Person in the New Testament
Ananias (the husband of Sapphira)
Ananias: the husband of Sapphira, who kept back part of the price
Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Ananias looked.
Who Ananias is
This Ananias appears in one short scene. With Sapphira his wife he sells a possession and keeps back part of the price, his wife being privy to it, and brings a certain part and lays it at the apostles' feet. Peter asks him why Satan has filled his heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land, then says that while it remained it was his own and that after it was sold it was in his own power, and asks why he conceived this thing in his heart. Peter tells him he has not lied unto men, but unto God. Hearing these words Ananias falls down and gives up the ghost, and great fear comes on all who hear of it. The young men arise, wind him up, carry him out and bury him. About three hours later his wife comes in without knowing what has happened, answers Peter's question about the price, and dies in the same way, and is buried by her husband. The account closes by saying great fear came upon all the church and upon as many as heard these things.
Cited passages: Acts 5:1, Acts 5:2, Acts 5:3, Acts 5:4, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:6, Acts 5:7, Acts 5:8, Acts 5:10, Acts 5:11
Historical setting
The text supplies no home, trade, age or family for this man beyond Sapphira his wife, and he speaks no word in the account. What is said about his intent is said by Peter, that Satan filled thine heart and that he conceived this thing in his heart; the narrator adds none of it. Peter's own words state that the property and the money were his to keep, which places the fault in the lie rather than in the withholding. The narrator reports the death plainly and gives no cause beyond the words that preceded it, and no time is stated between the words and the fall other than the phrase hearing these words. Acts names two other men called Ananias, a disciple at Damascus and a high priest, and connects this man with neither. The burial is reported without a place.
Cited passages: Acts 5:1, Acts 5:3, Acts 5:4, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:6, Acts 9:10, Acts 23:2
How the story is told
His scene opens with the word But, set directly after the account of Barnabas selling land and bringing the money to the same place, so the two gifts are laid side by side at the apostles' feet. He is given no line of his own; the only speech in his half of the scene is Peter's, which is made of questions. The narrator states the result in the same breath as the hearing, saying Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost. The whole movement is then repeated for his wife with one change, that she is asked a direct question and answers it. Great fear is recorded twice, once after his death and once after hers.
Cited passages: Acts 5:1, Acts 4:37, Acts 5:2, Acts 5:3, Acts 5:4, Acts 5:5, Acts 5:8, Acts 5:11
Story moments
- A possession sold (Acts 5:1). Ananias and Sapphira his wife sell a possession.
- Part kept back (Acts 5:2). He keeps back part of the price, with his wife's knowledge, and lays the rest at the apostles' feet.
- Peter's question (Acts 5:3). Peter asks why Satan has filled his heart to lie to the Holy Ghost.
- It was thine own (Acts 5:4). Peter says the land and its price were his to keep and that the lie was to God.
- He falls down (Acts 5:5). Ananias hears the words, falls down and dies, and fear comes on those who hear.
- Carried out and buried (Acts 5:6). The young men wrap him, carry him out and bury him.
Key passages
Acts 5:1
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts 5:3
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Acts 5:5
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
King James Version. 3 indexed passages in total.
For reflection
Ananias never speaks in the account, and everything about what he intended is said by Peter. What does that silence do to the way you read the questions put to him?
Books Ananias appears in
Related people
Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.