The sad story of ananias and sapphira is not some obscure incident from the old testament regarding a violation of mosaic law. Bruce writes, the story of ananias is to the book of acts what the. They were numbered among that powerful, caring community of believers. This kind of strikingdown is rare in the new testament. Ananias and sapphira had some land they could sell. In this time followers of jesus did not consider their possessions to be their own but held. The new testament book of acts recounts the aweinspiring story of a duo whose punishment for their sin couldnt have been more swift and sure. It follows a story in chapter 4 that claimed all the christians in the early church held all possessions in common. Sunday school projects sunday school lessons school ideas bible story book bible stories bible activities church activities ananias and sapphira activity sheets. In fact, if it were, the pattern would break in acts 8 with simon the sorcerer.
The focus of this story is the survival of the church and any attempt to create an application regarding gods ability and capacity to forgive would be a misuse of the text. Ananias and sapphira bible lesson why did ananias and. To be clear, nowhere does acts 5 say that ananias and sapphira were not believers. In both narratives an act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of god. It is just a small story, tucked away in the book of acts, but to most people today the brief account of the death of ananias and sapphira stands as one of the most difficult and bewildering passages in the new testament. That is in the new testament, matthew, mark, luke, john and then acts. It is just a small story, tucked away in the book of acts, but to most people today. It is possible that these characteristics made him the leader of the christian church and qualified him to be the lords. Saul and ananias activity sheet ananias and sapphira. Ananias of damascus is mentioned in the book of acts chapter 9. Now, before i apply this hermeneutic to the story of ananias and sapphira. Well look at the marginal notes connected to barnabas in the. In my last post, i laid out a plan for studying the behavior and consequent deaths of ananias and his wife sapphira, described in acts 4.
As modern day christians we struggle with this idea of god smiting them in an atmosphere of the new covenant and grace. Sapphira s name means beautiful or pleasant, the same name given to that precious stone of deep purple blue, the sapphire. Its a story of gods protection, not gods anger at his people see exod. God and that the god of the new testament is a god of love and grace. They believed that nothing was their own all belonged to god. The story of ananias and sapphira is found in acts 5. Not every story has a happy ending, but the story of ananias and sapphira is one such story. The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the holy spirit about money. Did god strike down ananias and sapphira in the new testament.
A few of you have a different opinion about reserve. Ananias and sapphira bible story summary in the early christian church in jerusalem, the believers were so close they sold their excess land or possessions and donated the money so no one would go hungry. In the same way, god was making a point to the church with ananias and sapphira. The story of ananias and sapphira should not make you fearful of god, but. Ananias and sapphira bible story study guide learn religions. Ananias and sapphira thought they could deceive god and get away with it. It is important to understand why the punishment for ananias and sapphira was as harsh as it was.
The story of ananias and sapphira are found in the book of acts, in the new testament, as we wrap up this series on last chances from god. Bible stories for kids bible for kids sunday school lessons sunday school crafts object lessons. Ananias of acts chapter 5, the husband of sapphira, was a member of the early church in jerusalem. Luke wrote it 40 days after jesus rose from the dead. Those who say that the god of the old testament is a vengeful and violent god and that the god of the new testament is a god of love and grace, have never read the whole book.
Discover what the bibles book of acts is all about. The two, a married couple, sell a piece of property and publicly give the proceeds to the community. Their deed would surely have made an irresistible star lead story. Ananias and sapphira under the prophetic speechact of divine judgment acts 4. The christian bible passage, about ananias and sapphira, which you mentioned, and which ive been looking at, is from acts 4. Today we are learning about a married couple named ananias and sapphira. We will look at some of the early christians and what they had to suffer for jesus. He sold a possession with his wife and kept part of the proceeds for himself, with his wife also knowing about it. Understanding ananias and sapphira bible study mentor. New testament ananias and sapphira, bible stories for.
In this simple narrative, familiar to many christians, ananias and his wife sapphira sold a piece of. The apostles didnt roll into town and demand everyone sell off everything and give them the money. How do you explain the violent judgement of ananias and sapphira. The only other time nosphizomai is used in the new testament, it means to steal. Three men by the name of ananias appear in the bible, and each plays a role in the new testament book of acts. Ananias and sapphira husband and wife found in acts 4. But notice that the severity of god was followed through here into the new testament as well. Bruce, this indicates that he was not one of the refugees from the persecution in jerusalem described in acts 8. He donated the remainder to the apostles, presumably claiming it was the entire. Luke was a doctor and he is the one who wrote this book. There, paul described him as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the jews which dwelt in damascus.
Teach the children the accounts of barnabas and ananias and sapphira from acts 4. These are the two welldocumented moments of extreme judgment in the new testament. The same way i explain divine violence in the old testament. First of all, lets clear up your summary see niv text of the bible story at the end of my answer. Ananias and sapphira bible story summary and commentary jack. The story of ananias and sapphira in acts 5 is difficult. Though ananias and simons acts and motivations are slightly different, peters rebuke has a similar solemnity to itand death is even warned. Level 2 can give more knowledge and also the precise product information about everything you want.
Most of these wtf moments are found in the old testament, but there is at least one in the new testament that leaves people scratching their heads the story of ananias and sapphira. When the story of ananias and sapphira reached the rest of the church they were very afraid. The cross reveals, and a wealth of biblical material confirms, that the. It is also shown on a 1590s painting by ambrosius francken the elder. But what about gods slaying of ananias and sapphira in the new. It was for their dishonesty that ananias and sapphira were punished. The first is in acts 5 the story of ananias and sapphira and the second is in 1 corinthians 11 the lords supper. The story of ananias and sapphira is found in acts 5, and it is a sad story, indeed. Explain that we all face situations each day that require us to choose between being honest and being dishonest.
Unless otherwise indicated, individuals may post material from the gospel media portion of this site to another website or on a computer network for their own personal, noncommercial use. Where in the bible is the story of ananias answers. My forthcoming book, the crucifixion of the warrior god, looks like it will end. The story of ananias and sapphira should not make you fearful of god, but rather give you confidence that he is watching over you and protecting you from those who want to inflict harm. Ananias and sapphira coloring page elegant ananias helps saul activity sheets activity books. It is easy for us today to want to discount these things because many of these events occur in the old testament. The story of ananias and sapphira in the bible takes place in acts 5. The story of ananias is to the book of acts what the story of achan is to the book of joshua. When the sin of achan was later discovered he, like ananias in our text, was punished by being put to death. It actually begins at the end of chapter 4 with the description of the early church in jerusalem, a group of believers so filled with the holy spirit that they were of one heart and one mind. Ananias and sapphira, otherwise good members of the church, kept back a portion instead of consecrating their all.
We have each other, and that is all that matters, the lovestruck couple boasted shortly after their wedding. There is one other record of this particular disciple except in acts 22. He states that, the story aims for gallows humor, but. For those who hold to a warped theology that says god was only a god of judgment and wrath in the old testament but changed in the new testament, i think the account of the death of ananias and sapphira as told in the book of acts is a sobering story to take a good look at. The story of ananias is to the book of acts what the story of achan is to the. The first ananias is featured in a dramatic episode that took place in the early jerusalem church. Ask the children to think about the results of the choices made by barnabas, ananias, and sapphira. God demanded honor under the old covenant and reinforced that order in the new church. Story of ananias and sapphira from the book of acts chapter 5 per a. Of course, the new testament does say clearly, if anyone destroys gods temple which refers to us, his people, god will destroy him 1 cor. In pauls speech in acts 22, he describes ananias as a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the jews that dwelt in damascus. Ananias and sapphira were killed both as an example and as an act of protection.
Well begin our study by looking at the marginal notes pertaining to the viewpoint that all things were common property to them, then move on to look at ananias and sapphira. What is the lesson for us in the biblical story of ananias. However, they secretly hold back a portion of the money for themselves. Jesus has recently ascended to heaven and the first followers of jesus have bounded together. Ananias means jehovah is gracious, and god certainly had been gracious to him. A common name among jews, ananias is the greek form of the hebrew name hananiah and means yahweh has been gracious. So why must we leave a good thing like a book ananias and sapphira moran bible stories. Skinner claims the story is meant to be gallows humour. Their story is rarely shown in art, but is the subject of one of the raphael cartoons, and a panel on the brescia casket, both illustrated here. Theres simply no reason to think the cruciform hermeneutic reading scripture through the lens of the cross applies only to the old testament. How do you explain the violent judgement of ananias and. You said, in your reply to susan stitch, the truth is, we have no evidence of ananias and sapphira having been saved and filled with the holy spirit to begin with, but that is not really correct, liz. There is nothing in this story, acts, or the new testament as a whole that indicates this is a pattern for how god acts.