Ananias and Sapphira

The biblical account of Ananias and Sapphira is found in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5:1-11 EU). The names are also referred to at this point only. With the few chapters later called Ananias ( ch. 9.10 EU and 23.2 EU ), there is no connection.

The history

Ananias and Sapphira were part of the first church in Jerusalem. It was that emerges from the preceding verses, a normal process that the community members are mutually supported and it went so far as land and buildings from their private property to sell and pass on the proceeds of the community to support the needy members. Ananias and Sapphira did this now - but they kept a portion of the proceeds back for themselves.

Ananias laid his apostles the money at your feet. Peter was sure that Ananias had retained a portion, and said, " Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land? (...) You did not man, but God lied. " When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. The apostles carried him away and buried him.

A few hours later, Sapphira, not knowing what had happened to the apostles. Peter asked them about the price of the land and they confirmed the incorrect price. Even Saphira fell upon dead at Peter's feet. Then great fear came upon the whole church and all who heard it.

Interpretation

In Acts there are some places that are often interpreted as community property of the Jerusalem church. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is often interpreted to mean that the two tried to escape this community of goods. Some boom see this community of goods as radical and binding: Each in his entire fortune to the community as a collective property available. This hypothesis is not supported by the Acts.

In Acts 5.4 EU Ananias Peter points out that this would both his country and the money after the sale itself can keep. This is cause to believe that the community of goods in the early church was not a duty but a voluntary service. The sin of Ananias ' and Saphira is therefore not a part of the excess of money, but of deliberate fraud and lying to the community and especially to God. In addition, the couple has agreed on a joint approach. Religious power without genuine devotion of the innermost heart is hated by God. Peter speaks of the nature of sin, and God punishes them on the spot by death. God's Spirit looks deep into the core of the heart's movement. The self-esteem of Ananias and Sapphira had to do with their social position in the Christian community and was not only a consequence of the Christ consciousness.