Tackling Tradition 23: Ananias & Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 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. 3 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? 4 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.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 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.” 10 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. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.  (Acts 5:1–11, ESV)

This particular section of the Acts narrative is typically taught to mean something like this:   The earliest days of the Christian church represent a period analogous to the days in which Israel still muddled along with the Tabernacle & Samuel was their Judge, Nathan was the court prophet of record, & David was king.   Ananias & Sapphira deliberately kept the proceeds of a field they had sold & subsequently lied about whether or not they had given the full amount to the church.    Peter, who is analogous to Samuel & Nathan, caught them in a lie, and God struck them down like He did Uzzah the Levite in 1 Chronicles 13 & 2 Samuel 6.  

It’s also a warning directed at those who hold ecclesiastical &/or civil authority, insofar as it looks like a classic example of spiritual abuse.   Be careful as a leader among God’s people — the exercise of ecclesiastical authority can have both positive & negative consequences!  (Which is most certainly true). 

That said, given the NT writers’ stance on spiritual abuse, this text seems to me to show signs of functioning like the temptation narrative.  That is to say, I think it bears the marks of a fictional narrative intended for didactic use.   

The 2 temptation narratives are typically taught to be incidents that literally happened to Yeshua not long after He was baptized.  He then headed into the wilderness for 40 day’s & nights and met Satan himself, after which He triumphed and began His ministry.   In truth, the story is probably one of a handful of fictional pericopes that serve as short teaching modules imbedded in the narrative for both teachers & readers.  I think the same is true here.

By this, I mean that the 2 temptation narratives function as teaching modules that serve as outlines for spiritual warfare.   Take these 3 temptations, write them across the top of a dry erase board or the long side of a piece of 8 1/2” X 11” paper or use 3 separate sheets of paper (one temptation per sheet) then outline the texts of Matthew & Luke respectively (keeping in mind that there is likely some overlap) — and remember that “Satan” isn’t as much a name as it is a title that means “Accusing Adversary,” which is why Yeshua calls Peter an Accusing Adversary.  Also, just because the text doesn’t state that demons are present, it doesn’t mean they weren’t there (especially given the tenor of what was happening in those days).  

I think this text serves the same function.   Maybe this incident did happen, maybe not.  The important thing is what Ananias & Sapphira represent.   

Ananias represents the spirit of gluttony at work in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Egypt, & Rome (and the world in general) in those days.    His name means “God is gracious / has graciously given.”    Sapphira’s name refers to the beautiful blue gemstone itself.   She represents the spirit of vanity & pride. 

In Acts 5, Ananias & Sapphira, a couple of means, sell a piece of land then withhold part of the proceeds for themselves.   Peter confronts them at separate intervals & they both lie about what they have done.  Consequently, God strikes them down. They are then subsequently buried by the men of the church, indicating that they were not unbelievers who were on a mission to destroy the church; rather, they were members of the church outwardly & (most likely) inwardly too. 

Ananias represents a perversion of the meaning of his name & thus of God’s unmerited grace.   God is gracious to us.   He bestows His unmerited favor & empowerment upon us constantly.  At the same time, we withhold our love for Him & other people, prioritizing ourselves over both God and others, which in turn leads to living life on the hamster wheel of works righteousness, which is an offense to God’s grace. 

Ananias & Sapphira withheld a portion of the proceeds & sought to deceive Peter.   Ananias represents gluttony in relation to works righteousness.    Luke is highlighting his name & its meaning as a means to draw attention to works righteousness, greed, & a reluctant & recalcitrant thought process that looks very like the sort of thing a stereotypical Pharisee might do - sell a valuable artifact, trumpet the size of the gift, then withhold a portion for himself.  

Sapphira enters the building as Ananias’ beautiful wife.   She represents the twin sisters of Vanity & Pride.     She too lies to Peter, and she too is struck down.  These two individuals are married.  Where we find one, we typically find the other. 

They are proverbed as warnings that speak to us today.   “Mama likes nice things, & I know what’s mine,” are both at work today in our churches; the nation, & the world.    

So what’s going on in this text?   Think of it as a thesis statement.  Peter’s message & that of the Apostles & this reform movement within 2nd Temple Judaism were able to root out & triumph over gluttony, works righteousness, pride, & vanity within a great many Jewish & Non-Jewish communities. As the movement spread, the land was exorcised, monotheism took root, & people’s lives were transformed.   The LORD set about reconquerimg the territorial pseudodeities of the ancient world & those at work in Rome, Egypt, Asia Minor, as well as among the Parthians and others.    The Law & Gospel target human pride, vanity, gluttony, & hypocris & are, when understood & executed properly never abusive.   May it ever be both now & forevermore. 

As always, may God bless us all, each and every one & “Go & sin no more.”