Sapphira was married to Ananias and was a member of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. Together with her husband, she sold a property but withheld part of the proceeds while pretending to give everything to the apostles. Their deception toward the Holy Spirit resulted in immediate death and served as a serious warning for the early church.
Sapphira and her husband Ananias sold a property but agreed to keep back part of the proceeds for themselves while pretending to give the full amount to the apostles.
Ananias brought part of the money to the apostles, pretending it was the full amount. Peter exposed the deception, stating that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit, after which Ananias fell down dead.
4While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? Why have you contrived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
Peter asked Sapphira if the property had been sold for the stated amount. She confirmed the lie and upheld the deception she and her husband had agreed upon.
Peter rebuked Sapphira for having conspired with her husband to test the Spirit of the Lord. Immediately she fell dead at his feet, and the young men carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
9Then Peter said to her, "How could you agree together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
10At once she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
The incident involving Ananias and Sapphira caused great fear throughout the entire church and among all who heard about it, highlighting the seriousness of lying to God.