Two of these were Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
Everybody who joined the Church had everything in common. Those who had land and other property sold it and brought the money to the apostles. There were no rich and no poor—all had everything that anybody else had, and everyone possessed what belonged to all.
Two Deceivers.
Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession; but they brought only part of the money, and said it was all. Thus they told a falsehood, and showed themselves to be among the worst people in the world; for,
The Lie Detected.
"Who dares think one thing,
And another tell,
My soul detests him,
As the gates of hell."
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter detected the lie, and said to Ananias,
"Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"
"Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?
A Severe Punishment.