Bad Girls of the Bible

Sapphira:The Lying

Contributor

Acts 5:1-11

Sapphira – What She Did Right

– She was a Christian• The church was in its infancy – still new (Acts

2)• Sapphira was a believer

– She worked as a team with her husband• They were both a part of the church• She was aware of what he did with their gift

(Acts 5:2)• She followed him into his punishment (Acts

5:10)– She purposed in her heart to give• She & Ananias wanted to be a part of the gift

(Acts 5:1-2)• They sold a piece of land to help the church

(Acts 5:3)

Sapphira – What She Did Wrong

– She lied to her brethren, and to God• She & Ananias conspired to lie (Acts 5:2, 9)• God HATES lying (Proverbs 6:16-19)

– She did right things with wrong motivations• God wants our actions AND our hearts • Matthew 15:8, John 4:24

– She wanted to be recognized for her goodness• God wants us to give for the sake of giving,

not for reward• Matthew 6:2, Matthew 23:5

Sapphira – Consequences She Faced

– She lost her husband• Ananias paid for his sin with his life (Acts 5:5)• Sapphira may not have known it, but she had

become a widow– She wasted an opportunity to repent• Peter gave her the chance to turn from her sin• God wants us ALL to repent (Acts 17:30)• He gives us so much time to change our ways

(2 Pet 3:8-9)– She died in her sin• She was struck dead when she maintained her

lie (Acts 5:10)• We, too, will die, if we do not turn from

wickedness (John 8:24)

Sapphira – Lessons Learned

– The early church learned from the sin of Sapphira• The young men who carried her out (Acts 5:10)• Great fear came upon all who heard (Acts 5:11)

– If we were a chapter in the NT, what lesson would future classes learn from us?• What things are we doing right?• What actions are we doing that are wrong?• What kinds of consequences are we facing?• What lessons are we teaching future

generations?