Ananias and Sapphira
The Couple Who Lied to the Holy Spirit
Name Information
- Meaning: Ananias = 'God is gracious'; Sapphira = 'Beautiful' (Hebrew/Aramaic origins)
- Language of Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic
- Gender Usage: Masculine and Feminine
Ananias and Sapphira were members of the early Jerusalem church who conspired to deceive the apostles by pretending to give all the proceeds from a land sale while keeping some for themselves. Their lie was not just to men but to God. Both fell dead after being confronted by Peter, serving as a sobering reminder that God takes purity in His church seriously.
⏰ 1st century AD
Roles
- Church Members
- Deceivers
Story
Sold a piece of property but conspired to deceive the apostles.
Ananias was the first to lie and died instantly after Peter confronted him.
Sapphira entered unaware of her husband's death and repeated the lie.
She too was judged and died on the spot.
Their deaths caused holy fear to spread among believers and outsiders.
Spiritual Significance
- Early believers who sold property but lied about the proceeds.
- Pretended to give all while secretly keeping part back.
- Their lie was exposed by the Holy Spirit through Peter.
- Both were struck dead as a warning to the church.
- Great fear came upon all who heard it — purity matters in the church.
Christ Connection
Their story highlights the holiness of Christ’s church, His body.
The early church was built on Christ's truth — and deception threatened its witness.
Christ calls for sincere, Spirit-led giving and transparency.
What We Can Learn
- God sees the heart and cannot be deceived.
- Hypocrisy in the church is deadly serious to God.
- The Holy Spirit is a divine Person — lying to Him is lying to God.
- Generosity must be genuine, not performative.
Memory Verses
You have not lied to man but to God.
— Acts 5:4
Key Passages
- Acts 5:1–11
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