Acts 5 -- How To Stand During Persecution

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. There has always been a mixed multitude. The church is composed of the called out ones, the assembly of the redeemed, but it is also the assembly of those who pretend to be redeemed. The church is likened to sheep, so naturally there are wolves who sneak in to devour the flock. I suspect that although in this case Peter exposed the deceit and Ananias and Saphira were struck dead, that in many other cases the assemblies of believers have been populated by many deceivers. But, just like Acts 1 said, This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. v.11 The end of this age is not simply a time to reap as thousands turn to the Lord, but it will also be a time to deal with the corruption in the church. The Lord has allowed the wheat and the tares to grow together, but at the end of the age the tares will be gathered up and cast into the fire.