The Explanation

A man named Ananias sold a piece of land. His wife Sapphira knew all about it too. They could have kept the money, all of it, nobody made them sell the land at all. But they brought only part of the money to the apostles, and said, "Here, this is everything we got for it." That was a lie.

Peter looked at Ananias and knew. "Why did you let Satan fill your heart," Peter asked, "to lie, not to us, but to God?" Ananias fell down right there and died. Some young men wrapped him up and carried him out to bury him.

About three hours later, Sapphira walked in. She did not know what had happened to her husband. Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for this much?" She said, "Yes, for that much." She kept the same lie going. Peter told her the men who buried her husband were right outside the door. She fell down and died too. Great fear spread through everyone who heard about it.

After that, the apostles did many wonderful signs among the people. Sick people were carried into the streets so that even Peter's shadow might fall on them and heal them. Crowds came from all around bringing sick people, and every one of them was healed.

The high priest and his friends became jealous and threw the apostles in prison. But at night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors. "Go stand in the temple," the angel said, "and speak about this life." So they did, teaching at daybreak like nothing had happened.

When guards went to get the prisoners, the cell was locked, guards were still standing there, but nobody was inside. Then someone ran in and said, "The men you locked up are teaching in the temple!" So the council brought them in and asked why they kept teaching about Jesus. Peter answered, "We must obey God rather than men."

The council was furious and wanted to kill them. But a wise teacher named Gamaliel stood up. "If this is just from men, it will fail on its own," he said. "But if it is from God, you cannot stop it, and you would be fighting God himself." They listened to him, but still had the apostles beaten and told them to stop speaking about Jesus. The apostles left rejoicing that they got to suffer for his name. And every day they kept right on teaching about Jesus.

What Does This Mean?

Ananias and Sapphira did not have to give all their money. Their sin was pretending. They wanted to look extra generous without actually being extra generous. God saw straight through it, because God always sees the truth, even the parts we hide.

But this chapter is not only about lying. It is also about courage. The apostles were thrown into prison for speaking about Jesus, yet they kept going. Even beatings could not make them stop. They were more afraid of disappointing God than of getting hurt.

The Common Thread

Peter told the council that God raised up Jesus, whom they had killed, and made him Prince and Savior. That is the heart of everything the apostles kept teaching, in the temple, in their homes, even after prison and beatings. God had promised long ago to send a Savior, and now Jesus had come, died, and been raised. The apostles could not stay quiet about news that good.

For You

You can tell the truth even when it is small, even when nobody would notice if you did not. And you can be brave about Jesus too, even if someone laughs at you for believing in him. The apostles were beaten and still told everyone about Jesus the next day. Would you have dared to do that?

Talk About It

Why do you think Ananias and Sapphira wanted people to think they gave everything, when they really did not?

The apostles were glad even after they got hurt for talking about Jesus. Why do you think that made them happy instead of scared?

Praying Together

Dear God, you always see the truth, even when we try to hide it. Help us to be honest, even in small things. Give us courage like the apostles had, so we are not afraid to tell others about Jesus. Thank you that Jesus is our Savior. Amen.