Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Biblical Person · New · Apostolic Age

Ananias

Ananias, husband of Sapphira, was a member of the early Christian community who, along with his wife, was struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit about the proceeds of a land sale.

AI-assisted summary — may contain inaccuracies.

Where Ananias appears

10 verses across 1 book.

Acts10×

Verses mentioning Ananias

  • Acts 5:1 — But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
  • Acts 5:3 — 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?
  • Acts 5:5 — And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
  • Acts 9:10 — And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
  • Acts 9:12 — And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
  • Acts 9:13 — Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
  • Acts 9:17 — And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou
  • Acts 22:12 — And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
  • Acts 23:2 — And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
  • Acts 24:1 — And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
Voices from the tradition

The Church Fathers on Ananias

Patristic commentary on the Scriptures that name Ananias.

For they both raised the dead, which God alone (can do), and restored the debilitated to their integrity, which none but Christ (can do); nay, they inflicted plagues too, which Christ would not do. For it did not beseem Him to be severe who had come to suffer. Smitten were both Ananias and Elymas -Ananias with death, Elymas with…

We read in the Acts of the Apostles that someone, ordered by Ananias the high priest, struck Paul because he said, "God will strike you, oh whitewashed wall." And even to this day, the Ebionites, under orders from their illegitimate high priest, strike the apostle of Jesus Christ with their calumnies, and Paul says to such a high…

"You shall not steal:" [Exodus 20:15] for Achan, when he had stolen in Israel at Jericho, was stoned to death; [Joshua 7:1] and Gehazi, who stole, and told a lie, inherited the leprosy of Naaman; [2 Kings 5:27] and Judas, who stole the poor's money, betrayed the Lord of glory to the Jews, [John 12:6] and repented, and hanged himself,…

— Apostolic Constitutions (380) on Acts 5:1

Peter was not with Ananias and Sapphira when they sold their possessions, but he was present by the Spirit; Why, he says, hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? There was no accuser; there was no witness; whence knew he what had happened? Whiles it remained was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in…

— Cyril of Jerusalem (386) on Acts 5:3

For Ananias became a thief of his own goods, secretly, as he thought, from all men, and concealing his sin: but the Holy Spirit at the same moment was in Peter, and detected his intent, dragged down as it was to avarice, and gave to Peter from Himself the power of seeing the secret, while it is clear that He could not have done this…

And of the Holy Spirit also, Peter says to Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart, to lie to the Holy Ghost?" showing that the Holy Spirit was a true witness, aware of what Ananias had dared to do in secret, and by Whom the manifestation of the secret was made to Peter. For Ananias became a thief of his own goods, secretly, as he…

Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired: One must understand here as well, because it is the beginning of the teaching, and these people dared very much in trying to test the Holy Spirit. And their punishment has become a great aid for the other brethren. For they were educated and taught that one must not dare…

"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him." And see how unexceptionable he makes him also. "And one Ananias," he says, "a devout man according to the law,"…

What may be the reason that He neither drew any one of high authority and importance, nor caused such to be forthcoming for the purpose of instructing Paul? It was, because it was not meet that he should be induced by men, but only by Christ Himself: as in fact this man taught him nothing, but merely baptized him; for, as soon as…

How much [this] darkness earns! After the loss of his eyesight he sees greater things; fostering faith gives a marvelous example to the ages. Ananias casts out his fury—O strange victory! He whom the Hebrew called Sheep [Ananias] subdues a rapacious wolf. God will be proclaimed to the world by this herald, and pulled from the shadows…

Therefore says Ananias, not as one disbelieving the reports, nor thinking that Christ had been deceived, God forbid! but fearing and trembling. For it was reasonable that, being in fear, they would analyze him to learn what had been determined concerning them (for how else could it be clear to them that he even held authority from the…

"And after five days the high priest Ananias came down," etc. After five days, the Jews came to the judge Felix against Paul, with the orator Tertullus […] Then, the parties having been presented, the orator Tertullus, overconfident in human eloquence, began maliciously to attack Paul: the latter, he said, wanted to cause disorder…

Historic voices touch this life

20 passages from 9 historic works cite verses that mention Ananias.