May 24, 2017
Chapter 5 begins with “But” and presents an event that is in sharp contrast with what happened with Barnabas. A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira conspired to deceive the Church about a sale of a piece of property, the reason for this not given by Luke. Both die suddenly, right in front of Peter. One is reminded of Jesus’ statement that no one can serve both God and money (see Matthew 6:24). However dreadful one might think the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira were, the story likely has served the well being of many over the centuries.