Acts 5:1. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
An interesting start to this chapter; the last chapter ends with people selling possessions and this one starts talking about a CERTAIN man and his wife. In fact, 6 or 7 different translations all start the same way, A CERTAIN MAN... It seems that he and his wife sold a possession, which in light of the previous chapter isn't too strange.
Yet read on...
2. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
For whatever reason, they decided not to give the full amount to the church, and agreed to hold back a portion.
3. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
They brought a portion and led them to believe that this was all the money he got for the sale. I would have to assume that others gave all the profit and for whatever reason this couple didn't or couldn't give the entire profit. Rather than say that here was some money from the sale of our property it would appear that he approached the apostles and pretended that he gave all.
4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Peter reminds him that it was YOUR property, YOU decided to sell it and the proceeds were in YOUR hands. Yet rather than tell us that here is part of the money, you lead us to believe that you are giving all.
Had he come in and said ''here is some money from the sale of some property'' no one would have said a thing but in his pride he wanted people to THINK he gave more than he really did. He was putting on a show much like the Pharisees would with their public prayers. They prayed loudly so that people would think them more spiritual than they really were. And this man was doing the very same thing with his money.
5. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
I have seen a lot of strange things and strange attitudes in the church, but this had to be more than just afraid to give sacrificially, they pretended to give more.
Its not necessarily what we bring to God or even WHAT we have to give, but its the attitude in which we give whatever we give....
