But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Ver. 1. With Sapphira his wife] Her name signifieth beautiful, or spacious. She might be so on the outside, as those apples of Sodom, the Egyptian temples, or Jewish sepulchres; but her heart was rotten, and not right with God. Hypocrites are called vipers, Matthew 3:7, which are outwardly specious, inwardly poisonous. The swan is white in feathers but of a black skin; and was therefore reputed unclean, and unsuitable for sacrifice.