June 5, 2025 • 26 mins
Witness the sobering consequences of deceit in the church as Ananias and Sapphira’s attempt to gain glory for themselves leads to a powerful display of God’s justice.
In this episode of The Jesus Podcast, Ananias and Sapphira conspire to deceive the apostles by withholding part of their offering while seeking public recognition for their gift. When confronted by Peter, their dishonesty brings swift judgment from God, reminding the early church of the seriousness of integrity and generosity in their fellowship.
Today's Bible verse is Matthew 6:4, from the King James Version.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So that your giving may be in secret, and your father,
who sees in secret, will reward you. Matthew six y four.
Gracious Father, we thank you for seeing our hearts and
knowing our motives. We ask for humility, Lord, that we
may give generously without seeking the recognition of others. Help
(00:24):
us to remember that our reward is not in the
praise of man, but in your approval alone. Teach us
to give faithfully and quietly, trusting that you see what
is done in secret.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
May we be.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Content with your acknowledgment, finding joy and serving others out
of love for you. Keep our hearts pure, focused on
your glory and not our own. Strengthen us to remain
faithful in our giving even when no one else sees.
(01:01):
In Jesus's name, Amen, thank you for praying with me today.
You are listening to the Jesus Podcast. Remain here for
another dramatized story inspired by the Book of Acts and
the birth of the Church. If this podcast has blessed you,
make sure to follow so you never have to miss
(01:22):
an episode. Anonius made his way tiresomely down the darkened street.
He had taken longer closing up his shop than he
would have liked, and the price to pay was smelling
warm cooked meals through lighted windows while his stomach growled
with hunger, and an Ias grumbled mindlessly to himself in
(01:44):
cold bitterness.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
All these people enjoying their lives, and mim who is
working with the short end of the stick.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
He was suddenly drawn from his complaining when he heard
a loud thud. He turned and squinted down the lane.
He could make out a dozen or so figures standing
out front of a house. He bent his ear to
listen in. If he had to endure the late walk,
he might as well do so with the enjoyment he
found in eavesdropping.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I went to the market today to sell one of
my fields. You see, the Lord has graced me with
more than I need. The fruit of my other fields
alone will continue to feed those who hunger. But I
hope that the money this field has brought will be
able to bless the people of God in an even
greater way. I would have given it to the gathering today,
(02:33):
but I thought it best to wait, considering the amount.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
And Anius recognized Barnabas voice. Not only did they own
land near one another, but both had become followers of
Jesus since the Resurrection, and Anaias stepped behind the corner
of a nearby house, cautiously peering around the edge.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
May the world now of the goodness of God demonstrated
to you today, Barnabas, The Lord will use what you've
done secret to glorify himself in the light.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
As the man entered the house, Annaias pressed the small
of his back against the wall. With a heavy sigh,
he pounded it with the heel of his fist.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
One day I'll have the recognition I deserve.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
What's the cost of pretending? What are the ripple effects
of our fake faith? Make no mistake, friends, a fake
faith can cause some serious damage to you and to
God's people. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast, a year of
stories showcasing the death of Christ's love and the glory
of his spirit. We've been going through a mini series
(03:43):
on the birth of the Church, showcasing that the power
and work of Christ lives on through his followers. Take
a moment to follow on whatever platform you're listening to
so you never have to miss an episode. Today, we're
diving into one of the more shocking stories in the
Book of Acts today's episode is inspired by Acts five
one through sixteen, and it introduces us to a couple
who wanted to make a name for themselves in the
(04:05):
early Church, but ended up as a cautionary tale. Their
names in Anias in Sephira. The story of their deceit
reminds us that while we can fool people, we can
never fool God.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Back at home, Annia sat at his table. He swirled
a cup of wine around in his hand like a
fortune teller, trying to see the future, and the circular wavelets.
His wife, Saphira, busily scurried around the kitchen, fixing him
a plate of lukewarmfood.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
It's just not fair, Saphira. Barnabas has all this wealth,
so of course he can afford the praise. Where does
that leave the rest of us to scurry under the
feet of the apostles for table scraps?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And Anaias held nothing back. If asked, he would have
blamed his lack of control on the tiredness from the day,
but his heart knew he would feel the same emotion
in the morning after a heavy night of sleep. The
sourness from years of self loathing and envy had corrupted
away at his heart. Regardless of whether his feelings were
(05:12):
right or wrong, he felt a sense of security sharing
it with his wife. Saphiro was faithful to a fault
and would follow Anonaeus to the ends of the earth.
She had fallen deeply in love with him at a
young age, and the years together only fortified her affection
for her husband.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
You're absolutely right, dear, you work just as hard as Barnabas,
if not harder. For I've heard he can afford help
this year.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
An Anius grunted with a judgmental nod of his head.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
Ah, but have some food. I'm sure you're hungry.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Try to relax.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Things will turn for the better.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Saphirah carefully laid a plate of homemade rosemary bread, olives,
and grapes before her husband. He thanked her as he
looked up into her eyes. He could see that she
was just as worn out as he was, yet her
eyes still glored with the virancy of a youthful soul.
When she stepped away, Annaias pushed around the food on
(06:15):
his plate, but satiating his hunger was going to have
to wait for a deeper desire burned within him.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
You know, my love, I've been thinking, thinking about what
you were saying about things turning out for the better.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I believe I have a way to help us, Safi
returned with an inquisitive look. Ever since they had devoted
themselves to the teachings of Jesus, she struggled to think
about herself.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Well, ah usend the believers. Of course, a mutually beneficial plan,
if you will, you know our field, the one that's
dried up as of late, Perhaps it would be better
if we rid ourselves of the burden. We can give
some of the proceeds to the apostles and keep some ourselves.
Of course, the apostles need not know that last part.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Though Saphira questioned Anonia's words silently, in her mind, she
could feel a subtle prodding within her that caused her
to struggle with the idea. Though Anonius didn't say it explicitly,
he fully intended to deceive the Apostles. She knew what
he was saying was wrong, but her love for Anonius
(07:27):
caused her to mistakenly take her duties as an encouraging
wife to mean disrespecting the spirit. His prompts to oppose
the plan would possibly upset her husband further.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
And this was the.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Gateway to her flesh. Playing the part of opposing counsel,
she began to convince herself that the plan wasn't entirely wrong.
What harm could come from seeking a little recognition if
the church still received support. As she thought through and
anyas plan, she allowed herself to admit the weight of
(08:04):
life she had started to feel. It was the first
time in a long time. Her shoulder slumped forward. Perhaps
this was how God would allow them a chance at
a fresh start.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
You are crafty, my love, with a sharp mind. Do
as you see fit, and I will follow up with
you accordingly. I trust you.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Saphira stared into the flame of the rusted lamp in
the kitchen. She held her hand up to it, feeling
its small, radiating warmth. She pressed her fingers closer, allowing
the dancing flame to tap her finger tips. She winced
in pain as she drew her hand back swiftly. She
pondered the duality of its nature to both comfort and harm.
(08:51):
In its right place, it gave light to the whole house,
but uncontained, it would burn the entire house without a
consideration for what laid in its path. Near the end
of the week, some believers gathered to listen to the
apostles teaching pray and worship. Together. The sound of hundreds
of voices lifting the name of the Lord high in
(09:14):
praises rang through the streets and up to the heavens.
People working their way up and down the street would
regularly stop and listen in. On many occasions, they would
find themselves staying longer than they intended. Something in the
depths of their soul. Would cry out and satisfaction at
(09:34):
the words of Jesus gospel and hearing the simplicity of
receiving the grace of Jesus through his scandalous rescue plan,
they would give their hearts to the Lord and join
the people of the Way. And Annias wriggled through the people,
his eyes set on the apostles at the center of
the congregation. He'd arrived from the market place and carried
(09:58):
two coiners us, one in each hand. He passed the
two bags between his left and right hands before slipping
the larger of the bags into his satchel. He found
Saphira near the front rows just as John began addressing
the crowds, brothers and sisters.
Speaker 6 (10:17):
People of the Way Blessed be the Lord, our God,
king of the universe, who provides for our needs. He
is exceedingly grateful for your cheerful.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Giving, and we are humbled to distribute his provision to
the needy.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
This was the perfect opportunity an Anaias thought to.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
Himself today we have wonderful news. Last week a believer
among you sought a large piece of property, and they
have chosen, from the goodness of their heart, to give
all the money they have earned from it to the
Lord and his people. But they have asked that the
left hand not know the works of the right, and
(10:56):
they will therefore remain anonymous. But the Lord knows when
you give in secret, and he will reward you openly
as he sees.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Fits and nice eyes turned to slits as his nostrils flared,
A white fury raged within him as he realized barnabas
humility had slung an army of arrows into his plan.
He had mistakenly assumed John's note of God being glorified
in the light was a hint at publicly acknowledging Barnabas
(11:28):
by name. Never had he considered barnabas delicate choice for
anonymity to be set in storm. Along with his gift,
he calculated his options. Perhaps there was still hope for
recognition for his good deeds, even if he.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Had to work the system.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
He waited until the gathering ended before sharing it with Saphira.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
I shall follow them home, just as Parnabus must have there.
I will presume them with our offering. Then they will
acknowledge us before the gathering, just like with Barnabas. Today.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Saphira gave a sullen nod, a mark of her inward
wrestling lead the way. Then, as the people began to scatter,
an Annias slithered behind the apostles as they made their
way home. He mimed everything he had seen and heard
the night he had stumbled upon Barnabas and the apostles.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Excuse me, apostles, wait.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
And Annius sped into a light job. He could hear
the coins jingling in the bag at his side. He
firmly placed one hand over the bag to silence them
as he lifted the other coin purse high into the air,
a triumphant display of his deceitful generosity.
Speaker 7 (12:42):
Ha ha ha a anius, how splendid to seal you?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
How are you and Sephara.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
We are quite well, brother Peter. In fact, we are splendid,
for the Lord has been gracious with us, and we'd
like to share our good fortune.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And Annius dropped the cones on the ground and took
a knee. He pressed his face low as his eyes
flitted about in anticipation.
Speaker 7 (13:08):
Oh a gift, How marvelous. Please tell us how the
Lord has placed such generosity on your arm.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Where you see my wife and I have a field.
Let us say we had a field, we soldiers, we
might give the full earnings to the people of the way.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Peter noted the familiarity of anonius newfound wealth, quickly connecting
the dots to John's interactions with Barnabus. The Spirit whirred
around Peter's mind like a watchman's trumpet, sounding at the
sight of the enemy. Peter was washed over with supernatural
clarity as Anonious dark deeds were being revealed to him
(13:50):
through the spirit's divine revelations. Righteous anger swept over the
apostle like the red seas closing over the Egyptian an Anius.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
How have you allowed Satan to fill your heart? You
have lied to the Holy Spirit, For you have indeed
kept some of the money you received for the land
for yourself.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
An Anius quaked as fear sunk it's claws into his heart.
He had been caught, and he could feel the color
draining from his face and any hope of being praised.
He dug through his thoughts to find an excuse that
might dampen the blow to his pride, but nothing came.
Peter began to reason with the lost disciple.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Didn't the land belong to you before it was so?
And after it was so? It wasn't the money yours
to use as you pleased? What made you think of doing.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Such a thing?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I will I saw maybe I it was havid.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
An Anius stammered incoherently. Peter's voice struck his soul, like
falling oak tree splintering against the forest floor. Annius felt
himself sweating as a harsh, heated wind spiraled around him.
Speaker 7 (15:05):
You have not just lied to mankind, but to God.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
At these final words, an Annius grasped at his chest
in agony. The man cried out in anguish before lifelessly
dropping to the ground. Before the other disciples gasped at
the suddenness of what they had witnessed. Him, but each
one knew it was undeniably the spirit protecting the people
(15:30):
of God from the cunning serpent of old. He had
lured Anonius into perverting the good things of life for
personal gain, but had been thwarted yet again. Peter whispered
to Andrew, who ran down the street. A few minutes later,
Andrew returned with several other men. The men carefully wrapped
(15:52):
Anonaius in a sackloth and hoisted his body up. Though
he had left the world in shame, they would respectfully
bury him, guarding their own hearts against the same bitterness
that had consumed Anonius in life. Hours passed along sluggishly
(16:13):
as Saphira worried in an empty home. She watched the
late afternoon shadows stretched slowly into the evening, and Anais
had been gone far longer than she would have expected.
If the apostles had invited him in as they had
with Barnabas, wouldn't he have called for her to join,
or worse, had something gone wrong. She shuffled to her seat.
(16:38):
No harm could come from checking on her husband, she
thought to herself. She anxiously strode along the winding streets
of the neighborhood. All she could think about was the
well being of her husband. She had worked hard to
provide a stable life for them, and she desperately wanted
him to find some reprieve from his weariness in the
(16:59):
recognition of the Apostles. She found the house where the
Apostle stayed and gently knocked on the door. She peered
through the window as a slight breeze brushed the curtain
back slightly. She noticed a dozen men huddled around the table.
They were in concentrated discussions with one another. Her head
(17:21):
whipped back forward as the door opened slowly. Matthias poked
his face out. Matthias chefishly called for Peter while pushing
the door wider.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Peter, she's here.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Peter rose to his feet slowly. The creaking of his
chair emphasized the silence of the rest of the room.
Speaker 7 (17:43):
Thank you, Matthias. A good evening, Sapphira. We were expecting you.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Please come in.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Saphira was surprised to hear that she was expected, as
no word had been sent along to her. She stepped
cautiously through the door.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
You you were.
Speaker 7 (18:02):
Yes, Anonius was here not too long ago to share
a gift with the believers. I assume you knew of.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
This, Sephira remained poised at the question.
Speaker 7 (18:17):
I see, well, then perhaps you can confirm that this
is the price an Anius receive for the land.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Yes, we discussed it beforehand. We prayed and sought the lord.
I fully supported Ananaius and what he thought was best.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Peter upended anonius coin purse into his hand. The truth was,
Saphira hadn't known the amount and Anius received for the land,
but she remembered anonius plan to tell the apostle that
his gift was the entirety of his prophets.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Yes, that is the amount.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
In an instant, the same rushing wind that had encircled
Anonius swept around Sephira, rattled the house. His floorboards creaked,
and dust fell through the ceiling above. Safira's sight left
her as panic crept over her body. The hot whirlwind
seemed to draw the air straight out of Saphira's lungs.
(19:16):
She gasped helplessly, clutching at the apostles robes. Losing consciousness,
Sapphira released her grip and slammed her hands against the ground,
fighting for stability. In her blindness, she heard Peter's thundrous voice,
How could you conspire together.
Speaker 7 (19:35):
To test the spirit of the Lord. Listen, the feet
of the men who buried your husband are at the door,
and they will carry you out.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Also, just as her husband had, Saphira's body fell motionless
to the dust from which it had come. The same
men who had buried Anonius now came for the body
of his conspirators. Of what happened took to the wind
the next morning. By evening the next day, all the
(20:06):
believers in Jerusalem were gripped with fear, not in fear
of punishment, but in admiration for his holiness.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
They were in awe that.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
The Lord's righteous judgment, devoted themselves steadfastly to his teaching
and purposed in their hearts to abide by his way
of living. The Lord had dealt seriously with Anonias and Sapphira,
and would not take such selfishness lightly. He needed his
(20:38):
people to follow the lofty call of following him and
the dire need to care for one another. They were
a chosen people who were called to endeavor together to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Our story today started on a high note or so
it seemed Annias and Saphira, inspired by the generosity of Barnabas,
sold a piece of property. Sounds great, right, But there's
a twist. They kept back part of the money while
pretending to give it all. Imagine them coming in, smiles
on their faces, laying the money at the apostles feet,
as if to say, look, how generous we are. It's
(21:22):
a classic case of keeping up with appearances. But the
Holy Spirit is not one to be deceived. Peter, filled
with the Holy Spirit, calls them out, an Anias, why
has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?
Notice Peter's words here. He doesn't say why have you
lied to us? Or why have you lied to the Church?
He says you lie to the Holy Spirit. That's like
(21:44):
trying to pull a fast one on someone who can
see right through you. Peter also doesn't reprimand Annius by
saying why didn't you give all the money? Because here's
the thing. If they wanted to keep half the money
for themselves and give half the money to the church,
that would have been totally fine. It's the fact that
they wanted the appearance of giving everything, but only giving half.
(22:04):
Let's pause and consider all of this. Was there sin
keeping a part of the money not at all. Peter
makes it clear, while it remained, was it not your own?
And after it was sold was it not in your
own control? They were free to do what they wanted
with the money. The sin wasn't in holding back, but
in pretending to give it all. They wanted the reputation
(22:24):
of being sacrificial without the actual sacrifice. They wanted the
applause with none of the cost. And there's the rub. Friends.
Their sin wasn't stinginess, It was hypocrisy. How often do
we fall into that same trap? We put on our
Sunday best, not just in clothes, but in our spiritual lives.
We might drop a Bible verse in conversation or post
(22:45):
it on social media to sound holy, or talk about
how we've been praying fervently for someone, when in reality,
we're hitting the snooze button on our spiritual lives. We're
so busy crafting a holy image that we forget holiness
is an inside job. When we get to the jaw
dropping part of the story, you see this part makes
me uncomfortable because I would have loved it if Anonius
(23:07):
and Saphira were just rebuked and then they repent and
then everyone makes up. But that's not how the story goes.
And honestly, this is a really weird and off putting
passage because this doesn't happen in any other parts of
the Book of Acts. We don't ever see someone in
the New Testament being off because of their disobedience. That
seems more like an Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy type of
(23:29):
thing to happen. You see, as soon as Peter confronts Anonius,
he drops dead. Talk about a dramatic end to a
church service. And just when you think it couldn't get
any crazi or three hours later, Saphiro walks in, completely
unaware of what's happened. Peter gives her a chance to
come clean, but she doubles down on the lie and
she also drops dead on the spot. Now I can
hear some of you thinking, wow, isn't that a bit harsh?
(23:51):
But here's the thing. God's judgment here is not just
about punishing a simple mistake. It's about protecting the integrity
of the early Church. This was a critical moment for
the church and God had to set a clear standard.
You cannot build God's Kingdom on lies. The church was
growing rapidly, and God knew that unchecked hypocrisy could rot
it from the inside out. And here's the thing. We've
(24:14):
seen a lot of this in today's culture, haven't we.
We've seen a pastor or a church leader's hypocrisy really
blowing things up for other people's faith. How many of
you have been in a church where the senior pastor
has had an affair or there's been some serious money
problems in dishonesty. These types of things cause riffs. This
type of hypocrisy can really hurt the faith of people
(24:35):
who have innocently come in yearning for connection but end
up really burned by these types of things. It's not
that we have to be perfect, but we can't be hypocrites.
And I think this passage is so intense as a
warning sign for not only the early church, but for
us today. You see deceit and hypocrisy have large consequences,
(24:56):
and we see a very appropriate response after this. What
happens next Anonius and Sephirah are buried. It says, so
great fear came upon the church and upon all who
heard these things. Yeah, duh, imagine if that happened in
today's church. The lesson was very clear. God takes the
purity of his church seriously. But notice what also happens.
(25:17):
It says, and through the hands of the apostles, many
signs and wonders were done among the people. Purity leads
to power. God's spirit moves mightily when his people are
walking in integrity. The early church responded with awe in
the community around them took notice the result. More people
believed and were added to their number. Here's the irony.
The church grew not despite the judgment, but because of it.
(25:40):
There's a lesson here, folks. A church that pursues holiness, authentic,
spirit filled holiness is a church where God's power is manifest.
People are drawn to it. So what can we learn
from Anonius and Sephirah. Be real with God and with
each other. Don't settle for a facade of holiness when
God is inviting you into the real thing. Let's be
a church where authenticity reigns, where we're not afraid to
(26:02):
be honest about our struggles, and where we trust God
enough to believe He can do mighty things among us.
Maybe we have the courage to drop the masks step
into the light and let God's Spirit move among us
with purity and power, because when the church is real,
God shows up in real ways.
So that your giving may be in secret, and your father,
who sees in secret, will reward you. Matthew six y four.
Gracious Father, we thank you for seeing our hearts and
knowing our motives. We ask for humility, Lord, that we
may give generously without seeking the recognition of others. Help
(00:24):
us to remember that our reward is not in the
praise of man, but in your approval alone. Teach us
to give faithfully and quietly, trusting that you see what
is done in secret.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
May we be.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Content with your acknowledgment, finding joy and serving others out
of love for you. Keep our hearts pure, focused on
your glory and not our own. Strengthen us to remain
faithful in our giving even when no one else sees.
(01:01):
In Jesus's name, Amen, thank you for praying with me today.
You are listening to the Jesus Podcast. Remain here for
another dramatized story inspired by the Book of Acts and
the birth of the Church. If this podcast has blessed you,
make sure to follow so you never have to miss
(01:22):
an episode. Anonius made his way tiresomely down the darkened street.
He had taken longer closing up his shop than he
would have liked, and the price to pay was smelling
warm cooked meals through lighted windows while his stomach growled
with hunger, and an Ias grumbled mindlessly to himself in
(01:44):
cold bitterness.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
All these people enjoying their lives, and mim who is
working with the short end of the stick.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
He was suddenly drawn from his complaining when he heard
a loud thud. He turned and squinted down the lane.
He could make out a dozen or so figures standing
out front of a house. He bent his ear to
listen in. If he had to endure the late walk,
he might as well do so with the enjoyment he
found in eavesdropping.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
I went to the market today to sell one of
my fields. You see, the Lord has graced me with
more than I need. The fruit of my other fields
alone will continue to feed those who hunger. But I
hope that the money this field has brought will be
able to bless the people of God in an even
greater way. I would have given it to the gathering today,
(02:33):
but I thought it best to wait, considering the amount.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
And Anius recognized Barnabas voice. Not only did they own
land near one another, but both had become followers of
Jesus since the Resurrection, and Anaias stepped behind the corner
of a nearby house, cautiously peering around the edge.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
May the world now of the goodness of God demonstrated
to you today, Barnabas, The Lord will use what you've
done secret to glorify himself in the light.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
As the man entered the house, Annaias pressed the small
of his back against the wall. With a heavy sigh,
he pounded it with the heel of his fist.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
One day I'll have the recognition I deserve.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
What's the cost of pretending? What are the ripple effects
of our fake faith? Make no mistake, friends, a fake
faith can cause some serious damage to you and to
God's people. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast, a year of
stories showcasing the death of Christ's love and the glory
of his spirit. We've been going through a mini series
(03:43):
on the birth of the Church, showcasing that the power
and work of Christ lives on through his followers. Take
a moment to follow on whatever platform you're listening to
so you never have to miss an episode. Today, we're
diving into one of the more shocking stories in the
Book of Acts today's episode is inspired by Acts five
one through sixteen, and it introduces us to a couple
who wanted to make a name for themselves in the
(04:05):
early Church, but ended up as a cautionary tale. Their
names in Anias in Sephira. The story of their deceit
reminds us that while we can fool people, we can
never fool God.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Back at home, Annia sat at his table. He swirled
a cup of wine around in his hand like a
fortune teller, trying to see the future, and the circular wavelets.
His wife, Saphira, busily scurried around the kitchen, fixing him
a plate of lukewarmfood.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
It's just not fair, Saphira. Barnabas has all this wealth,
so of course he can afford the praise. Where does
that leave the rest of us to scurry under the
feet of the apostles for table scraps?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And Anaias held nothing back. If asked, he would have
blamed his lack of control on the tiredness from the day,
but his heart knew he would feel the same emotion
in the morning after a heavy night of sleep. The
sourness from years of self loathing and envy had corrupted
away at his heart. Regardless of whether his feelings were
(05:12):
right or wrong, he felt a sense of security sharing
it with his wife. Saphiro was faithful to a fault
and would follow Anonaeus to the ends of the earth.
She had fallen deeply in love with him at a
young age, and the years together only fortified her affection
for her husband.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
You're absolutely right, dear, you work just as hard as Barnabas,
if not harder. For I've heard he can afford help
this year.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
An Anius grunted with a judgmental nod of his head.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
Ah, but have some food. I'm sure you're hungry.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Try to relax.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Things will turn for the better.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Saphirah carefully laid a plate of homemade rosemary bread, olives,
and grapes before her husband. He thanked her as he
looked up into her eyes. He could see that she
was just as worn out as he was, yet her
eyes still glored with the virancy of a youthful soul.
When she stepped away, Annaias pushed around the food on
(06:15):
his plate, but satiating his hunger was going to have
to wait for a deeper desire burned within him.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
You know, my love, I've been thinking, thinking about what
you were saying about things turning out for the better.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I believe I have a way to help us, Safi
returned with an inquisitive look. Ever since they had devoted
themselves to the teachings of Jesus, she struggled to think
about herself.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Well, ah usend the believers. Of course, a mutually beneficial plan,
if you will, you know our field, the one that's
dried up as of late, Perhaps it would be better
if we rid ourselves of the burden. We can give
some of the proceeds to the apostles and keep some ourselves.
Of course, the apostles need not know that last part.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Though Saphira questioned Anonia's words silently, in her mind, she
could feel a subtle prodding within her that caused her
to struggle with the idea. Though Anonius didn't say it explicitly,
he fully intended to deceive the Apostles. She knew what
he was saying was wrong, but her love for Anonius
(07:27):
caused her to mistakenly take her duties as an encouraging
wife to mean disrespecting the spirit. His prompts to oppose
the plan would possibly upset her husband further.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
And this was the.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Gateway to her flesh. Playing the part of opposing counsel,
she began to convince herself that the plan wasn't entirely wrong.
What harm could come from seeking a little recognition if
the church still received support. As she thought through and
anyas plan, she allowed herself to admit the weight of
(08:04):
life she had started to feel. It was the first
time in a long time. Her shoulder slumped forward. Perhaps
this was how God would allow them a chance at
a fresh start.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
You are crafty, my love, with a sharp mind. Do
as you see fit, and I will follow up with
you accordingly. I trust you.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Saphira stared into the flame of the rusted lamp in
the kitchen. She held her hand up to it, feeling
its small, radiating warmth. She pressed her fingers closer, allowing
the dancing flame to tap her finger tips. She winced
in pain as she drew her hand back swiftly. She
pondered the duality of its nature to both comfort and harm.
(08:51):
In its right place, it gave light to the whole house,
but uncontained, it would burn the entire house without a
consideration for what laid in its path. Near the end
of the week, some believers gathered to listen to the
apostles teaching pray and worship. Together. The sound of hundreds
of voices lifting the name of the Lord high in
(09:14):
praises rang through the streets and up to the heavens.
People working their way up and down the street would
regularly stop and listen in. On many occasions, they would
find themselves staying longer than they intended. Something in the
depths of their soul. Would cry out and satisfaction at
(09:34):
the words of Jesus gospel and hearing the simplicity of
receiving the grace of Jesus through his scandalous rescue plan,
they would give their hearts to the Lord and join
the people of the Way. And Annias wriggled through the people,
his eyes set on the apostles at the center of
the congregation. He'd arrived from the market place and carried
(09:58):
two coiners us, one in each hand. He passed the
two bags between his left and right hands before slipping
the larger of the bags into his satchel. He found
Saphira near the front rows just as John began addressing
the crowds, brothers and sisters.
Speaker 6 (10:17):
People of the Way Blessed be the Lord, our God,
king of the universe, who provides for our needs. He
is exceedingly grateful for your cheerful.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Giving, and we are humbled to distribute his provision to
the needy.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
This was the perfect opportunity an Anaias thought to.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
Himself today we have wonderful news. Last week a believer
among you sought a large piece of property, and they
have chosen, from the goodness of their heart, to give
all the money they have earned from it to the
Lord and his people. But they have asked that the
left hand not know the works of the right, and
(10:56):
they will therefore remain anonymous. But the Lord knows when
you give in secret, and he will reward you openly
as he sees.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Fits and nice eyes turned to slits as his nostrils flared,
A white fury raged within him as he realized barnabas
humility had slung an army of arrows into his plan.
He had mistakenly assumed John's note of God being glorified
in the light was a hint at publicly acknowledging Barnabas
(11:28):
by name. Never had he considered barnabas delicate choice for
anonymity to be set in storm. Along with his gift,
he calculated his options. Perhaps there was still hope for
recognition for his good deeds, even if he.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Had to work the system.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
He waited until the gathering ended before sharing it with Saphira.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
I shall follow them home, just as Parnabus must have there.
I will presume them with our offering. Then they will
acknowledge us before the gathering, just like with Barnabas. Today.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Saphira gave a sullen nod, a mark of her inward
wrestling lead the way. Then, as the people began to scatter,
an Annias slithered behind the apostles as they made their
way home. He mimed everything he had seen and heard
the night he had stumbled upon Barnabas and the apostles.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Excuse me, apostles, wait.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
And Annius sped into a light job. He could hear
the coins jingling in the bag at his side. He
firmly placed one hand over the bag to silence them
as he lifted the other coin purse high into the air,
a triumphant display of his deceitful generosity.
Speaker 7 (12:42):
Ha ha ha a anius, how splendid to seal you?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
How are you and Sephara.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
We are quite well, brother Peter. In fact, we are splendid,
for the Lord has been gracious with us, and we'd
like to share our good fortune.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And Annius dropped the cones on the ground and took
a knee. He pressed his face low as his eyes
flitted about in anticipation.
Speaker 7 (13:08):
Oh a gift, How marvelous. Please tell us how the
Lord has placed such generosity on your arm.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Where you see my wife and I have a field.
Let us say we had a field, we soldiers, we
might give the full earnings to the people of the way.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Peter noted the familiarity of anonius newfound wealth, quickly connecting
the dots to John's interactions with Barnabus. The Spirit whirred
around Peter's mind like a watchman's trumpet, sounding at the
sight of the enemy. Peter was washed over with supernatural
clarity as Anonious dark deeds were being revealed to him
(13:50):
through the spirit's divine revelations. Righteous anger swept over the
apostle like the red seas closing over the Egyptian an Anius.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
How have you allowed Satan to fill your heart? You
have lied to the Holy Spirit, For you have indeed
kept some of the money you received for the land
for yourself.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
An Anius quaked as fear sunk it's claws into his heart.
He had been caught, and he could feel the color
draining from his face and any hope of being praised.
He dug through his thoughts to find an excuse that
might dampen the blow to his pride, but nothing came.
Peter began to reason with the lost disciple.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Didn't the land belong to you before it was so?
And after it was so? It wasn't the money yours
to use as you pleased? What made you think of doing.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Such a thing?
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I will I saw maybe I it was havid.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
An Anius stammered incoherently. Peter's voice struck his soul, like
falling oak tree splintering against the forest floor. Annius felt
himself sweating as a harsh, heated wind spiraled around him.
Speaker 7 (15:05):
You have not just lied to mankind, but to God.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
At these final words, an Annius grasped at his chest
in agony. The man cried out in anguish before lifelessly
dropping to the ground. Before the other disciples gasped at
the suddenness of what they had witnessed. Him, but each
one knew it was undeniably the spirit protecting the people
(15:30):
of God from the cunning serpent of old. He had
lured Anonius into perverting the good things of life for
personal gain, but had been thwarted yet again. Peter whispered
to Andrew, who ran down the street. A few minutes later,
Andrew returned with several other men. The men carefully wrapped
(15:52):
Anonaius in a sackloth and hoisted his body up. Though
he had left the world in shame, they would respectfully
bury him, guarding their own hearts against the same bitterness
that had consumed Anonius in life. Hours passed along sluggishly
(16:13):
as Saphira worried in an empty home. She watched the
late afternoon shadows stretched slowly into the evening, and Anais
had been gone far longer than she would have expected.
If the apostles had invited him in as they had
with Barnabas, wouldn't he have called for her to join,
or worse, had something gone wrong. She shuffled to her seat.
(16:38):
No harm could come from checking on her husband, she
thought to herself. She anxiously strode along the winding streets
of the neighborhood. All she could think about was the
well being of her husband. She had worked hard to
provide a stable life for them, and she desperately wanted
him to find some reprieve from his weariness in the
(16:59):
recognition of the Apostles. She found the house where the
Apostle stayed and gently knocked on the door. She peered
through the window as a slight breeze brushed the curtain
back slightly. She noticed a dozen men huddled around the table.
They were in concentrated discussions with one another. Her head
(17:21):
whipped back forward as the door opened slowly. Matthias poked
his face out. Matthias chefishly called for Peter while pushing
the door wider.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Peter, she's here.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Peter rose to his feet slowly. The creaking of his
chair emphasized the silence of the rest of the room.
Speaker 7 (17:43):
Thank you, Matthias. A good evening, Sapphira. We were expecting you.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Please come in.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Saphira was surprised to hear that she was expected, as
no word had been sent along to her. She stepped
cautiously through the door.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
You you were.
Speaker 7 (18:02):
Yes, Anonius was here not too long ago to share
a gift with the believers. I assume you knew of.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
This, Sephira remained poised at the question.
Speaker 7 (18:17):
I see, well, then perhaps you can confirm that this
is the price an Anius receive for the land.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Yes, we discussed it beforehand. We prayed and sought the lord.
I fully supported Ananaius and what he thought was best.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Peter upended anonius coin purse into his hand. The truth was,
Saphira hadn't known the amount and Anius received for the land,
but she remembered anonius plan to tell the apostle that
his gift was the entirety of his prophets.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Yes, that is the amount.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
In an instant, the same rushing wind that had encircled
Anonius swept around Sephira, rattled the house. His floorboards creaked,
and dust fell through the ceiling above. Safira's sight left
her as panic crept over her body. The hot whirlwind
seemed to draw the air straight out of Saphira's lungs.
(19:16):
She gasped helplessly, clutching at the apostles robes. Losing consciousness,
Sapphira released her grip and slammed her hands against the ground,
fighting for stability. In her blindness, she heard Peter's thundrous voice,
How could you conspire together.
Speaker 7 (19:35):
To test the spirit of the Lord. Listen, the feet
of the men who buried your husband are at the door,
and they will carry you out.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Also, just as her husband had, Saphira's body fell motionless
to the dust from which it had come. The same
men who had buried Anonius now came for the body
of his conspirators. Of what happened took to the wind
the next morning. By evening the next day, all the
(20:06):
believers in Jerusalem were gripped with fear, not in fear
of punishment, but in admiration for his holiness.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
They were in awe that.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
The Lord's righteous judgment, devoted themselves steadfastly to his teaching
and purposed in their hearts to abide by his way
of living. The Lord had dealt seriously with Anonias and Sapphira,
and would not take such selfishness lightly. He needed his
(20:38):
people to follow the lofty call of following him and
the dire need to care for one another. They were
a chosen people who were called to endeavor together to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Our story today started on a high note or so
it seemed Annias and Saphira, inspired by the generosity of Barnabas,
sold a piece of property. Sounds great, right, But there's
a twist. They kept back part of the money while
pretending to give it all. Imagine them coming in, smiles
on their faces, laying the money at the apostles feet,
as if to say, look, how generous we are. It's
(21:22):
a classic case of keeping up with appearances. But the
Holy Spirit is not one to be deceived. Peter, filled
with the Holy Spirit, calls them out, an Anias, why
has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?
Notice Peter's words here. He doesn't say why have you
lied to us? Or why have you lied to the Church?
He says you lie to the Holy Spirit. That's like
(21:44):
trying to pull a fast one on someone who can
see right through you. Peter also doesn't reprimand Annius by
saying why didn't you give all the money? Because here's
the thing. If they wanted to keep half the money
for themselves and give half the money to the church,
that would have been totally fine. It's the fact that
they wanted the appearance of giving everything, but only giving half.
(22:04):
Let's pause and consider all of this. Was there sin
keeping a part of the money not at all. Peter
makes it clear, while it remained, was it not your own?
And after it was sold was it not in your
own control? They were free to do what they wanted
with the money. The sin wasn't in holding back, but
in pretending to give it all. They wanted the reputation
(22:24):
of being sacrificial without the actual sacrifice. They wanted the
applause with none of the cost. And there's the rub. Friends.
Their sin wasn't stinginess, It was hypocrisy. How often do
we fall into that same trap? We put on our
Sunday best, not just in clothes, but in our spiritual lives.
We might drop a Bible verse in conversation or post
(22:45):
it on social media to sound holy, or talk about
how we've been praying fervently for someone, when in reality,
we're hitting the snooze button on our spiritual lives. We're
so busy crafting a holy image that we forget holiness
is an inside job. When we get to the jaw
dropping part of the story, you see this part makes
me uncomfortable because I would have loved it if Anonius
(23:07):
and Saphira were just rebuked and then they repent and
then everyone makes up. But that's not how the story goes.
And honestly, this is a really weird and off putting
passage because this doesn't happen in any other parts of
the Book of Acts. We don't ever see someone in
the New Testament being off because of their disobedience. That
seems more like an Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy type of
(23:29):
thing to happen. You see, as soon as Peter confronts Anonius,
he drops dead. Talk about a dramatic end to a
church service. And just when you think it couldn't get
any crazi or three hours later, Saphiro walks in, completely
unaware of what's happened. Peter gives her a chance to
come clean, but she doubles down on the lie and
she also drops dead on the spot. Now I can
hear some of you thinking, wow, isn't that a bit harsh?
(23:51):
But here's the thing. God's judgment here is not just
about punishing a simple mistake. It's about protecting the integrity
of the early Church. This was a critical moment for
the church and God had to set a clear standard.
You cannot build God's Kingdom on lies. The church was
growing rapidly, and God knew that unchecked hypocrisy could rot
it from the inside out. And here's the thing. We've
(24:14):
seen a lot of this in today's culture, haven't we.
We've seen a pastor or a church leader's hypocrisy really
blowing things up for other people's faith. How many of
you have been in a church where the senior pastor
has had an affair or there's been some serious money
problems in dishonesty. These types of things cause riffs. This
type of hypocrisy can really hurt the faith of people
(24:35):
who have innocently come in yearning for connection but end
up really burned by these types of things. It's not
that we have to be perfect, but we can't be hypocrites.
And I think this passage is so intense as a
warning sign for not only the early church, but for
us today. You see deceit and hypocrisy have large consequences,
(24:56):
and we see a very appropriate response after this. What
happens next Anonius and Sephirah are buried. It says, so
great fear came upon the church and upon all who
heard these things. Yeah, duh, imagine if that happened in
today's church. The lesson was very clear. God takes the
purity of his church seriously. But notice what also happens.
(25:17):
It says, and through the hands of the apostles, many
signs and wonders were done among the people. Purity leads
to power. God's spirit moves mightily when his people are
walking in integrity. The early church responded with awe in
the community around them took notice the result. More people
believed and were added to their number. Here's the irony.
The church grew not despite the judgment, but because of it.
(25:40):
There's a lesson here, folks. A church that pursues holiness, authentic,
spirit filled holiness is a church where God's power is manifest.
People are drawn to it. So what can we learn
from Anonius and Sephirah. Be real with God and with
each other. Don't settle for a facade of holiness when
God is inviting you into the real thing. Let's be
a church where authenticity reigns, where we're not afraid to
(26:02):
be honest about our struggles, and where we trust God
enough to believe He can do mighty things among us.
Maybe we have the courage to drop the masks step
into the light and let God's Spirit move among us
with purity and power, because when the church is real,
God shows up in real ways.
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