Sapphira

1A man named Ananias sold a piece of land. He and his wife Sapphira sold it together.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2He secretly kept back part of the money. His wife knew about it. He brought the rest and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

NoteThe apostles were the leaders Jesus chose to teach about him. Laying money at their feet meant handing it over to them. They shared it with people who needed food and clothes.

3Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit. You kept back part of the money from the land."

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?

NoteSatan is God's enemy. He wants people to do wrong things. The Holy Spirit is God himself, living with his people and helping them. The old words say "Holy Ghost." Ghost was just an old word for spirit.

4"Before you sold it, the land was yours. After you sold it, the money was yours too. Why did you plan this in your heart? You did not lie to people. You lied to God."

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

NoteBack then the heart meant the place inside you where you think and plan. It did not only mean feelings.

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Everyone who heard about it was very afraid.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

NoteThe old words say he "gave up the ghost." That means he died.

6The young men got up and wrapped his body. They carried him out and buried him.

And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

NoteIn that place, a dead person was wrapped in cloth right away. They were buried the same day, not days later.

7About three hours later his wife came in. She did not know what had happened.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

NoteThree hours is about as long as a morning at school.

8Peter asked her, "Tell me. Did you sell the land for this much money?" She said, "Yes, for that much."

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9Peter said, "Why did you two agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too."

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

NoteTo test God meant to see if he would really notice a lie. They found out that he did.

10Right away she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11Great fear came over the whole church. Everyone who heard about this was afraid.

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

NoteThe church was not a building. It meant all the people who believed in Jesus.