The passage describes events that took place in the early Christian community in Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection. It tells of how two members, Ananias and Sapphira, sold property but secretly withheld some of the proceeds, lying to the apostles and Holy Spirit. When confronted, Ananias dropped dead from fear. Great fear then came upon the community, and they buried Ananias, establishing the sincerity of their fellowship.

1. The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 4:23-5:6

2. • 23 When they had been released, they went to
their own companions and reported all that the
chief priests and the elders had said to them.

3. • 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their
voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it
is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH
AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, 25 who
by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father
David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES
RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

4. • 26 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' 27
"For truly in this city there were gathered together
against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You
anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along
with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to
do whatever Your hand and Your purpose
predestined to occur.

5. • Despotes

6. • Despotes
• Psalms 146:5-6 How blessed is he whose help is
the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his
God, (6) Who made heaven and earth, The sea
and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever;

7. • Despotes
• Psalms 146:5-6 How blessed is he whose help is
the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his
God, (6) Who made heaven and earth, The sea
and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever;
proorizo

8. • Luke 3:21-22 Now when all the people were
baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He
was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy
Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a
dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My
beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

9. • 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and
grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your
word with all confidence, 30 while You extend
Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take
place through the name of Your holy servant
Jesus."

10. • 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and
grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your
word with all confidence, 30 while You extend
Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take
place through the name of Your holy servant
Jesus."
• kurios

11. • 31 And when they had prayed, the place where
they had gathered together was shaken, and they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak the word of God with boldness.

12. • 32 And the congregation of those who believed
were of one heart and soul;

13. • 32 And the congregation of those who believed
were of one heart and soul;
• kardía is the Hebrew sense of reason, emotions,
and will.

14. • 32 And the congregation of those who believed
were of one heart and soul;
• kardía is the Hebrew sense of reason, emotions,
and will.
• psuche is the life spirit in a person which can be
touched and quickened and then filled by the Holy
Spirit.

15. • John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are
My disciples, if you have love for one another."

16. • John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are
My disciples, if you have love for one another."
• John 17:20-22 "I do not ask on behalf of these
alone, but for those also who believe in Me
through their word; 21 that they may all be one;
even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that
they also may be in Us, so that the world may
believe that You sent Me. 22 "The glory which
You have given Me I have given to them, that they
may be one, just as We are one;

17. • 33 And with great power the apostles were giving
testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and abundant grace was upon them all.

18. • 33 And with great power the apostles were giving
testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and abundant grace was upon them all.
• Romans 9:33 just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN
ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF
OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL
NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

19. • and not one of them claimed that anything
belonging to him was his own, but all things were
common property to them. 34 For there was not a
needy person among them, for all who were
owners of land or houses would sell them and
bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at
the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed
to each as any had need.

20. • James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is without
clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of
you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be
filled," and yet you do not give them what is
necessary for their body, what use is that?

21. • 1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods,
and sees his brother in need and closes his heart
against him, how does the love of God abide in
him?

22. • 1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods,
and sees his brother in need and closes his heart
against him, how does the love of God abide in
him?
• Acts 12:12 And when he realized this, he went to
the house of Mary, the mother of John who was
also called Mark, where many were gathered
together and were praying.

23. • 36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was
also called Barnabas by the apostles (which
translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 and
who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the
money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

25. • Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner,
sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas's cousin
Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he
comes to you, welcome him);

26. • Acts 11:24 for he was a good man, and full of the
Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers
were brought to the Lord.

27. • Acts 11:24 for he was a good man, and full of the
Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers
were brought to the Lord.
• 5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife
Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept
back some of the price for himself, with his wife's
full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid
it at the apostles' feet.

28. • Philippians 4:17-18 Not that I seek the gift itself,
but I seek for the profit which increases to your
account. 18 But I have received everything in full
and have an abundance; I am amply supplied,
having received from Epaphroditus what you have
sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,
well-pleasing to God.

29. • Matthew 6:1 "Beware of practicing your
righteousness before men to be noticed by them;
otherwise you have no reward with your Father
who is in heaven.

30. • 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

31. • 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
• 1 Corinthians 11:30 For this reason many among
you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.

32. • 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled
your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep
back some of the price of the land? 4 "While it
remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And
after it was sold, was it not under your control?
Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your
heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

33. • Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and
active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and
piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of
both joints and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart.

34. • 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must do just as he has
purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

35. • 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down
and breathed his last; and great fear came over all
who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and
covered him up, and after carrying him out, they
buried him.

36. • 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down
and breathed his last; and great fear came over all
who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and
covered him up, and after carrying him out, they
buried him.
• 1 Corinthians 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a
one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so
that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
Jesus.

37. • 1 Corinthians 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a
one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so
that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
Jesus.
•

38. • Deuteronomy 21:22-23 "If a man has committed a
sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and
you hang him on a tree, 23 his corpse shall not
hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury
him on the same day (for he who is hanged is
accursed of God), so that you do not defile your
land which the LORD your God gives you as an
inheritance.