“Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.”
Acts 5:11 (NLT)
In Acts 5, a couple watched the early church move in unity and generosity, and they tried to participate. But Ananias and Sapphira did the right-looking thing the wrong way. They brought an offering, but they lied about it. They wanted the appearance of surrender while keeping a portion back for themselves.
Peter’s rebuke is sobering because it exposes what’s really happening. They were not forced to sell. They were not required to give. The issue was not the amount. The issue was the lie and the selfishness hiding under a spiritual act. To lie to the Holy Spirit is not a small offense. It is testing the Lord.
Then we read, “Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.” That can sound harsh, but I see mercy in it. God was teaching his people that he is not to be trifled with. A healthy fear is a healthy respect. It’s the kind of reverence that keeps us honest, and keeps us close.
So here’s the invitation for us today. Don’t try to look generous. Be generous when the Spirit leads, and be truthful about what you are doing. Don’t let service become performance. And don’t let marriage become a partnership in sin. Let it be accountability that pulls you toward holiness. God is worthy of our sincerity, and he is worthy of the kind of fear that makes us run to him, not perform for people.