Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
A common Jewish name, the same as Hananiah. ) One of the members of the church at Jerusalem, who conspired with his wife Sapphira to deceive the brethren, and who fell down and immediately expired after he had uttered the falsehood (Acts 5:5). By common agreement the members of the early Christian community devoted their property to the work of furthering the gospel and of assisting the poor and needy. The proceeds of the possessions they sold were placed at the disposal of the apostles (Acts 4:36, 37).
Ananias might have kept his property had he so chosen; but he professed agreement with the brethren in the common purpose, and had of his own accord devoted it all, as he said, to these sacred ends. Yet he retained a part of it for his own ends, and thus lied in declaring that he had given it all. “The offence of Ananias and Sapphira showed contempt of God, vanity and ambition in the offenders, and utter disregard of the corruption which they were bringing into the society. ) A Christian at Damascus (Acts 9:10).
He became Paul’s instructor; but when or by what means he himself became a Christian we have no information. He was “a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt” at Damascus (22:12). ) The high priest before whom Paul was brought in the procuratorship of Felix (Acts 23:2, 5, 24). He was so enraged at Paul’s noble declaration, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day,” that he commanded one of his attendants to smite him on the mouth.
” Being reminded that Ananias was the high priest, to whose office all respect was to be paid, he answered, “I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest” (Acts 23:5). This expression has occasioned some difficulty, as it is scarcely probable that Paul should have been ignorant of so public a fact. The expression may mean (a) that Paul had at the moment overlooked the honour due to the high priest; or (b), as others think, that Paul spoke ironically, as if he had said, “The high priest breaking the law! God’s high priest a tyrant and a lawbreaker!
) (c) Others think that from defect of sight Paul could not observe that the speaker was the high priest. In all this, however, it may be explained, Paul, with all his excellency, comes short of the example of his divine Master, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(whom Jehovah has graciously given)
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
ANANI'AS (the Greek form of Hananiah, whom Jehovah has graciously given). 1. One of the professed converts to the Christian faith under the preaching of the apostles. Acts 5:1-10. When the disciples had thrown their property into a common stock, Ananias sold his estate and brought a part of the purchase-money, pretending it was the whole proceeds of the sale. Being charged by Peter with his sin, he fell down dead upon the spot.
His wife Sapphira, who was privy to the fraud of her husband, but ignorant of his dreadful end, being asked for how much their estate had been sold, confirmed the falsehood which Ananias had told, and instantly met the same doom. A primitive devout disciple who lived at Damascus, and was commissioned to visit Paul soon after his conversion and restore him to sight. Acts 9:10-18; Acts 23:12-16. Tradition makes him subsequently the bishop of Damascus, and a martyr. d. 48. Acts 23:2. d. 62 he was sent to Rome to answer a charge of oppression preferred against him by the Samaritans.
He was, however, acquitted, returned, and resumed his office. d. 55. He was likewise one of the apostle's accusers before Felix and before Festus. Acts 24:1; Acts 25:2. See Paul. d. 67 (Josephus, Jewish Wars, ii. 17, 9).
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
or Ananiah, the cloud of the Lord