to act with integrity independently.
5:7
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in,
Three hours after the death of Ananias, his wife Sapphira attempted to deceive the church about her giving.
not knowing what had happened.
Sapphira did not know that her husband had died by lying to the Holy Spirit.
5:8
And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
Peter asked Sapphira to confirm her husband Ananias’s story about the apostles.
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
Sapphira confirmed that the amount Ananias mentioned was accurate. She lied against the Holy Spirit as well.
5:9
Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?
Peter accused the couple of conspiracy against the Holy Spirit. Sapphira’s action was a “test of the Spirit of the Lord.” Again, she had challenged the nature of God’s character, as had her husband.
Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door,
Peter called Sapphira’s attention to the young men who buried her husband, Ananias.
and they will carry you out.”
Peter told Sapphira that she was about to die.
5:10
Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last.
Sapphira immediately died.
And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
Young men buried Sapphira as they had Ananias.
5:11
So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
For the second time, fear came upon everyone in the church because God takes deception to the Holy Spirit seriously.
This verse is the first use of the word “church” in the book of Acts. The universal church is the idea here. We can find the universal church in Acts 9:31; 20:28. The idea of the local church appears in Acts 11:26; 13:1.
PRINCIPLE:
Healthy awe of God brings higher spirituality to the soul.
APPLICATION:
Christians who sin without regard for how God views it have little awe of the majesty of God. A church associated with God almighty must maintain its purity. Hypocrisy and pride are sins that cast dirt on God’s character and the church. To appear spiritual while practicing the secret sin of deceit is an appalling picture to our Lord (Eph 5:27).
