You hear some unique sounds that are forever etched in your mind—some that you hope you never hear again. That was our conversation and consensus as we returned from burying Ananias; that dead weight dropping to the floor was something we, the young men, didn’t want to hear again.
And yet, just as we returned to the meeting, the usually busy room was again hushed, and our arrival joined the dreaded sound as we entered. This time it was a woman; we learned later it was Ananias’ wife, now lifelessly heaped at the Apostles’ feet.
Unlike his conversation with Ananias, Simon Peter’s face was taut, his jaw firm and his eyes piercing. Ananias’ hypocrisy had been unanticipated, something the Way hadn’t experienced thus far. His death was as much of a surprise to Simon Peter as it was to everyone in the room. He had just spoken the truth by a revelation of the Spirit, and that same Holy Spirit brought an unexpected judgment. It was both sad and yet, somewhat strengthening that our God was always in our midst.
Whether Peter thought Sapphira was privy to the deceptive plan or not, he never said. We all thought he hoped not. The mercy the Lord had shown him repeatedly, especially seeking him out personally after the resurrection, impacted him greatly. Yet, it wasn’t just Peter whom Sapphira stood before. He was God’s instrument for the Conductor in this orchestra called the Way, and every member had a unique and rightful part to play. None could intentionally be out of tune.
Thus, he queried Sapphira upon her entrance, asking, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” (Acts 5:8 NASB). She responded with the last words of her life; the last words she heard that followed exposed the couple’s connivance. “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well” (v. 9).
To not tempt God was a fundamental principle of the Way. Moses shared it with the forefathers in the desert, “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah” (Deuteronomy 6:16 NASB). Our Lord Jesus had embedded it in the Way when He was in the desert too. “Jesus said to him [Satan], ‘On the other hand, it is written, “YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST” (Matthew 4:7 NASB).
Yet, Ananias and Sapphira opted to test: “To test the Holy Spirit is to see how much one can get away with before He judges; it means to presume on Him, to see if He will perform His Word, or to stretch Him to the limits of judgment.”[1] And it cost them so much more than the price of the land they withheld.
We looked at each other with astonished eyes, not believing another funeral was upon us; we wrapped her body as we had done for her husband, hoisted her on our shoulders, and walked silently to lay her to rest.
Placing her in the tomb, we stepped back and bowed our heads in both prayer and reflection. We had witnessed the power of God, and the resulting awe would envelop the Way for everyone who heard about this day.
Raising our heads as one, our eyes met yet again and spoke in unison what we had learned this day: we covenanted never to lose reverence for our awesome God.
[1] J.F. Walvoord and R.B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of Scriptures, Logos Edition (Wheaton, Ill: Victor Books, n.d.).