The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira resulted in fear amongst church members and perhaps even those outside the covenant community. Fear in this context is not a terror of a capricious deity (one who constantly changes his mind), but the recognition that the Lord is present among his people and that he should be respected. The church comes to realize that the Lord is holy, that he sees everything, and that he loves truth and hates sin. We cannot keep secrets from God.

This reality of God’s holiness and omnipresence should prompt us to repent of our sin and trust in Christ for salvation. Christ alone is the one who perfectly obeyed God’s law, never harboured any evil in his heart, and never acted in a deceitful manner. He alone has the right to come into God’s presence; he alone was blameless (see Psalm 15:1–5). Truly there is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12).

Today we should not expect the Spirit to act in the same manner, though he is free to do so. Luke records a single event which was to serve as an example for all future generations. Nevertheless there ought to still be discipline today in God’s church. Those who refuse to repent of their sin should be warned, kept from the Holy Communion, and eventually excommunicated—according to the steps outlined in Matthew 18:15–20. The apostle Paul expected this kind of discipline to take place (see 1 Corinthians 5:1–2), thereby serving as a continual reminder and warning that God is holy and that you cannot continue to do as you please if you are part of his church.