Ananias and Sapphira die after coordinated deceit

Ananias and Sapphira present a partial gift as if it were the whole

A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sells a possession, keeps back part of the price with his wife's knowledge, and brings a certain part, laying it at the apostles' feet. Peter says that Ananias has let Satan fill his heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and keep back part of the land's price. While it remained, was it not his own? After it was sold, was it not in his own power? He has not lied to men but to God. Ananias falls down and gives up the ghost; great fear comes on all who hear. Young men wrap him, carry him out, and bury him.

About three hours later Sapphira comes in, not knowing what has happened. Peter asks whether they sold the land for so much. She says yes. Peter asks how they could agree to test the Spirit of the Lord; the feet of those who buried her husband are at the door and will carry her out. She falls down immediately and yields up the ghost. The young men find her dead, carry her out, and bury her by her husband. Great fear comes upon all the church and upon as many as hear these things. The text centers coordinated deceit. Property and proceeds remained under their authority. The sudden deaths and divine agency remain morally difficult. The story does not narrate a human execution procedure, does not authorize churches to kill, beat, or shun people to death, and is not a warrant for lethal discipline.

Fear here is the community learning that God is not a prop for a reputation

The offense is the lie about the gift, not the size of the gift. Later readers who turn this scene into a method for punishing members have already left the text. The church's fear is not a license for human violence.