Ananias - A Name Steeped in Biblical History and Significance

Ananias is a name that appears in the New Testament of the Bible. It is derived from the Hebrew word "Hananiah," which means "God has been gracious."

In the Bible, Ananias is the name of several different characters, including:

1. Ananias the high priest, who was appointed by King Uzziah (also known as Azariah) in the 8th century BC (2 Chronicles 26:20).
2. Ananias the son of Nedebaius, who was a leader of the Jews in Jerusalem during the reign of King Alexander Jannaeus (1 Maccabees 7:38).
3. Ananias the prophet, who was sent by God to tell King Saul that he would be defeated by the Philistines (1 Samuel 24:3-4).
4. Ananias the husband of Sapphira, who was a member of the early Christian church in Jerusalem and was struck dead by God for lying about the sale of his property (Acts 5:1-11).

In each of these cases, the name Ananias is associated with someone who is chosen by God for a specific purpose or who plays an important role in the history of the Jewish people.