Sapphira
Wife of Ananias
Wife of Ananias who agreed to lie to the Holy Ghost and was struck dead at Peter's feet.
Acts 5 tells of Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a possession, kept back part of the price, and laid the rest at the apostles' feet pretending it was the whole. Both were struck dead.
Her Story
Ananias came first; Peter said, 'Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost...?' He fell down and gave up the ghost. About three hours later Sapphira came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked, 'Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?' She said, 'Yea, for so much.' Peter answered, 'How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.' Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost. Great fear came upon all the church.
What Scripture Teaches
- 1Conspired with Ananias to deceive the church (Acts 5:1-2)
- 2Lied directly to the Holy Ghost (5:9)
- 3Struck dead at Peter's feet (5:10)
- 4Great fear came upon all the church (5:11)
Key KJV Scriptures
"Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out."
Why It Matters
The first recorded sin of the church was not theft but pretense — and God's holiness in the Spirit met it with immediate judgment. The early church learned the fear of the Lord.
Application for Today
Better honest little than pretended much. The Spirit indwells the church and will not be lied to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was their sin keeping back money or lying about it?
Peter is explicit (Acts 5:4): the land and its price were theirs to keep. The sin was the conspiracy to deceive — lying to the Holy Ghost.
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