5:1-10 Why did Ananias and Sapphira have to die without a chance to repent and be forgiven?

We err if we dismiss lightly the conspiracy between Ananias and Sapphira here to lie to the Holy Spirit. They had allowed Satan to lead them in an attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit about the money they were giving to the church - the proceeds of the sale of some land.

They agreed between themselves to give only part of the proceeds of the sale to the church, while at the same time claiming it was the full amount (CP V1-3). The issue was not that they gave only part of the money, but that they had lied about it. This is made clear in V4 (CP V4).

They were not lying to men but to God. They were testing the Holy Spirit's ability to know the truth (CP V9).

This could not go unpunished in the infant church, and they were judged accordingly. Their death stands as an example to the church that God is a God of holiness and those who will not treat Him as holy will face the consequences (CP Psa 76:7-8; He 10:29-31).

Others have also died in the first century church for not treating God as Holy (CP 1Cor 11:27-30). Ananias and Sapphira showed no fear of the Lord, which is an essential element of the Christian faith, the need for which is taught right throughout scripture (CP De 6:1-2; Psa 85:8-9; Pr 2:1-5; Lu 1:50; Ac 9:31).

Without a proper fear of the Lord God's people will soon return to the ungodly ways of the world. As a result of what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Ac 5 the church and all the people who heard abut it revered and feared God more, and many more were added to the church (CP V11-14).

The penalty Ananias and Sapphira received may seem harsh to some for such a seemingly small offence, but it was necessary in order to establish apostolic authority in the early church and to safeguard the church's purity. This is the first sin recorded in the New Testament church.

Acts: