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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Ananias and Sapphira Had No Chance? | Acts 5:9 | Searcher56 | 10941 | ||
What did this couple do that was so wrong? Why weren't they simply exposed and given a chance to repentance? Was the death penalty too sereve for what thye did? Steve Steve |
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2 | Ananias and Sapphira Had No Chance? | Acts 5:9 | Brent Douglass | 10991 | ||
Steve, There are some good questions here. Please don't be put off by the length yet incompletenes of my answer. The 3rd answer is probably the easiest to answer. I'd have to say, "No, it wasn't too severe," because it was God's judgment. His ways are absolutely perfect, with no error. My understanding is flawed, but not His ways. Isaiah 55:8f '"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts."' 1 John 1:5 "This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." God knew their hearts. There is no indication in Acts 5 that Peter spoke the death sentence against Ananias at all. He simply stated that which Ananias had conceived and that Ananias had "lied to the Holy Spirit." With Sapphira, it is true that Peter declared what would happen. However, it was not spoken as a command but simply as a statement of what he knew to be true. The other questions are probably more to the point of the questions that I believe Luke (and God as the inspirer) was trying to convey through this, "Why was this sin so heinous, and what does that mean for me?" God clearly despises false deceptions in which we deliberately parade ourselves to be loving, spiritual or Christlike in a way that we are not. Barnabas was set forward as a true example worthy of emulation, and Ananias and Sapphira were set forth as a false example for all of us to fear. There was no obligation to give all of the proceeds, but the couple had clearly struck a bargain (based on Sapphira's interchange with Peter) to present themselves in a false way before the leadership of God's church. It is a reasonable assumption that they were not truly believers at all, but only God knows if they are now in heaven, and physical death is far less horrifying than spiritual death. False believers are in greater eternal danger than admitted unbelievers, for their judgment is greater, being constantly exposed to the truth and convincing others (and sometimes even themselves) of their faith while their souls have really never been reborn. See Matthew 7:13-23 (particularly 21-23) to get a glimpse of how we can deceive even ourselves but not God. God knew the hearts of this couple (including any willingness to repent if they had been given the chance) in a way that we do not, and Peter knew and spoke only what the Holy Spirit had revealed to him in this situation. We can postulate (and even assume with a fair degree of confidence) some of what it was that affected God's sudden punishment of them; while we may not know for sure, it is good for the same kind of fear that fell upon the people of that time to sometimes fall upon us as well.... Acts 5:14ff "And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord.... But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number." |
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3 | Ananias and Sapphira Had No Chance? | Acts 5:9 | Searcher56 | 11315 | ||
Brent Douglass, Great answer. Just like when Uzzah touched the Ark, the punishement was with out delay. There times like Adam and Eve ... and even us when we do not get what we deverse. I am glad. Plus, I am glad I have a chance to repent. -Steve |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Acts 5:9 | Author | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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tugrad98 | ||
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Brent Douglass | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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keliy |