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 lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles 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. (Acts 5:1-4 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
The last verses of the foregoing chapter acquainted us with the practice of the primitive Christians at the first plantation of the gospel, in selling their possessions for charitable uses, and laying down the money at the apostles’ feet, for the relief of their fellow brethren and members in Christ.
Now this chapter informs us, that according to their example, one Anania, and Sapphira his wife, consecrated a possession unto God, and sold the same to that purpose; but fraudulently kept back part of the price; and thus, as St. Chryostom notes, was found stealing his own goods: He had the formality to sell his lands as others did; but had not the sincerity to part with his money as others had.
Observe here, 1. The true nature of Ananias’s sin, it as sacrilege; that is, a purloining or stealing of that which by vow and inward purpose of heart: covetousness and vain-glory, lying and hypocrisy, did all attend and accompany this sin; but the sin itself was sacrilege.
Learn hence, 1. That what is consecrated to God, must not be alienated or applied to to other uses.
2. That such an alienation is sacrilege, and a sin against God, being a breach of vow or promise made unto him; a lying unto God, as the text calls it.
3. That it is a heinous sin, which God will severely punish.
Observe, 2. How this secret sin, lying in the intention of the heart, was known to God, and by divine revelation made known to St. Peter.
Learn thence, That not only our outward actions are taken notice of by God, but even the purposes and intents of our hearts are all manifest and open to him, and thoroughly understood by them.
Observe, 3. How St. Peter justly aggravates their sin from the divinity of the person, (the Holy Ghost,) against whom it was committed, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost? Thou hast not lied unto man, but unto God.
But why is Ananias said to lie unto the Holy Ghost, rather than to God the Father or Jesus Christ the Son?
Answer, Either, 1. Because it is the power work of the Spirit search the heart, and to know the thoughts and purposes thereof:
Or, 2. Because the wealth brought in to the apostles and laid at their feet, was an effect of the Holy Spirit inclining the hearts of believers so to do.
Learn hence, The divinity of the Holy Ghost, that he is truly and really God: he whom the scripture calls the great and true God, is God; but the scripture calls the Holy Ghost the great and true God; therefore the Holy Ghost is God. Either the Holy Ghost is man, and God’s messenger, or God himself; but the antithesis or opposite shews, that he is not man; for says the apostles, Thou hast not lied unto man:
And if the Holy Ghost had been only God’s messenger, it had been as great a sin to lie to Peter, (he being God’s extraordinary messenger,) as to lie to the Holy Ghost; therefore the apostle, in the fourth verse, doth explain what he meant, by lying to the Holy Ghost, in the third verse; namely, lying unto God: Thou hast not lied unto man, a creature like thyself, but unto God, even to the Holy Ghost who is God.