Some women in the Bible are naturally associated with their spouses. When we think of Eve, we naturally think of Adam. When Sarah is mentioned, one naturally thinks of Abraham; mention Priscilla and Aquila comes to mind. Ananias and Sapphira are another couple naturally associated together in Scripture. Our study of Sapphira cannot be separated from Ananias and his actions.

The name Ananias means, "Jehovah is gracious." Sapphira means, "beautiful." As we will see, this couple did not live up to the names they were given. Before we look at the verses about Ananias and Sapphira, we need to back up to Acts Chapter Two for a brief history lesson.

On the day of Pentecost, many Jews gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate this Jewish feast day. It was on this day that Peter preached the first recorded Gospel sermon. Many Jews were baptized into Christ (Acts 2:41). Many of these individuals were not residents of Jerusalem; they were visiting for a predetermined amount of time for the purpose of celebrating Pentecost. After obeying the Gospel, they chose to remain in Jerusalem for the purpose of learning more about Christ and his church from the apostles. Quite possibly, the length of their stay exceeded the monetary provisions they brought with them. The love and concern these early Christians had for one another prompted those living in Jerusalem to sell some of their possessions to provide for the needs of fellow Christians (Acts 2:45; 4:34-35).

This brings us to Acts 4:36-37. Barnabas, a faithful Christian, saw his brothers and sisters in Christ were in need of daily provisions. He then sold a piece of property and gave the money to the apostles who distributed it to those in need.

Chapter Five begins with Ananias and Sapphira, also faithful Christians, deciding that they will sell property purposing to give money to the apostles, as Barnabas did, for those in need. Unfortunately, they chose to portray themselves as greater givers than they were. Together, they decided to tell that they sold the land for a certain price and gave all of that amount to the church. In reality, they sold the land for one price, kept part of the money for themselves and gave the remainder to the church, stating that they gave the full sale price.

Ananias arrived where some of the Jerusalem church had gathered (possibly in Solomon's Porch, Acts 5:12) and laid a bag of money at the feet of the apostles. Peter asked Ananias why he lied to the Holy Spirit and emphasized that the land and the money was his to do with as he chose. Upon hearing the words of Peter, Ananias dropped dead. Young men who were present immediately carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later Sapphira, not knowing the fate of her husband, arrived. Peter questioned her about the sale of property, and she readily agreed with what her husband had stated. Peter rebuked her for conspiring with Ananias to lie to God, and Sapphira dropped dead and was buried beside her husband.

Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of lying to God and man. They were also guilty of the sin of hypocrisy in that they were trying to portray themselves as faithful Christians when in reality they were the servants of the devil.

When reading this biblical account, several questions come to mind. Some of the questions are answered in Scripture while others are for curiosity only, and the answers are not necessary to comprehend the lesson outlined in these verses.

Let us take a brief look at these questions:

1. Why did Ananias and Sapphira arrive at the assembly at different times? If you were to ask some of the men of the congregation that question, some would say, "Because Sapphira was not ready to leave on time." While that may be true of some women, and men, today, the Scriptures do not answer this question. We do know that the early church met daily in the temple (Acts 2:46; 5:12). This, probably, was not a Lord's Day assembly, but one of the daily assemblies those who could, and wanted to, attended.

2. How could Sapphira not hear about her husband's death during the three-hour interval? The Scriptures do not answer this question. However, Gareth Reese, in his commentary on the Book of Acts, gives two possible answers.

One of the first things done in the case of death is to notify the next of kin. That she has not been notified leads us to suppose that some command from Peter or one of the other apostles had been given to the people to keep the miraculous event quiet. Especially is this true if Ananias had been stricken dead in a public assembly. The only other explanation why someone present had not gone to inform Sapphira might be that those present were wholly given to some silent self-examination. The power of God to reveal the intents and thoughts of the heart struck home with such force that every person just might concern himself with his own secret thoughts and be fervently seeking the favor of divine mercy. (206)

Both of these explanations seem plausible to me.

3. Why was God so swift and harsh in punishing these two? First, we must remember God knows the hearts of men (Mark 2:1-12). Second, the church was in its early stages. God was still working miracles to confirm his Word. Third, if this type of sin had continued, the credibility of the apostles and the Lord's church would have been hindered. Besides these observations, this question is answered in Acts 5:11, "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." Verse thirteen further explains only those who were sincere assembled with the saints.

4. Why were Ananias and Sapphira not told of their sin and given an opportunity to repent? Peter questioned Ananias and explained the circumstances surrounding his actions before God struck him dead. Also, God knows the hardness of a man's heart (Mark 3:1-6). Ananias was fully aware of his sin. Sapphira had three hours to think about the lie she had agreed with her husband to tell. Peter gave her an opportunity to recant the lie when he asked, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" (Acts 5:8). She chose at that moment not to repent, but to promote the sin that she and her husband plotted and fulfilled. She had her opportunity to repent and chose not to repent.

One more question comes to mind when studying this biblical account of a husband and wife trying to deceive God. Could Sapphira have refused to participate and promote the sin Ananias proposed? Ananias and Sapphira were members of the Lord's church; the new law was now in effect. It was never God's intention for women to be inferior to men. God created males and females to be equal. However, God chose different roles for men and women. Men were and are to have authority in the church and in the home. Women do not have leadership roles in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 14:34), and wives must submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:21-31). This does not mean that husbands are to be harsh and unkind. Every group of people, whether it is the home or an organization of some kind, must have someone who has the final say in a matter. God has outlined that that individual is the husband in the home or the men in the church. That is God's plan. We must not and cannot change it in anyway. So, we ask the question, again. Could Sapphira have refused to participate with her husband in this sin?        

We must conclude YES! The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not a spur of the moment action. It was planned and discussed. Sapphira could have pointed out the errors of trying to deceive God. If unable to dissuade Ananias from following through with his evil plan, Sapphira should have refused to participate. Deuteronomy 13:6-8 states:

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him.

Under the Old Law, family individuals were warned not to support or participate in sin with a loved one. Sapphira should have been aware of this biblical passage. Jesus further taught in Matthew 19:29 that those who forsake family members in order to serve Christ will be rewarded. Also, Matthew 10:37 records Jesus teaching that we must love him more than our family members. God must come first at ALL COST. We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). We cannot excuse Sapphira's actions by saying, "She had to obey her husband." From all indications in the Scriptures, Sapphira was a willing, active participant in the sin recorded in Acts 5:1-11. Sapphira, whose name means beautiful, died an early death as a withered flower.

Adam and Eve, Sarah and Abraham, Ananias and Sapphira, and Priscilla and Aquila are couples mentioned in the Bible. Eve succumbed to the temptation of the devil, ate of the forbidden fruit and encouraged her husband to do likewise (Genesis 3:1-8).

At the age of 65, Sarah was "beautiful to look upon" (Genesis 12:11-13). When Abraham and Sarah traveled to Egypt, Abraham asked Sarah to lie stating that she was his sister in order to protect his own life. They told this same lie again when Sarah was close to 90 (Genesis 12; 20).

Priscilla and Aquila worked together making tents and teaching God's Word. On one occasion, they taught Apollos more perfectly about the church (Acts 18).

Ananias and Sapphira plotted together to deceive God.

Each of these women was equal in God's eyes. Each had the ability to know right from wrong. Three of them chose to "go along" or outright encourage a sinful act. One stood by her husband in the good deeds they did.

Where are you in your relationship with your husband? Are you a help or a hindrance in his service to God? Are you encouraging him to sin as Eve did with Adam? Are you going along with sinful acts as Sarah and Sapphira did, afraid to take a stand for the truth or using the excuse, "I must be submissive to my husband?" Remember Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy. We can neither allow our husbands to encourage us to sin, nor can we allow them to keep us from serving God (Matthew 10:37; 19:29).

Reese, Gareth L. New Testament History: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Acts. Joplin: College Press, 1997.