Ananias and Sapphira

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!’ Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things. Acts 5:1-11

375 Q Brescia casket 1280px-Lipsanoteca_di_Brescia_(retro)
Brescia casket, late 4th century.
1426 Masaccio Cappella_brancacci,_Distribuzione_delle_elemosine_e_la_morte_di_Anania_(restaurato),_Masaccio
Masaccio, 1426-27.
1515 -16 Raphael Cartoon
Raphael cartoon, V&A.
1515 - Raphael Vatican Arazzi_di_raffaello,_morte_di_anania
Raphael tapestry, Vatican Museums.
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Augustin Hirschvogel, 1549.
R-20111108-0046.jpg
Philip Galle (1537-1612) after Maarten van Heemskerck (1498-1574).
AN01262255_001_l
Gerard de Jode after Maarten de Vos, c. 1580.
Ambrosius_Francken_I_Smierc_Safiry
Workshop of Ambrosius Francken I, c. 1600.
1604 Roncalli Altar-ofthe-Lie-StPeter
Altar of the Lie. Mosaic, 1725-27, from Roncalli painting, 1599-1604.
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Jacques Callot, 1608/11.
1632 Aubin_Vouet_-_La_mort_de_Saphire_et_d'ananie
Aubin Vouet, May 1632.
1652 Poussin death of sapphira
Poussin, Death of Sapphira, c. 1652. | Louvre | Met
R-20100112-0107.jpg
Follower of Jan de Bisschop (1628-71), after Guercino (1591-1666).
1280px-St_Peter_Fresko_Seitenjoch_Ananias_und_Saphira
Franz Joseph Spiegler, 1727.

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