Luke the physician wrote how “a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and 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. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? why have you conceived this thing in your heart? you have not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in”, and in chapter five and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” where we read:
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?
And she said, Yes, for so much.
The verse begins, “And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”. Luke began with the words, “and Peter answered unto her” which means “and Peter whose name means a little rock or stone questioned and asked her, Sapphira”, “tell me” or “speak to and inform me, Peter” “whether you sold the land for so much” which means “if or forasmuch as you, Sapphira, bartered and traded the piece of ground or field for the amount of money she and Ananias were giving to the apostles”? Luke shared how “Peter” asked “Sapphira”, who was the wife of Ananias, whether they “sold” their property for the amount they were giving to the apostles.
The verse continues, “And she said, Yes, for so much.” Luke added the words, “and she said” which means “and she, Sapphira, uttered, declared, proclaimed and answered”, “yes, for so much” or “verily, truly, assuredly and even so for the amount we are giving”. Luke shared how “Sapphira” responded to Peter's question by saying “yes”, she and her husband sold their property for the amount of their offering.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Sapphira” was questioned by “Peter” and answered that she and her husband “sold” their “land” for the amount they were giving. This was a blatant lie, and we shall see how Peter responds to her in our next verse. For now, let us understand the gravity of “Sapphira's” conspiracy against the Holy Spirit of God and His “apostles”. God know everything, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus to forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. There is no lie that goes unexposed by God, and those who are wise will humble themselves, openly surrender and allow Him to reveal any area of deception they may possess inside.
Next time Luke shares how Peter asks Sapphira, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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