5 1-2 But a man named Ananias—his wife,
Sapphira, conniving in this with him—sold a piece of land, secretly kept part
of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an
offering of it. 3-4 Peter said,
“Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep
back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and
after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got
into you to pull a trick like this? You didn’t lie to men but to God.” 5-6 Ananias, when
he heard those words, fell down dead. That
put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it. The younger men went right
to work and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him. 7-8 Not more than three hours later, his wife,
knowing nothing of what had happened, came in. Peter said, “Tell me, were you
given this price for your field?” “Yes,” she said, “that price.” 9-10 Peter responded, “What’s going on here that you
connived to conspire against the Spirit of the Master? The men who buried your
husband are at the door, and you’re next.” No sooner were the words out of his
mouth than she also fell down, dead. When the young men returned they found her
body. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 By this time
the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy
respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with. The Message (MSG)
They did not tell the truth and paid
for it with their lives. Our sins and lies will find us every time, and there will
be consequences.
Judah’s
refusal to repent would cost her dearly. The common people did not have Godly
teaching and the rich were too arrogant.
What
excuse will you give to God?
Be wise today and always - turn your excuses in to obedience.
