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 Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out”, and in chapter five and verse ten of the book of Acts Luke shared how Sapphira fell, “down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost” where we read:
Then 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.
The verse begins, “Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost:” Luke began with the words, “then fell she down straightway at his feet” which means “at that time descended Sapphira immediately and instantly from an upright position to the ground before Peter's physical feet”, “and yielded up the ghost” or “and expired and took her last breath of life”. Luke shared how “Sapphira” immediately “fell” to the ground at Peter's feet and breathed her last breath.
The verse continues, “and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.” Luke added the words, “and the young men came in” which means “and the youthful male human beings entered and came forth”, “and found her dead” or “and discovered, recognized and perceived her, Sapphira, lifeless, without breath, inanimate and deceased”, “and carrying her forth” which means “and bearing and bringing her, Sapphira, outside”, “buried her by her husband” or “inhumed and interred her, Sapphira, beside or alongside her male spouse Ananias”. Luke shared how the “youthful men” entered the room where Peter and the other apostles were located, discovered that Sapphira was lifeless, took her body outside, and interred her alongside her husband Ananias.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the same process for burying the body of “Ananias” was used with “Sapphira”. “Sapphira” lied to the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus' “apostles”, and she breathed her last breath as a result of it. This was not the way God wanted things to be in His church as He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be the “Savior and Lord” of everyone who believes in, trusts in, relies upon, clings to and has confidence in Him. “Ananias and Sapphira” made a fatal mistake, and they no longer lived because of it. Those who are wise will learn from the errors of “Ananias and Sapphira” which included conspiring to lie, carrying out the lie and not humbling themselves in truthfulness and honesty before God when they were asked. Let all who read these words humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways and surrender to Jesus who will forgive their sins, cleanse them from all unrighteousness and help them follow His ways.
Next time Luke shares how, “a great fear came upon all the church”, 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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