But a man called Ananias, who with his wife Sapphira had sold some property, appropriated some of the purchase-money with the connivance of his wife; he only brought part of it to lay before the feet of the apostles. read more.
"Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan filled your heart and made you cheat the holy Spirit by appropriating some of the money paid for the land? When it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And even after the sale, was the money not yours to do as you pleased about it? How could you think of doing a thing like this? You have not defrauded men but God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and expired. (Great awe came over all who heard of it.) And the younger men rose, wrapped the body up and carried it away to be buried. After an interval of about three hours his wife happened to come in, quite unconscious of what had occurred. "Tell me," said Peter, "did you only sell the land for such and such a sum?" "Yes," she said, "that was all we sold it for." Peter said to her, "How could you arrange to put the Lord's Spirit to the proof? Listen, there are the footsteps of the men who have buried your husband! They are at the door, and they will carry you out as well." Instantly she fell down at their feet and expired. The younger men came in to find her dead; they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great awe came over the whole church and over all who heard about this.
Moffatt