Topical Bible: The Death of the Wicked: Ananias

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Introduction

Ananias, a member of the early Christian community in Jerusalem, is a significant figure in the New Testament due to his deceitful actions and subsequent death. His account is primarily recounted in the Book of Acts, where his actions serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of lying to the Holy Spirit and the community of believers.

Biblical Account

The account of Ananias is found in Acts 5:1-11. Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, they conspired to keep back part of the proceeds for themselves while pretending to donate the entire amount to the apostles. This act of deception was not merely against the human leaders of the church but was considered a lie to God Himself.

Acts 5:3-4 records the confrontation by the Apostle Peter: "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!'"

Theological Implications

The death of Ananias is a stark reminder of the holiness and justice of God. In the early church, the community of believers was characterized by unity and sincerity, as seen in Acts 4:32-35. Ananias's deceit threatened this unity and integrity. His sudden death, as described in Acts 5:5, "On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened," underscores the seriousness with which God views sin, particularly hypocrisy and deceit within the church.

Moral and Ethical Lessons

Ananias's account serves as a moral lesson on the importance of honesty and integrity in the Christian life. It highlights the danger of hypocrisy and the temptation to seek personal gain under the guise of piety. The narrative warns believers of the spiritual peril in allowing Satan to influence one's heart, as noted by Peter's rebuke.

Impact on the Early Church

The immediate consequence of Ananias's death was a profound sense of fear and reverence among the early Christians. Acts 5:11 states, "And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events." This fear was not merely terror but a deep respect for the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. It reinforced the need for purity and sincerity within the community of believers.

Conclusion

The account of Ananias is a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of maintaining integrity within the Christian community. His account is a testament to the belief that God is not only loving and merciful but also just and righteous, holding His people accountable for their actions.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 5:5,9,10
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Ananias and Sapphira.
... "Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ... heard these things." The
suddenness of his death is not to ... to the righteous and to the wicked; to the ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture vi ananias and sapphira.htm

The Way of Life and the Way of Death.
... Not as if all killing were wicked, but only that ... in Israel at Jericho, was stoned
to death; [3376] and ... his bowels gushed out; [3379] and Ananias, and Sapphira ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on the two ways.htm

Hebrews x. 13-Aug
... For, as He says, "I wish not the death of the ... For the wicked man as long as he is
wicked, cannot be ... Consider how the poor man Peter chastised the rich Ananias. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xviii hebrews x 13-aug.htm

Concerning Albinus under Whose Procuratorship James was Slain; as ...
... But Ananias was too hard for the rest, by his ... did themselves get together a multitude
of wicked wretches, and ... to be most plainly worthy of death, and ordered ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 concerning albinus under.htm

Epistle xxxiv. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse .
... turn not from his iniquity and from his wicked way, he ... to be saved or myself to be
rescued from thy death. ... Ananias had vowed money to God (Acts 5:2 seq.), which ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxxiv to venantius ex-monk.htm

The Character of Its Teachings Evidences the Divine Authorship of ...
... For a single sin Ananias and Sapphira were cut off out of the land of the ... any belief
in a future life, it was held that at death the wicked either passed ...
/.../pink/the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter four the character of.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... The same may be said of Judas and Ananias, &c., for their sin and punishment were
known to all the ... His wicked life, and fearful death, especially since the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Book 20 Footnotes
... was not sent into Judea till after the death of king ... high priest Jonathan, by the
contrivance of this wicked procurator, Felix ... Ananias, the son of Nebedeus.21. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 20 footnotes.htm

Letter cix. To Riparius.
... Joseph, who was a type of our Lord and Saviour, was a wicked man; for ... Simon the zealot,
[3034] of the severity of Peter in putting to death Ananias and Sapphira ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cix to riparius.htm

The Conversion of Paul.
... was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. ... This circumstance is mentioned to
encourage Ananias to visit him ... However wicked a man may have formerly been, we ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xii the conversion of.htm