Lying to the Spirit

Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?

Not to us.

Not to the church.

To the Holy Spirit.

He named the spiritual reality behind the transaction.

He said the land had been his.

While it remained unsold, it was his own.

After it was sold, the proceeds were also at his disposal.

Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?

You have not lied to man but to God.

That question — why have you contrived this — points to premeditation.

This was not a spontaneous error.

This was a plan.

They had sat together and decided what amount to bring.

They had decided together what to claim.

They had coordinated the deception.

It was a conspiracy between a husband and wife to appear more generous than they were.

To receive the reputation of full surrender at half the cost.

Peter named what no one else in the room could see.

He named the spiritual author of it.

He named the victim of it.

Not another human being.

God himself.

You have not lied to man but to God.

Ananias heard these words and fell down and died.

Great fear came upon all who heard.

The young men wrapped him and carried him out.

Three hours passed.

Sapphira came in.

Not knowing.

Still carrying the story they had agreed on.

She would die with the same story on her lips.

They had planned together to deceive.

They died together in the truth.

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