Acts 5:1-11 shows us that the new community was far from perfect. There were still temptations to sin. Similar to the old covenant, there were also some people who were outwardly part of the church but did not truly belong to Christ. Ananias and Sapphira were professing Christians.1 In the context of radical giving, Ananias and Sapphira also serve as a counterpart to Joseph Barnabas (Acts 4:36–37). Where he gave willingly without a desire to be honoured and recognized, they gave for selfish reasons. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is also similar to other incidents in the Old Testament such as the death of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:2), Achan (Joshua 7:1; Joshua 7:19–26), and Abijah (1 Kings 14:1–18).
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,