Acts 5:1-11

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

As you may read from the text, a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of their property; and they kept a portion of the price for themselves; and they gave the rest to the church (the Lord). Their sin was that they were declaring to the church that they gave all the money from the land to the church. Hence they were lying to the church—and the Lord. Yes, their sin was really to God; anytime we sin against anyone, we are sinning against God. And in a broader sense, their sin was of spiritual hypocrisy. They were faking their Christianity. They wanted so badly to be popular in the church so they lied about the full price of the land.

As for how Peter knew of their lie, there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. And he did not hesitate to deal with it harshly and immediately. For just as Achon was caught in a lie and he and his entire family were stoned to death for it (Josh. 7:16-26), Peter knew that this sin of Ananias and Sapphira was of equal disgrace to God; particularly since the New Testament church was just starting, and it had to be built on a strong and holy foundation of truth—without hypocrisy.