Act 5:1 - 11 tells the story of how Peter struck down a couple for not accurately reporting their property to the church? Why can't pastors do this today? Don't you think it would discourage corruption in the church?
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2007-08-17 12:40:28 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God struct them dead because they LIED about how much they were giving to the church. When they sold their property, they kept some of the money -- which would have been perfectly acceptable. But then they went to Peter and the other leaders and told them that they gave ALL of the money from the sale of the land to the church. I'm sure they didn't expect to get caught that fast, if at all.
2007-08-17 13:32:15 · answer #1 · answered by kaz716 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Peter had nothing to do with it -- Annais and Sapphira were struck down by God for lying to the Holy Spirit. They claimed that they had given all of the money from the sale of their property to the common fund held by the Christians of that time, but they actually kept back part of the proceeds.
Their sin was not in keeping part of the money, but in trying to lie about it to the Holy Spirit:
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
God takes lying very seriously, especially to the Holy Spirit. That's why they were struck down.
Edit:
If anyone has a problem with this explaination, take it up with God, not me. I'm just repeating what the Bible said.
2007-08-17 19:53:38 · answer #2 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Peter did not kill Ananias or his wife Sapphira.
Acts 5:1-11 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
Acts 5
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
2007-08-17 19:52:12 · answer #3 · answered by deacon 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It doesn't say that Paul killed them. Also, the reason they died was because they pretended to give all of their possessions to God, while holding back some for themselves, perhaps hoping God wouldn't notice.
2007-08-17 20:07:27 · answer #4 · answered by w2 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋