According to Calvin, these are the “evils packed under” the sin of Ananias, beyond the mere attempt to deceive God and the church: “Once the love of money takes possession of a person, there is no evil that he cannot or will not do.” (Horton)
“There may indeed be the further implication that Ananias and Sapphira had vowed to give the whole proceeds of the sale to God, but then changed their mind and handed over only part.” (Bruce) They both wanted the image of great generosity, without actually being remarkably generous. His wife also being aware of it: Clearly, both husband and wife were partners in the deception. In both narratives an act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of God.” (Bruce)Ĭ. “The story of Ananias is to the Book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. The only other time nosphizomai is used in the New Testament, it means to steal (Titus 2:10). The ancient Greek word for kept back is nosphizomai, which means “to misappropriate.” The same word was used of Achan’s theft in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Joshua 7:21). He kept back part of the proceeds: They sold the possession, and gave only a portion to the church, while implying that they sacrificially gave it all to the church. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession: After they saw the great generosity of Barnabas and how well he was respected (Acts 4:36-37), Ananias and Sapphira decided they wanted to receive the same respect.ī. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.Ī. (1-2) What Ananias and Sapphira did.īut a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
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