So, this guy brings a substantial offering to the Apostles, who then scold him, and he drops over dead. What?
Ananias. His name is offered as a warning to us when it comes to giving to the Lord. Ananias lied about how much money he had given to the church. He didn’t say that he gave more than he really did……what he did was to keep some money for himself, but then let everyone believe it was the full amount he had received.
It’s not a sin to sell your property and keep the money for yourself. It’s not a sin to donate some and keep the rest for yourself. But it is a sin to say you are giving more than you really are. That’s lying, and the Holy Spirit wants no part of it. Several scholars have speculated that this occurred because the church was very young, and needed guidelines to be enforced. It sounds like they got the hint. I don’t read where this sort of thing ever happened again.
This was an intentional, willful sin, not a mistake or an accident. It was even planned out ahead of time. God may not pronounce judgment on those who commit this type of sin as quickly as He did in their day, but sooner or later there will be a punishment. We should be glad that God doesn’t punish us quickly. If everyone who claimed to be tithing but really wasn’t were to be quickly struck dead, the church would be rather empty….or at least missing a few key people.
Moving on to the truly encouraging and amazing events…. I understand from this reading that Peter and several other apostles were transported out of the jail while the door remained locked, and the guards heard nothing. That in itself is amazing. On top of that, they immediately return to doing what they are sure is going to get them arrested again. I might have moved to another town to preach…but the Holy Spirit wasn’t telling them to do that yet. After they are brought in again, the charges against them are punishable by death….but they don’t seem to be concerned. In fact, after they are beaten, they rejoice in the knowledge that they have been persecuted with Christ.
What motivates someone to this level of devotion and sacrifice? It has to come from the Holy Spirit, which is what all of us should be praying earnestly for.
Instead of asking God not to “strike us dead” because we haven’t measured up, we should be pressing hard to follow Him more closely. Compromising your faith is for shallow followers. We want nothing to do with that.
Teaching myself to celebrate imprisonment,
PR