Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Acts 5:5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 5:5 And hearing these words, Ananias fell down suddenly and died; and great fear and awe gripped those who heard of it. |
Subject: Were Ananias and Sapphira believers? |
Bible Note: Apollos - Yes, I incline to view the passage in much the same way as you do, that we can't justify our being dogmatic about the soteriology of Ananias and Sapphira, because the Bible really doesn't tell us. In my readings of Scripture over many years I find that there are other characters in the Bible about whose eternal resting place the word of God is essentially silent. We may sometimes draw a fairly strong inference, or hazard a somewhat educated guess, that this one probably was saved or that that one probably wasn't, but we come up short of proof on which to base anything but a qualified 'perhaps.' God does not reveal all things, nor does He give us a roster of all the characters in the Bible in alphabetical order, listing beside each name whether they were saved or unsaved. But there is no doubt in my mind that the Bible makes it abundantly clear what sinners such as I must do to be saved. In lieu of guessing about the salvation of Ananias and Sapphira, might it not be better to take care to make our own calling and election sure as we spread the gospel to lost sinners? It seems to me a better use of time. Thanks, Apollo, for your contribution. Since I agree with your conclusion in this matter, I therefore believe you're quite right! :-) --Hank |