When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrative highlights that Ananias's death was an immediate consequence of Peter's words, not a direct curse, indicating how profound guilt and exposure could physically shock someone to death. This event wasn't just a punishment, but a dramatic display for all onlookers, demonstrating the seriousness with which God viewed hypocrisy within the nascent Church.
When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter had just exposed Ananias's lie about donating the full proceeds from selling his property to the church, revealing that he and his wife Sapphira had kept back a portion. Immediately after Peter's powerful accusation that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit and to God, Ananias fell down dead. This shocking event struck immediate fear into the hearts of all who heard about it, demonstrating the seriousness with which the early church, guided by the Holy Spirit, viewed dishonesty within its midst.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is chilling. But what exactly was their crime? It wasn't just a simple lie.
Ananias didn't just lie about money; he lied to the Holy Spirit. His sin was a multi-layered assault on the core of the early church:
Their sin was a profound rejection of God's work and presence.
Why such a swift and severe judgment? The New Testament is full of grace, so this stands out starkly.
The immediate death of Ananias wasn't arbitrary punishment; it served a crucial purpose for the burgeoning church:
Ask a follow-up
This wasn't just about punishing Ananias; it was about protecting and sanctifying the church for its mission.
Understand the original words
phobos · Greek Noun
A profound sense of awe, reverence, and trembling before the majesty, holiness, and judgment of God. It is a righteous response to witnessing God’s power or the manifestation of His justice.
This event highlights that at the very beginning of the New Covenant era, God's grace was accompanied by a holy fear and a clear judgment against hypocrisy, especially when it threatened the integrity of His new community.
c. AD 30-33
Early Church Growth in Jerusalem
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to rapid growth of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. This period saw many conversions and a strong emphasis on communal living and sharing resources.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Ananias and Sapphira's Deception
Ananias and his wife Sapphira conspire to sell property and donate only a portion of the money to the apostles, while claiming they gave the full amount. This act was a direct attempt to gain status within the community through deceit, while still retaining personal wealth.
c. AD 30-33
Ananias' Divine Judgment
When confronted by Peter about his lie to the Holy Spirit, Ananias falls down dead. His sudden death serves as a stark, public warning against hypocrisy and deceit within the nascent church.
c. AD 30-33
Sapphira's Judgment
Shortly after Ananias' death, Sapphira, unaware of her husband's fate, repeats the same lie to Peter and also falls down dead. This reinforces the severity of their sin and the divine judgment upon their deception.
c. AD 30-33
Widespread Fear and Respect
The miraculous and terrifying judgments on Ananias and Sapphira instill great fear in the wider community. This fear leads to increased respect for the apostles and the church, solidifying its reputation and deterring future deception.
c. AD 40s-60s
Apostolic Ministry and Growth
The apostolic ministry continues, marked by signs, wonders, and the spread of the gospel throughout Judea, Samaria, and into the Gentile world. The early church's foundation is strengthened by such divine interventions and clear instances of God's judgment on sin.
Just as Nadab and Abihu were immediately struck down for offering unauthorized fire, Ananias and Sapphira faced swift divine judgment for their deception, highlighting God's intolerance for impurity and dishonesty, especially at the dawn of new covenants.
Deuteronomy 6:16Peter's rebuke, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test,' echoes this warning against testing God. Ananias and Sapphira's attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit was a direct challenge to God's presence and authority within the early church.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5The 'great fear' that fell upon the community served a similar purpose to the disciplinary measures described here – protecting the purity of the body of Christ. This incident demonstrates God's active role in preserving the integrity of His church from within.
John 12:6Like Judas, who was a thief among the disciples, Ananias and Sapphira represented a hidden corruption within the nascent community. This narrative shows that outward piety without inner sincerity is unacceptable to God, just as it was for Judas.
Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked, including their offerings and actions, is an abomination to the Lord. Ananias and Sapphira's 'gift' was tainted by their deceit, proving this proverb true and illustrating why their action provoked divine judgment.
jfbActs 5:5: "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."
- Ananias … gave up the ghost … great fear came on all that heard these things—on those without the Christian circle; who, instead of disparaging the followers of the Lord Jesus, as they might otherwise have done on the discovery of such hypocrisy, were awed at the manifest presence of Divinity among them, and the mysterious power of throwing off such corrupt m…
bengelActs 5:5: "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."
Acts 5:5 . Πεσὼν , having fallen down ) The terror of Ananias is a specimen of the terror wherewith the ungodly shall be struck in the judgment, without being bereft of life, as he was.— ἐξέψυξε , was deprived of life, gave up the ghost ) By this verb a miserable death is denoted; Acts 5:10 ; ch. Acts 12:23 , Herod; Jdg 4:21 , Sisera, (in the Alex. MS. of LXX.,…
The narrative highlights that Ananias's death was an immediate consequence of Peter's words, not a direct curse, indicating how profound guilt and exposure could physically shock someone to death. This event wasn't just a punishment, but a dramatic display for all onlookers, demonstrating the seriousness with which God viewed hypocrisy within the nascent Church.
Peter had just exposed Ananias's lie about donating the full proceeds from selling his property to the church, revealing that he and his wife Sapphira had kept back a portion. Immediately after Peter's powerful accusation that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit and to God, Ananias fell down dead. This shocking event struck immediate fear into the hearts of all who heard about it, demonstrating the seriousness with which the early church, guided by the Holy Spirit, viewed dishonesty within its midst.
Peter had just exposed Ananias's lie about donating the full proceeds from selling his property to the church, revealing that he and his wife Sapphira had kept back a portion. Immediately after Peter's powerful accusation that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit and to God, Ananias fell down dead. This shocking event struck immediate fear into the hearts of all who heard about it, demonstrating the seriousness with which the early church, guided by the Holy Spirit, viewed dishonesty within its midst.
"When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it." — The narrative highlights that Ananias's death was an immediate consequence of Peter's words, not a direct curse, indicating how profound guilt and exposure could physically shock someone to death. Th…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026