Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5

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I’m having trouble grasping the meaning of this story, especially the part pasted below and why Ananias and Sapphira died. Seems kind of harsh to me.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed?”
 
I hope this is helpful. In the commentary on Acts 5:1-11 in The Navarre Bible: New Testament in the Revised Standard Version with a commentary by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, compact edition, it says:
The reader cannot help being surprised by the baneful consequences that this sin has for the two culprits. But their sin is not just a sin of greed; the worst part about it is their attempt to deceive God, who is at work in the Church. St. Ephrem comments that God punished Ananias and Sapphira in this way “not only because they stole and hid their crime, but also because they showed no shame, and sought to deceive those acting under the guidance of the Holy Spirit who knows all things” (Cat. arm. sup. Act., in loc.). The severe punishment they receive befits the circumstances: the Church was in a foundational period, when people had a special duty to be faithful and when God was particularly supportive.
 
mark a:
I’m having trouble grasping the meaning of this story, especially the part pasted below and why Ananias and Sapphira died. Seems kind of harsh to me.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed?”
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They did not die because they withheld land. They died because they lied and said that they gave everything up. They were lying to God.
 
I still don’t understand:

“While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control?”

Thanks-
 
The point in that passage is that they were not required by the early church to sell their land, so while it was unsold it was in their possession and control. Also when they sold it that had the control over what to do with the money. Maybe this would make it clearer: I own a house on an acre of land. While I am living on the property it is under my control. Suppose I decide to sell my house and receive a certain amount of money for it. That money is still in my control, I could use it to buy another house, give some of it to a charity, give all of it to the church. If you read towards the end of chapter 4 Barnabas sells a field and gives the proceeds to the church. It appears that Ananias and Sapphira were trying to enhance their reputation in the church by appearing to have totally donated the property.
 
So should I have my checking account drafted instead of making a specticle of myself peeling off a couple of c-notes for the collection basket?
 
This passage puts the nail in the coffin that proves “faith alone” is dead. Both of these individuals had either “Faith” or “faith in Jesus”. Both were still put to death. The works that flowed out of their Faith proved their Faith dead and thus they to were put to death.

Our Faith IS known by its freelly offered works of love.
 
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