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NASB | Acts 5:9 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." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 5:9 Then Peter said to her, "How could you two have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." |
Bible Question: Since the Book of Acts is in the New Testament, Why did Ananias and Sapphira die for their sin, if Jesus had already died and paid the price for them? |
Bible Answer: Hi Keliy, You ask an interesting question- and one that scripture doesn't answer directly! Here are a couple thoughts: 1. The Bible Knowledge Commentary offers this- "5:5-6. When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. As Peter wrote later, judgment begins “with the family of God” (1 Peter 4:17). This is a case of “sin that leads to death” (1 John 5:16). This discipline was severe because it was an example, as Achan was an example to Israel (cf. 1 Cor. 10:6)."; 2. Hard Sayings of the Bible provides these insights (quoted in part)- "The story of Ananias and Sapphira is an uncomfortable one that contains a number of difficult issues. What did this couple do that was so wrong? Why weren’t they simply exposed and then called to repentance? Why did they die, and why don’t we see the same penalty happening in the church today? Their immediate death without a chance to repent probably had two reasons. First, it was the first time that believers had issued such a challenge to God, so it was important for God to act clearly and decisively to prevent any misunderstanding about the reality of his presence and his willingness to hear and judge. Second, it was a time of intense spiritual presence, and where the evidence of God’s presence is greater the sin of challenging that presence is more serious. There also may be mercy involved in such a judgment. While death is an ultimate penalty from the human perspective, from the divine perspective it is far less serious than a continued movement into sin and deception; the quick divine judgment prevents full apostasy (1 Cor 11:32). The teaching of the story, then, is twofold. First, Christians are not to put God to the test. Jesus gave the proper example of endurance under testing in Matthew 4:7. Christians are to follow suit and trust God in hard places. Second, the presence of the Spirit in the church is not without its dangers. Some died for ignoring the presence of the Lord (1 Cor 11:30; the sin is a rubbing of salt in the wounds of social divisions in the church). The church was given the authority to make declarations that may have the same effect as Peter’s (although perhaps not with such an immediate result; 1 Cor 5:3–5; compare 2 Cor 13:10)." I hope this helps, BradK |