Ananias and Sapphira
A Sermon on Acts 5:1-11
Originally preached Jan. 9, 1966
Scripture
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan …
Sermon Description
In Acts 5:1-11, Annanias and his wife Sapphira were judged by God for lying to the Holy Spirit. This sermon explains that God is active and rules in this world. As Creator, He has the right and the power to do as He wills with His creation. In this sermon on Ananias and Sapphira, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on Acts chapter 5 and shows that while many modern men hate the idea of a supernatural spiritual realm, the Bible reveals the existence of angels, demons, and the devil. This is a part of the world we live in and the Bible clearly teaches this from beginning to end. But God is sovereign over all of it, both the spiritual and the material aspects of reality. In His commentary, Dr Lloyd-Jones explains that we must not shy away for what Scripture teaches regarding the existence of the spiritual realm. The church must be active in its opposition to evil in all its forms and ways. There is a war between God and Satan, between good and evil, and between light and darkness. This is a cosmic war that takes place amongst us but we have hope in the power of God and his gospel. In the gospel, Jesus triumphs over all sin and evil, and through his Spirit we have the power to fight against all evil and darkness in this world.
Sermon Breakdown and Commentary
- The sermon begins by establishing that the passage being discussed (Acts 5:1-11) is a factual historical account, not a parable.
- The honesty and truthfulness of the Bible is emphasized. It presents events truthfully, showing both the good and the bad.
- It is explained how Ananias and Sapphira were not obligated to sell their land or give the proceeds to the church. Their actions were completely voluntary. However, they lied about the amount they donated.
- Ananias and Sapphira died as a result of their sin, not from shock or a pronouncement of judgment by Peter. Their deaths were an act of God.
- This passage from Acts chapter 5 shows that the early church was not just a human institution. Mysterious, unexplainable events occurred that demonstrated God's power.
- The primary meaning of Acts 5:1-11 is that the unseen, spiritual realm is real and preeminent. The material world is temporary, but the spiritual is eternal.
- The modern world's biggest problem is that it has forgotten the spiritual realm. It relies only on what can be seen and measured scientifically.
- The Bible, in contrast, asserts the reality and primacy of the spiritual realm. The events of the Bible, like miracles, show the spiritual breaking into the material world.
- The story of Ananias and Sapphira in particular shows that God is intimately involved in the world and acts to judge sin.
- The passage also shows that there are spiritual beings, both good and evil, that influence the world. Satan filled Ananias' heart, leading him to sin.
- There is an ongoing battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. Christians are caught in the middle of this battle.
- Acts 5:1-11 is a reminder that there will be a final judgment, where God will judge all people for their actions and hold them accountable.
- The message of the passage calls people to repent, turn from sin, and believe the gospel.
Sermon Q&A
What Is the Story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 About?
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a powerful and sobering account of God's judgment on dishonesty within the early church. According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, this incident reveals several important spiritual truths that are often overlooked in modern interpretations.
What happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5?
Ananias and Sapphira were members of the early church who sold a possession and claimed to give all the proceeds to the apostles, while secretly keeping back part of the money. When confronted by Peter, Ananias fell down dead, and three hours later, the same fate befell Sapphira when she maintained the same deception. This was not simply a case of people dying from shock or Peter pronouncing judgment, but rather a direct, judicial action from God Himself at the beginning of the church's formation.
Why did God judge Ananias and Sapphira so severely?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the severity of judgment came because:
- Their act was completely voluntary - no one compelled them to sell their property or give the proceeds
- They deliberately deceived the apostles and the church, pretending to give everything when they weren't
- As Peter stated, they had "lied to the Holy Spirit" and to God Himself, not merely to men
- God was establishing a principle at the very beginning of church history about His holiness and the church's nature
What does the Ananias and Sapphira story teach about the nature of Christianity?
According to Lloyd-Jones, this incident teaches that:
- The church is not merely a human society or institution but has a supernatural element
- Christianity affirms the reality of the unseen spiritual realm - "The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18)
- There is a personal God who acts in human history and holds people accountable
- There is a personal devil (Satan) who influences people to sin, as Peter specifically mentioned Satan filling Ananias' heart
- There will be a final judgment where all human actions will be evaluated
How is this story relevant for Christians today?
This story remains deeply relevant because:
- It reminds believers that God is holy and takes sin seriously
- It warns against hypocrisy and deception within the church
- It confirms that we live in a world where unseen spiritual realities (both divine and demonic) profoundly affect human life
- It challenges the modern materialistic worldview that denies spiritual realities
- It calls all people to repentance and faith in light of God's knowledge of our hearts and the coming judgment
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this account isn't meant to suggest that all sudden deaths are divine punishment, nor can we know with certainty the eternal destiny of Ananias and Sapphira. Rather, the incident stands as a powerful reminder at the beginning of church history that God is real, present, and concerned with truth and integrity in His people.
The Book of Acts
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.