Seite 203 - The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3 (1878)

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Cripple Healed
199
benevolent, in order to save their fellow-men, the advocates of the
truth will have a powerful influence upon their hearers.
As a contrast to the example which has been cited, another case
has been recorded by the inspired pen which leaves a dark stain upon
the first church: “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira
his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife
also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the
apostles’ feet.” This couple had noted the fact that those who had parted
with their possessions to supply the wants of their poorer brethren
were held in high esteem among the believers. They therefore, upon
consulting together, decided to sell their property, and affect to give
all the proceeds into the general fund, but really to retain a large share
for themselves. They thus designed to receive their living, which they
intended to estimate much higher than it really was, from the common
stock, and to secure the high esteem of their brethren.
But a holy God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. The apostles were
impressed by a sense of the true state of the case, and when Ananias
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presented himself with his offering, representing it as the entire pro-
ceeds of the sale of his property, Peter said to him, “Ananias, why
hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back
part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own?
and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou
conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but
unto God. And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and gave up
the ghost; and great fear came on all them that heard these things.”
Peter asked, “Was it not thine own?” thus showing that no undue
influence had been brought to bear upon Ananias and Sapphira to
compel them to sacrifice their possessions to the general good. They
had acted from choice. But in pretending to be wrought upon by the
Holy Ghost, and attempting to deceive the apostles, they had lied to
the Almighty.
“And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not
knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell
me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so
much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together
to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have
buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then
fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and