The Death of Ananias, by Masaccio

Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, were, according to the Acts of the Apostles, members of the Early Christian church. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 440 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (880 × 1200 pixel, file size: 181 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) http://www. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 440 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (880 × 1200 pixel, file size: 181 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) http://www. ... The Holy Trinity / Trinity with the Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist, and Donors (1425-27/28) - Fresco, Santa Maria Novella, Florence Masaccio (born Tommaso Cassai or in some accounts Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Mone; December 21, 1401 – autumn 1428), was the first great painter of the Italian Renaissance. ... The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. ... The Early Christians is a term used to refer to the early followers of Jesus of Nazareth, before the emergence of established Christian orthodoxy. ... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ...

The story

Acts Chapter 4 closes by making the statement that the Christian believers in the early Church considered their possessions to be their own, "but they had all things in common," and that a church member, Barnabas, sold a plot of land and donated the profit to the apostles. It was in this context that Ananias and Sapphira decided that they, too, would like to make such a donation. After the sale they agreed only to give a certain proportion of the money to the Apostles, but to say that it was the whole amount.

In Acts 5:2, Ananias presents his donation to Peter, who replies, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" Peter points out that Ananias had every right not to sell the land at all or to do what he wanted to with the profits, but by telling a lie—by saying that he was donating the entire amount—he had lied to God.

Ananias then falls to the ground dead and is carried out. Three hours later, his wife enters and tells the same lie, suffering the same fate.

Theology of the event

What motivation could Ananias and Sapphira have had for this lie? Bible commentators believe that the motivation for this donation was to gain recognition in the community rather than simply giving to the Church. Salvation cannot be bought, and the rebuke recorded in the Gospel to the hypocritical Pharisee who was careful to be seen giving money to the poor in order to be seen as holy, indicates that the motivation of the couple was impure. Similarly, positions of authority and recognition within the Church is not at the whim of man but in the gift of God; to buy such a position or advancement is false, rebellious and ultimately schismatic. No attempt to change the means of salvation can be allowed, and intrusions of worldly politics are entriely inappropriate and unacceptable.

However, the text does not mention that Ananias said anything at all; it simply states that he sells his land, keeps some of the money, and places the rest at the apostles feet. It is Peter who interprets this as a lie. This episode throws a sinister light on the early christians, making them appear similar to some modern-day cults where anything short of absolute commitment and obedience is worthy of death.

Did the punishment fit the crime? The case for the prosecution goes like this: the lie did not come from the Holy Ghost, therefore it came from the Devil. Ananias and Sapphira were therefore spiritually dead, and their association with the Apostles caused their physical death. As a corollary, this death being supernaturally caused, it was agreed to and executed by God, and therefore just and right by definition. Note that both Ananias and Sapphira were questioned by Peter, who, detecting what was in their hearts (supernaturally, by the Holy Ghost), gave them the chance to repent. Maintaining themselves in their wickedness as they did resulted in the physical counterpart of the spiritual reality - sudden death.

What did God think about this? As far as is explained in the Scriptures, the death of Ananias and Sapphira was a direct intervention of God. His judgement and execution was therefore on the basis of what we find in Acts chapter 5; and being unable to stand evil of any kind, found it better to remove the problem at source, than to allow the nascent Church to harbour elements under the influence not of God but of the devil.

What effect did this have on the disciples and on Christians today? The disciples glorified God and were in fear (alt: respect) of Him. Looking forward there is a link to the last judgement; once God asks for an account of the doings of every man, that man will be judged by his own attitude; repentance for life, resistance for death. It also brings out even in Christian times something that is often ascribed to patriarchal or Jewish times: the hate that God has for sin, and his swift judgement upon it. Sin is therefore to be abhorred, avoided and repented of, if the reward of eternal life is to be attained. The position of the Apostolate in the eyes of God is also revealed - these men, filled with the Holy Ghost, see things as God sees them and call down His judgements, as well as His blessings, because of their position to which they have been called.

Salvation of Ananias and Sapphira

Primarily within evangelical Protestant Christianity, there is a debate about whether Ananias and Sapphira were saved. Christians who hold to a view of once saved, always saved deny that Ananias and Sapphira could have lost their salvation. Those who believe in the conditional preservation of the saints believe that they were lost. If the lie that Ananias and Sapphira conspired to commit was against the Holy Ghost, then their damnation is not in doubt. The word evangelicalism usually refers to a broad collection of religious beliefs, practices, and traditions which are found among conservative Protestant Christians. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Protestantism encompasses the forms... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... In theology, salvation can mean three related things: being saved from something, such as suffering or the punishment of sin - also called deliverance; being saved for something, such as an afterlife or participating in the Reign of God - also called redemption; being saved through a process of healing or transformation... Perseverance of the saints (or preservation of the saints or eternal security) is a controversial Christian doctrine which maintains that none who are truly saved can be condemned for their sins or finally fall away from the faith. ... The term Conditional Preservation of the Saints is used to describe the belief that a Christians salvation can be lost. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• Acts 5 at WikiSource
• King James Version Bible Commentary. 1831 pages. Thomas Nelson Publishing: 2005. ISBN 1-4185-0340-1.