Ananias and his wife Sapphira sell a piece of property. With Sapphira’s knowledge, Ananias keeps back part of the proceeds while presenting the remainder to the apostles.

Peter confronts Ananias. His words make an important distinction: the property belonged to Ananias before it was sold, and the money remained under his control afterward. The wrongdoing is the attempt to present a false picture of what has been given.

Peter describes the deception as lying to the Holy Spirit and to God. When Ananias hears the confrontation, he falls down and dies.

Young men carry his body out and bury him. About three hours later Sapphira enters without knowing what has happened.

Peter asks whether the amount presented was the full price received for the land. She confirms the false account.

Peter asks why the couple agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord. He tells her that those who buried her husband are at the door. She also falls down and dies.

The story concludes by saying that great fear comes upon the whole church and everyone who hears what happened.

The severity of the account makes it one of Acts’ most unsettling episodes. Its placement near the beginning of the church’s communal life warns that generosity performed for reputation while concealing deliberate deception is not treated as a minor flaw.