Who were Ananias and Sapphira?

Answer 1

In Acts of the Apostles, Peter killed Ananias and Sapphira* because they sold their property but did not give all the sale proceeds to the Church, as Peter apparently thought they should. His accomplices removed and buried the bodies.

In defence of Peter, this episode may have been written for theological reasons, rather than because it really happened.

Footnote

* Some say that because of the miraclulous nature of the killings, it was not Peter but the Holy Spirit who slaughtered them.

AnswerPeter had asked them if they had given all the proceeds to the Church. They lied and said, "Yes." Peter was angry and told them they could have kept back part for themselves but they should not have lied about it. It was for the lie that God struck them down not for failure to give the money to the Church. Answer:Their death was an act of God, not Peter, and was evidently intended to be an example for all time of God's displeasure at the sins of greed and religious hypocrisy. It was a warning, in the beginning days of the church, against misusing the church as a means of self glorification. The event had an immediate effect of the church in Acts 5:11 "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things".

Answer 2

After Pentecost 33 C.E., the need arose to provide materially for new believers who remained in Jerusalem to benefit from association with the apostles. Some members of the congregation sold property to ensure that no one was in need. (Acts 2:41-45) Ananias and Sapphira sold a field and brought only part of the proceeds to the apostles, claiming that their gift represented all the funds received from the sale. Granted, Ananias and Sapphira were entitled to give as much or as little as they wanted, but their motive was bad, and their actions were dishonest. They wanted to make a good impression and appear to be doing more than they actually were. The apostle Peter, under the inspiration of holy spirit, unmasked their dishonesty and hypocrisy, and Jehovah struck them dead. (Acts 5:1-10)

Answer 3

In Acts of the Apostles, Peter killed Ananias and Sapphira* because they sold their property but did not give all the sale proceeds to the Church, as Peter apparently thought they should. His accomplices removed and buried the bodies. In defence of Peter, this episode may have been written for theological reasons, rather than because it really happened. Footnote* Some say that because of the miraclulous nature of the killings, it was not Peter but the Holy Spirit who slaughtered them. AnswerPeter had asked them if they had given all the proceeds to the Church. They lied and said, "Yes." Peter was angry and told them they could have kept back part for themselves but they should not have lied about it. It was for the lie that God struck them down not for failure to give the money to the Church.Answer:Their death was an act of God, not Peter, and was evidently intended to be an example for all time of God's displeasure at the sins of greed and religious hypocrisy. It was a warning, in the beginning days of the church, against misusing the church as a means of self glorification. The event had an immediate effect of the church in Acts 5:11 "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things".

Answer 4

Ananias and Sapphira were a couple who lied about their assets and were judged for this. You can read the story in Acts chapter 5