When Pretending Turns Deadly
IMAGINARY ICE CREAM = DANGER OF DECEPTION
How many times have you ever thought, “it would be nice if life had an ‘undo’ button you can press when you royally mess up?”
A couple of years ago I had the brilliant idea about how to motivate my two old kids to clean up after themselves.
Our living room looked like the aftermath of hard fought war with legos and magnet tiles generously scattered across the floor like casualties lining Normandy.
So, here was my brilliant plan. I would not appeal to logic or emotions, but to their imaginations. If you can scale that mountain their is no terrain that is too difficult to cross. And to add as a cherry on the top I would offer a reward for listening.
Please, hold your applause.
So, I thought, “you know what the highest reward in my kids brain is, Ice Cream. Oh baby, that is the jack pot.
But here is my problem. We had no Ice cream in the freezer.
“Fear not,” I said.
And so I called my kids over to me and said, “Guys! Guy! Guys, listen up. If you can pick up all the toys from the living room and dining room, I will give you a big bowl of imaginary ice cream.”
Bam! Imagination and reward.
I should add about 10 minutes before this moment my conscious, aka my wife, was putting our youngest son to bed.
And as soon as the words “imaginary ice cream” lift my mouth, my kids moved with record speed. Honestly never have they clean up so fast in their life.
And as soon as they finished they rushed into the kitchen with such joy and satisfaction on their faces.
And so, not realizing the hornets nest that I was about to hit, I walked to the cabinets, grabbed two large bowls, opened the drawer to grab the ice cream scoop, and then walked to the freezer. I opened it up and acted like I grabbed a container of ice cream and proceeded to scoop imaginary ice cream into their bowls.
At first they were confused and then they waited for me to crack and reveal the real thing. But when it finally hit them that there was no ice cream they lost it.
They burst into hysteria, they started yelling at me, and crying uncontrollably. And my daughter with a look of horror in her eyes said, “Dad you lied to us. You’ve never lied to us before.”
And in the midst of this, Stephanie walked out of Judah’s room into the active crime scene. Trying to figure out what was happening she gestured to me to ask what happened.
So, I explained my ingenious plan … and guys you're not going to believe this but as I voiced this plan, it sounded worse out loud than it sounded in my head. Stephanie will tell you that was not my brightest moments as a parent.
I so wish there was an “undo” button then.
The moral of this story is don’t offer your kids imaginary ice cream if you don’t have the real stuff to back it up. It only ends in chaos.
While I was honest with my kids that the ice cream was imaginary, it was a little deceptive on my part.
All jokes aside, deception is dangerous.
In the story we are looking at today, we see just how dangerous deception was. For Ananias and Sapphira The deception isn’t just dangerous it turned deadly.
Deception in Acts 5
Virtually everyone I read on this passage from Ancient author to modern commentator seem to agree Ananias and Sapphira death is an act of judgement from God.
So, naturally the question is, “Why?” Why did God judge them so harshly?
To truly understand this passage we need to back up a few verses and see the context of this passage.
CONTEXT: HOW BARNABAS GENEROSITY BECAME IDOLIZED
If you have your Bible go back and look with me at Acts 4:34
Acts 4:34-37, ESV - 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
There is so much that from these verses that helps frame up the context around our passage. The first thing to see is that one of the signs that God’s Spirit was at work in this group was that they were generous beyond belief.
There was no pressure or obligation to give. Believers motivated by God’s grace voluntarily started selling houses and fields out of their own free will and gave it to the apostles to share with anyone who had any needs. As a result there was no needy person among them.
One of those people was a Levite named Joseph. Levites worked closely with the Jewish priests. Not entirely sure what his specific role would have been, but he belonged to the only group of people privileged with serving in God’s house.
Joseph sold a field and brought the entire profit to the apostles' feet. This is a picture of an offering. Don’t miss the ironic reversal. They are in the temple area, a levite who previously received offerings, now brings it to the apostles not the temple priests. This is rich in significance.
In this passage we learn that he gets nicknamed as “Barnabas” (which means son of encouragement). It is quite possible that this act of sacrificial generosity so encouraged the whole church that the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas because of this moment.
As a result of this act Barnabas is publicly honored by everyone, and held in high regard by everyone, including the Apostles.
Barnabas would in the future become a pivotal leader in the church. Think about this when a former persecutor of the church, Saul, turned Christian everyone was afraid of him (perhaps he was acting as a spy). But it was Barnabas that invited Paul in and then persuaded the other to trust him. And later on he would be asked to join Paul in starting new churches all over the Roman world.
B. ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA’S DECEPTIVE PLAN
If you are in that church, but you have a strong ache in you to be noticed as someone important – maybe they have a desire to become an influencer or leader in the church – what are you starting to think at this moment?
“Hey, honey! I figured it out. I know how we can finally get the recognition we deserve?
“How’s that?” Sapphira asked intrigued by her overconfident husband.
“Well, do you see how everyone is talking about and treating Barnabas? Well, it got me thinking, Barney and I really are not that different. If we sell our property people will also treat us the same way."
Without missing a beat Sapphira nodded her head and went along with her husband's narcissistic plan.
Acts 5:1-2, ESV - But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
The point here is that both husband and wife were in on this plan. They were united but for the wrong reason.
And we get a glimpse at the evil in their heart by the phrase “he kept back for himself.” How so?
Well the word for “kept back” only occurs three times in the Bible. Twice in this story and once in the book of Titus where Paul is giving instructions to Christian servants about not stealing from their owners.
Outside of the Bible this word is used primarily to describe stealing and embezzling money.
With that in mind, how does that help us understand Ananaias and Sapphira?
Here is what I think this means. Before they gave their money to the Apostles, they had first given the full amount to God. Whatever that commitment entailed it meant that it no longer belonged to them, God now owned it.
At some point after this, giving the proceeds to God, they went back on their pledge and only gave part of it and lied to the apostles about it. They told them that this was the entire amount it was sold for.
So, here is what this is like. This is like a church treasurer (you know the person who counts the money, records, and makes the deposits to the bank) who after counting the church offering, grabs a stack of bills for his own purposes.
That is what the word “kept back” is communicating. Ananias and Sapphira are not simply going back on the promise, they are embezzling money from God.
Perhaps they had good reasoning to back their decision, the problem was they were being deceitful with their wealth. And given the place of honor and prominence Barnabas received, most people believe that the reason they lied was because they wanted the same kind of honor and reputation.
In other words they were being fake; prepending to be people they were not. For some of you this might be one of the issues you have with church. You feel like it is filled with people who are not being real. Rather they’re being fake, and you hate that.
But do you know who hates that more? God. God doesn’t want people to be fake. In fact, there is nothing any of us can hide from them. What he invites all of us into is not to pretend or play church games, but to be real. In this passage God is creating an authentic community where people stop pretending.
You know one of the best ways I believe we as a church become more real and authentic is in community. When you open your lives and meet in someones homes it is nearly impossible to be fake because people know you.
If you are here and you have just been a part of the crowd but haven’t made the step into community we have a ton of new small groups that are opening up over the next two weekends I want to encourage you to sign up for.
Look at what happens next.
C. LYING TO GOD, NOT JUST PEOPLE
Acts 5:3-4 - (ESV) - 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
The problem that they found out was that they didn’t lie or rob any one person, they lied, they stole, and they spat in the face of God.
Peter acknowledges that this money was theirs and they could have kept it all or given any amount. It didn’t ultimately matter what they gave. But when they gave part of the profit, but said it was all they were lying to God himself.
I will occasional hear people make the case that the Holy spirit is impersonal for or something like that but not God. But notice that the Holy Spirit is actually called “God” in this passage. You cannot lie to a force or anything impersonal, only to a living being. God is three persons in one being: Father, son, and holy Spirit.
Look at what happens to them after this moment.
D. UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH: GOD IS JUST
Acts 5:5-11 (ESV) 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
It is not that Peter had a special power that killed them. Far from that. God acted in a divine judgement against him. My guess is that Peter was just as surprised as any of us would have been if we’d been there.
7 After an interval of about three hours [3 hours. Notice they were having church prior to this and then three hours later they’re still having church] his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
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It turns out deception is not just dangerous, for them it turned out to be deadly!
They lied to God, so God laid them down in the dust of the earth.
I want to pause and sit in brutal truth and that is this: God is justified to judge us for our sins.
God is not unjustified, He is not in the wrong for punishing people for their sins. He is in the right.
If I go and rob a bank, the police officers are not in the wrong if they arrest me and throw me in jail.
If someone shows up at church and acts crazy or makes people feel unsafe our safety team is not in the wrong for removing them from the premises.
Which by the way we so value the safety of our church so much that we are always looking for qualified men and women to serve on that team. If safety is something you value and would like to serve on that team you are welcome to apply as we always could use more volunteers.
Shameless plug over. God is not guilty of doing wrong here because he is holding this couple accountable for their sins.
D. MAIN IDEA: GOD GUARDS WHERE GOD DWELLS
Okay, let's deal with the questions many of us are asking: Why did God do this?
Here is the reason the main idea of this passage if you’re taking notes write this down:
GOD GUARDS WHERE GOD DWELLS X2
The story the Bible is concerned to tell us is the story of God chasing humans down to be with them.
When God created the world the Scriptures talk about God presence being like one walking in the Garden with Adam and Even. When they sinned it severed the connection humanity shared with God.
In order to restore that God had to establish the seriousness of sin and having our sins forgiven before we can enter back into his presence. The Bible in place talks about our sin being so bad that no one can see God in his fulness and living.
So God decides to locate his presence in a small space inside the temple where priest have to make regular sacrifices for the people sin in order for them to have God’s presence with them.
But the bible looked forward to a Day where the original plan of God being with his people would come again, where God’s Spirit would be poured out on earth like water covering the earth.
And then Jesus shows up and starts claiming to be God’s mobile presence on earth. And after he dies and rise again, we see in the book of Acts that the author Luke begins to describe the church not as a sort of social gathering of weirdos, but as the new space where God is now dwelling.
So, why the judgement for this couple?
E. OLD TESTAMENT PATTERN
Well, its actually pretty simple. When you look back in the Hebrew Scriptures—the Old Testament—you’ll notice a consistent pattern. Whenever people deliberately violated God’s holy presence—especially in moments where God was doing something new or it was connected to His dwelling place —God brought judgment, and fear swept over the people. For the purpose of showing that God was truly among them, and that He was not someone to be treated casually or trifled with.
If your Bible includes cross-references in the margins or at the bottom of the page, you may notice that Acts 5 often points back to Joshua chapter 7—the story of a man named Achan.
That connection is intentional. In Joshua 7, Moses passed his leadership over to Joshua. Joshua then led Israel across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land.
For all practical purposes, this is a brand-new beginning for God’s people.
Right at the beginning of this new chapter Achan, like the couple in our story, attempts to steal money from God and hide it through deception and is put to death.
Here’s the parallel in these two stories:
Both occur at moments of a new beginning for God’s people.
Both involve an act of deceit that threatens God’s mission.
Both result in divine judgment.
And in both cases, a healthy fear of the Lord comes upon the people.
The reason God brings such judgement on Ananias and Sapphira is because this is the start of the beginning of the church and if God allowed this kind of deceit to go on it would have undermined the foundation of the church.
STORY: PANARA BREAD AND STARBUCK MARKOFFS
In a similar way, if my habits became policy it would have resulted in legal issues for Panera. If God allowed Ananias and Sapphira deceit to grow it would become commonplace to use the church to elevate one's status and use money to do that.
The world would rightly mock the church for that, generosity would have died, and the community would have imploded.
Why did God bring judgement in this way?
God is not is bent on killing sinners, he is guarding his newly born church.
BIRTH STORY: LIFE IS FRAGILE AT BIRTH AND REQUIRES EXTRA CARE. AUGGIE TWO WEEKS LATE AND NICU NURSES CALLED IN WITH PLUMITING HEARTBEAT.
God brings down judgement on them, because he is protecting his church.
And, he is setting the record straight. If you want to find God on earth you don’t need to go to a temple, pray to an idol, or say some ritualistic words, you simply need to be with His people.
What this story is showing us is not simply how generosity went awry and judgement fell, but the space where God now dwells on earth.
The Church is not a social Club, it's a heavenly invasion. God is taking ground on earth and expanding his presence on earth through the church. It's as if wherever the church is at heaven bends low and envelops the people in that community.
So anytime believers in Christ gather together, we don’t simply worship a God out there, nor do we invite him to join us down here.
No, Acts 5 is telling us he is right here in the room.
GOSPEL JUDGEMENT/GRACE
As we wrap up this passage I would be a fool if I didn’t address the elephant in the room. Judgement for our sin.
God holds Ananias and Sapphira accountable for their sins.
And here is the painful fact no one wants to admit, but we love you to much to hide from you: in this story God does suddenly, what will be true eventually (if you do not turn from your sin to trust in Jesus).
The Bible speaks of a time in the future when God will bring judgement on all human sin. When that day comes there is no escape. Everyone will be held accountable for every wrong they have done in this life.
Acts 17:30-31 (ESV) - 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Those who choose to reject Jesus in this life and live however they well please will one day stand before God and will receive the judgement for their sins themselves.
Which by the way is what we all deserve. We all deserve hell.
But God is so good and so loving. That he was unwilling to let that be our fate. So, he sent Jesus to earth. To live the life we should have lived and die the death we should of died, to give us a life we don’t deserve.
On the cross Jesus didn’t simply erase our sin, he willing was judged in our place so that we never have too.
In Christ the debt is paid, forgiveness is on the table for us.
You will either take the punishment for sin or you accept that Jesus did it for you, but either way sin gets dealt with.
Don’t hide behind the lie that you are good enough that God will be obligated to save you.
The truth is, you're not, and neither am I. We don’t go to heaven on the basis of living a good life. We are saved not because we’re good, but because we’re not. That is the entire reason Jesus came to save us because we can’t save ourselves.
I love how the Christian Rapper Lecrae sums up the issue:
“Some people say that God ain't real cause they don't see how a good God can exist with all this evil in the world. If God is real then He should stop all this evil, cause He's all-powerful right?
What is evil though man? It's anything that's against God. It's anything morally bad or wrong. It's murder, rape, stealing, lying, cheating. But if we want God to stop evil, do we want Him to stop it all or just a little bit of it? If He stops us from doing evil things, what about lying, or what about our evil thoughts? I mean, where do you stop, the murder level, the lying level, or the thinking level?
If we want Him to stop evil, we gotta be consistent, we can't just pick and choose. That means you and I would be eliminated right? Because we think evil stuff. If that's true, we should be eliminated! But thanks be to God that Jesus stepped in to save us from our sin! Christ died for all evilness! Repent, turn to Jesus man!” “Truth” by Lecrea
As Nolan said last week the gospel is inherently offensive. And before the gospel can be good news it must first be seen as bad news. We are all guilty and there is no amount of church attendance, bible reading, moral living, that will save you.
What we need is to repent of your sin, ask Jesus to forgive you and save you, and then get baptized.
Rom 10:9 (ESV) - “...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”