Saturday 1, August 2026

What happened after Ananias died invites serious introspection about decisions we make collectively. Let’s prayerfully consider Today’s Holy Nougat.

Acts 5:7-8 CEVDCI

[7] Three hours later Sapphira came in, but she did not know what had happened to her husband.

[8] Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the property for this amount?” “Yes,” she answered, “that’s the amount.”

Accomplices

Recently, I watched a short on Meta. In it, the wife queried her husband’s public support for her, despite his having privately disagreed with her. He indicated that their private disagreement wasn’t for the public sphere. In one sense, it is affirming. But I was reminded of a colleague’s comment on Ananias and Sapphira’s scheming as an example of marital unity. What do you think?

Poll

Should couples support each other publicly, regardless of the issue?

Deeper Dive

From what we’ve read thus far, Ananias and Sapphira were fully agreed about withholding monies from their donation. My colleague noted that although they were in full agreement, it was for the wrong thing and the wrong reasons. Their joint decision, resulting in them following the agreed plan to the bitter end, indicated they were accomplices in deceit. It doesn’t seem as if either of them had second thoughts. Each separately stated that the amount of money handed over was all they had received.

It seems that they even planned to have Ananias make the handover in Sapphira’s absence. She didn’t seem surprised that her husband made the transfer to them without her. Nor was she affected by Peter’s question. She blithely confirmed the false amount. No hesitation. She adhered to the agreed plan. There is no suggestion that she thought it was wrong to lie to Peter when out of her husband’s earshot.

We are sometimes equally guilty of conspiring with others to go against God’s will. If asked, we maintain the story, not thinking that God may warn others of our plans. In fact, we might even stifle our consciences for the anticipated pleasure or benefit the action promises.

But I believe God wants us to count the cost in advance of acting on it, regardless of the source of the proposition. Y’shua puts it clearly in Matthew 16:26: ‘Is it worth it to gain the world at the cost of your soul?’ Being an accomplice to shortchange God is costly. Whether it is a parent, lover, colleague, or friend, it’s an unwise investment. Keeping silent in public is not an option. We should discourage the action and have no part in it.

The good news is that if we have made such mistakes, if we have been coconspirators in sinning against God, we can confess our sin now. There will be consequences, but we would have made things right with God. That’s the accomplice Who matters, not others. Remember the promise: when we confess our sins, God will forgive us and renew our spirits (see 1 John 1:9). If we are convicted of sinning against God today by virtue of being someone else’s accomplice, let’s not waste any more time.

Prayer Point

Dear Lord, forgive us for those moments when we have conspired to sin against You. Convict us of our individual and collective sins, so that we may confess and find hope in You. This is our prayer, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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May all we seek be found in Christ