51 And a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and did keep back of the price—his wife also knowing—and having brought a certain part, at the feet of the apostles he laid 'it'. 3 And Peter said, 'Ananias, wherefore did the Adversary fill thy heart, for thee to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back of the price of the place? 4 while it remained, did it not remain thine? and having been sold, in thy authority was it not? why 'is' it that thou didst put in thy heart this thing? thou didst not lie to men, but to God;' 5 and Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, did expire, and great fear came upon all who heard these things, 6 and having risen, the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth, they buried 'him'. 7 And it came to pass, about three hours after, that his wife, not knowing what hath happened, came in, 8 and Peter answered her, 'Tell me if for so much ye sold the place;' and she said, 'Yes, for so much.' 9 And Peter said unto her, 'How was it agreed by you, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? lo, the feet of those who did bury thy husband 'are' at the door, and they shall carry thee forth;' 10 and she fell down presently at his feet, and expired, and the young men having come in, found her dead, and having carried forth, they buried 'her' by her husband;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 5:1-10
Commentary on Acts 5:1-11
(Read Acts 5:1-11)
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.