Acts Chapter 5

What did Ananias do with the "proceeds" (Acts 5:2) of the sale?
He "kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet" (Acts 5:2).

What "possession" (Acts 5:1) did Ananias and Sapphira sell?
Their "land" (Acts 5:3)

What was wrong with keeping back part of the proceeds from its sale?
There was nothing intrinsically wrong with it. Peter even told him Ananias that he could have done whatever he wanted with it: "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control?" (Acts 5:4)

Then what was Ananias guilty of?
Lying to God. Ananias had claimed that the money he brought was the entire proceeds from the sale of their land. He thought he was lying to men but Peter corrected him: "You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5:4).

What does this passage say about the Holy Spirit?
He is God: "... why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5:3-4).

Why did Ananias make his false claim?
He and his wife wanted to join and be counted among the other land selling Christians - "... All who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need" (Acts 4:34-35) - but also thought they would be giving too much of their money. Instead of being thrilled to be able to use God's money to worship Him and serve His body, they were begrudging parting with 'their' money to keep up with the other land sellers. Sensing an opening, "Satan" (Acts 5:3) pounced and "filled" their "heart" (Acts 5:3).

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