Page 37 - Sarah's Children

who entered into a deceptive practice and both were judged as transgressors by God.
It is therefore not always the will of God that wives obey their husbands. The story
of Ananias and Sapphira reveals the consequences of joining with another in sin,
even if the person is your husband.

Acts 5:1-10
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of
property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full
knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the
Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it
remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was
it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed
in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." And as he heard
these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear
came over all who heard of it. The young men got up and covered him
up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an
interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what
had happened. And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold
the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, that was the
price." Then Peter said to her, "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." And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and
the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out
and buried her beside her husband.

There is much to be gleaned from this account. We are told that it was Ananias, the
husband, who decided to hold a portion of the money back. It was the husband who
initiated the sinful behavior, but his wife Sapphira was fully aware of his actions.
Ananias’ sin was not in holding back a portion of the money. The money was his to
do with as he desired. He was under no constraint to give any of it. His sin was in
being deceptive. He wanted to appear generous in the eyes of the church, so he gave
the false appearance that he was giving the full amount for which the property had
sold.

I am sure that before going to present the money to the apostles that Ananias asked
his wife to agree with him in this deception, even as Abraham asked Sarah to agree
with him. Abraham’s deception resulted in shame and humiliation for him. With
Ananias and Sapphira the consequences were even more severe.

Because Ananias lied to the apostles and attempted to deceive the church about his