February 9

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.

2 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.

3 But Peter said, Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to be to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 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.

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost; and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

9 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.

10 Then fell the down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was hypocrisy. There were three base elements of which it was composed:

1. Vanity.—They unduly loved applause. "The disciples had adopted the principle of having all things in common. There was nothing compulsory in the arrangement, but the love that burned in their hearts made the practice general. Ananias and Sapphira, without any heart-sympathy with this system, professed to adopt it, because it was popular. They hoped to purchase to themselves the good opinion of the church."

2. Covetousness.—They unduly loved their money. Had they been vain only, they would have kept back no part of the price; had they been covetous only, they would have given none of it. It was the union of their vanity and covetousness that produced their crime.

3. Falsehood—"Out of the conflict of vanity with covetousness came forth a lie. For a falsehood may be acted. We do not read here that Ananias expressly said that the sum he brought was the whole price of his land. The question was distinctly put to his wife, and she answered it by an express falsehood. But Ananias would seem to have brought a certain amount, and laid it at the apostles' feet, letting it be understood that he was giving the whole price received for his land."—R. R. Meredith, D. D.

God's punishment upon these two persons was fearful indeed. In both cases the stroke was struck by an unseen hand. There never has been a time from that day to this in which the church has not needed the lesson. We need it to-day. Men still render to God a divided worship; desire to seem better than they are.

Closet Promise.—He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it?—Prov. xxiv 12.

A prayer against Evil Thoughts:

"O Lord, my God, be not Thou far from me; my God, haste Thee to help me; for there have risen up against me sundry thoughts, and great fears, afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through unhurt? how shall I break them to pieces? 'I, saith He, will go before thee and will humble the great ones of the earth; I will open the doors of the prison, and reveal unto thee hidden secrets.' Do, O Lord, as Thou sayest, and let all evil thoughts fly from before Thy face. This is my hope, my one only consolation, to flee unto Thee in every tribulation, to trust in Thee, to call upon Thee from my inmost heart, and to wait patiently for Thy consolation."—Thomas A'Kempis.