Ambrose of Milan : 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. Bede : Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and expired. The severe sentence was given to the transgressor not for the sake of profit, but foresaw in spirit the future weeds that would adulterate the Church's simplicity with corrupt morals (from these, the most detestable race of the Sarabaites is said to have sprung, who, not abandoning their possessions, falsely pretend to keep apostolic strictness), he did not allow the culprits to be cured by repentance, but took care to completely uproot the harmful seed to instill fear in future generations. Subsequently it follows: — Commentary on Acts John Cassian : And so if against those who did not covet other persons' goods but tried to be sparing of their own, and had no desire to acquire but only the wish to retain, there went forth so severe a sentence, what should we think of those who desire to amass wealth, without ever having had any of their own, and, making a show of poverty before people, are before God convicted of being rich, through the passion of avarice? — INSTITUTES 7.25 John Chrysostom : "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost." 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. Therefore let it be no stumbling-block to any, if at present also there are sacrilegious persons. If there were such persons then, much more now, when evils are many. But let us "rebuke them before all, that others also may fear." Judas was sacrilegious, but it was no stumbling-block to the disciples. "And great fear," it is said, "came on all them that heard these things." 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." The same thing had occurred in the case of the Ark: Uzzah was punished and fear came upon the rest. But in that instance the king through fear removed from him the Ark; but here the disciples became more earnestly heedful. — Homily on Acts 12 Oecumenius : Therefore they were subjected to a penalty for having committed sacrilege. By what? by death; for that extinguished it, as if it dried it up, that is, it deprived it of the vital moisture. Wherefore also the living thing is said by the ancients to be moist in its essence. — Commentary on Acts Rabanus Maurus : a great fear overwhelmed all who heard of it: Not without cause, because this man died that others might be frightened by his example.