And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and died: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
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Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired:
One must understand here as well, because it is the beginning of the teaching, and these people dared very much in trying to test the Holy Spirit. And their punishment has become a great aid for the other brethren. For they were educated and taught that one must not dare things against the Holy Spirit nor try to test it.
Ananias . fell down and gave up the ghost. St. Augustine says, this severe judgment was to strike a terror of such dissembling fraudulent dealings into the new Church. It was also to show that St. Peter, and the apostles, had the gift of prophecy. (Witham)
Origen thinks his death was occasioned by the sudden fright and shame, with which he was seized. Pliny relates a similar accident in the sudden death of Diodorus Dialecticus, lib. vii. cap. 53.
Menochius and Cornelius a Lap ide think, that God struck him interiorly, as Peter spoke. There are likewise different opinions among the Fathers, respecting the salvation of Ananias and Saphira. Some are of opinion, that as their fault was great, they died, and perished in their sin. but the ideas we are fond to cherish of the infinite mercy of God, would rather incline us to say, with St. Augustine, "I can believe that God spared them after this life, for his mercy is great. They were stricken with the scourge of death, that they might not ...
This miracle is greater than that of the lame man, in respect of the death inflicted, and the knowing what was in the thought of the heart, even what was done in secret.
That man was punished, and others profited thereby. Not without cause. And yet, signs had been wrought before: true, but there was not such a sense of fear. So true is that saying, The Lord is known by executing judgments. Psalm 9:16 The same thing had occurred in the case of the Ark: Uzzah was punished and fear came upon the rest. 2 Samuel 6:7 But in that instance the king through fear removed from him the Ark; but here the disciples became more earnestly heedful.
Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired:
As regards Peter, he did not put Ananias and Saphira to death by his own authority or with his own hand, but published their death sentence pronounced by God.
