Short Stories

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A knock on the door downstairs brought Mary’s servant running to answer it. “What do you want?” she asked a burly man who poked his face inside.

Peter was surprised to see that it was his friend Joseph Barnabas. He was a Levite who had returned from his family’s estate on Cyprus, an island rich in vineyards and wheat fields. Barnabas was strong as a bull but gentle as a lamb. He was a good man, full of faith.

“What’s that?” Peter asked, noticing a little brown bag in Barnabas’ right hand.

“It’s for the famine in Galilee and Judea,” he explained. “Many in the Galilee have left fishing boats and farms for a better life, but they can’t find work. I sold one of our fields. Give this to believers who need money for food.”

He handed Peter the pouch, heavy with coins. “The Lord will show us how to share it,” Peter said, giving Barnabas a holy kiss.

A week later John and Peter went to meet with believers in Solomon’s portico at the Temple. On the way they talked about what happened to Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, who had lived in the upper city. It was the day before the Sabbath when Ananias came to Mary’s house and fell on his knees, his face almost in the sand.

“I want to give this to you—it’s money from the sale of my land,” he humbly offered with a faint smile. “Please use it for those in need.”

Peter picked up the pouch and peered inside, and then tied it up. “Is this all the money from the sale of your land?”

Ananias rose up and nodded, and then began to stand and face Peter.

“Ananias, when you claim this was the full price for your land, you are lying to the Holy Spirit.”

As if dodging a rock, hoping the deadly object would miss its mark, Ananias recoiled at Peter’s accusation. He then leaned forward, his face flush with indignation. He began to justify his exposed deceit, spitting out words of nonsense in strangled tones. All of a sudden he collapsed in front of Peter, who leaned down and stared at the lifeless body in the dust for a moment; and then ordered four young men to carry Ananias outside the city walls for burial.

About three hours later, when John and Peter were going to leave the courtyard, Sapphira arrived unexpectedly and bowed before them. Peter asked if she and Ananias sold their land. She said yes, for twenty gold shekels.

“You know that’s not true,” Peter insisted. “It was for thirty coins. How could you and your husband think of doing a thing like this?”

Sapphira couldn’t find the words to respond.

“You conspired to test the Spirit’s ability to know what was going on.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

“See those men by the door?” Peter asked, pointing to them. “They just buried your husband.”

Sapphira screamed at Peter and John, fell at their feet, and died. The men picked up her body and carried it out to be buried beside Ananias.”

After that, people came to hear Peter and John at the Temple, but those who pretended to be followers of Christ stayed away, because of the fate of Ananias and Sapphira.

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