Acts 5:10??

[Rae8]

I am wondering about Acts 5:10.

St. Peter surely did not desire this result. Yet when Sapphira came in and he questioned her about the land - knowing what had already happened to her husband for lying - he must have known the end result.

I suppose the moral to the story is that you don’t dare lie to the Holy Spirit. I’m just wondering why Peter let it happen again.

(If you’re listening St. Peter - I’m not criticizing - just wondering)

Rae

 

[ahs]

Well, if you read carefully it seems as though Peter expected her to tell the truth…and would have preferred that she do so. But SHE chose to lie (as did her husband). I don’t think what happened was what Peter wanted…rather it was just the consequence of the sin that these two people chose to commit against the Holy Spirit.

But a man named Anani′as with his wife Sapphi′ra sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Anani′as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Anani′as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately 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. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church,[a] and upon all who heard of these things.