He had to act decisively. Look! Is it possible that [they] were still saved despite the exemplary punishment they received?". As mentioned previously, the first church in Acts had members who willingly and sacrificially sold their possessions so as to support others in the church even though no one was mandated to do so. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. They sent Ananias and Sapphira to infiltrate the Church but when they saw what happened to them, none of the rest of them dared join the Church for fear of the same fate. We don't know how old they were, or what their general health condition was like. Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? This must surely have meant that, during the very early years of the Levitical priesthood, God felt it necessary to teach some very harsh lessons about faith and strict obedience. But that becomes even more obvious to us when we learn that their confidence for the future was in their bank account rather than in the Lord. There are two major learnings in . James 3:2). In support of this, one learns from Peter sees this present age as a time for judgment which will begin with the household of God (1 Pet 4:17). Related Topics: Christian Home, Finance, Marriage, Richard L. Strauss authored nine books, and served as pastor of churches in Fort Worth, TX, Huntsville, AL. (Luke 16:19-31, Luke 18:18-30). We also see in the book of Revelation, before Christs return and before the dead are judged, God pouring out judgement upon unbelievers (not believers) with the trumpet and bowl judgments. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? I t is reasonable to believe that both Ananias and Sapphira were present in the prayer meeting described in Acts 4:31. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Living in Love: Secrets from Bible Marriages. But if we die after sinning and before confessing, we have been taught to assume we will go to hell. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, Who were the rest that didnt dare join the Church? This question is important because it impacts our understanding of the New Covenant. And even after they sold it, they were under no obligation to give all the money to the church. Depression, fear, insecurity, condemnation, low self esteem, insignificance, and powerless tendencies all attack the child of God that does not have the revelation of salvation by grace through faith in the completed work of the cross of Calvary that Jesus has accomplished. This, like Ananias and Sapphira, are examples in scripture of a 'sin leading to death' as mentioned in 1 John 5:16. This isnt far fetched as the Pharisees hated the Church, persecuted it and were desperately trying to destroy it. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. And these two expressions of fleshliness, their desire for praise, and their confidence in material things, presented them with a difficult dilemma. Were They Saved? It is only by God's grace that we are spared today. (Also in this book, see pp. Peter asked her the price of the land that she and Ananias had sold, and she stated the same untruthful price that Ananias had given. Ananias presented his donation to Peter. When one Christian sees another Christian getting away with it, he finds it easier to try it himself. Never was that more obvious than in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Jesus never left and He is here via the Holy Spirit. Since their congregation was so very large, when they all met together in the court of the Temple, they also gathered in smaller units in homes to get to know each other, to grow in their love for one another, to care about one anothers problems and minister to one anothers needs (cf. But distinguished from the soul, as it is here, it would probably refer just to his spirit, the innermost facet of mans makeup, the center of his being to which God reveals Himself and in which God dwells. The account records their sudden deaths after lying to the Holy Spirit about money. them and bring the proceeds of the sales (35) and lay them at the apostles' How did StorageTek STC 4305 use backing HDDs? They collaborated on a plan to stash some of the money from the sale of their property in a safety deposit box for themselves and take the rest to the apostles. We may simply have fallen into the unconscious habit of protecting our saintly image, covering our carnality, keeping people from knowing what is going on in our hearts and in our homes. We may even be tempted to accuse God of overreacting with undue harshness. But when some concerned Christian who might be able to help us asks how things are going at home, we quickly reply, Oh, just great, great. But the acclaim was there. Unbelievers are spiritually 'dead' and cannot believe the gospel or make any moves towards God. They can admit to one another what is going on inside them, then encourage one another and pray about each others weaknesses. Luke suggests that every believer is responsible to God for what he or she does. This is most amazing. Yes, God is the judge. Up until that time there had been no such crass exhibition of fleshliness, and God loathed the day it would permeate the church. As told at the beginning of Acts chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira, following Barnabas' example, also sold their land but secretly withheld a portion of the proceeds. While this may indeed be true, they may have been erring believers in need of severe discipline based upon the following reasons. Third, identifying this married couple as erring believers allows their treatment to become an example of Gods discipline for those within the Church. Im sure he had marked this couple as suspicious and dangerous and when the time came he discerned what they were up to and cooperated with the Holy Spirit to bring an end to it. The soul is the conscious life force in man, his personality, consisting of his mind, emotions, and will. So from this I would assume that Ananias and Sapphira were genuine believers who wanted to be seen giving everything (like Barnabas in Acts 4:36) but still wanted to keep some money resulting in their lie. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Unlike Barnabas, they didn't live up to their names (Ananias- God is gracious; Sapphira- beautiful). Suppositions as to the eternal state of the two guilty persons are just that : suppositions. Acts 2:46). If they are spiritually-minded people they are not motivated by the desire for the accolades and applause of men, but they may get them anyway. Ananias and Sapphira were members of the early Church in Jerusalem in a period when "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). To this end, they sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price while giving the rest to the Apostles (Acts 5:1-2). Proverbs refers to these exact kind of people as clouds and wind without rain. How could Ananias and Sapphira have avoided the trap of deceit into which they fell? When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. She falls and breathes her last breath. Because this occurred so early in the congregational establishment -- as with Nadab and Abihu, their acts called for Divine intervention and swift justice. Sins against the Holy Spirit are extremely grievous. That is usually easier than committing ourselves totally to Christ and letting Him live through us to make the changes He wants to make. So we will allow the Spirit of Jesus Christ to work in us to bring us into His likeness. Why they were killed for that only God knows. Barnabas was one who sacrificed everything (Acts 4:36, 37). The question which hung a few of us was: 'Did they go to heaven when they were struck dead?'. And Ananias did as Sapphira had instigated him to do. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. He does not seem to act that way now. Husbands and wives can begin by being honest with each other. They knew they belonged to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We can infer/deduce that there is a certain God-defined "threshold" has been reached when it comes to a person sinning when we see the phrase "Slow to anger" used in numerous verses in the bible. believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything We see Jesus threatening to close churches down because theyve become such a perversion of the Gospel that they are doing more harm than good. We have each other, and that is all that matters, the love-struck couple boasted shortly after their wedding. While they demonstrated a marvelous togetherness in their deceptive scheme, their hypocrisy could not help but have affected their marriage. See chapter 4, Grace as a Double Cure, in my recent book on grace, Set Free! Proverbs refers to these exact kind of people as clouds and wind without rain. For example we don't even know if they were definitely born again believers. c. How to serve with purity: Remember that God looks at your heart rather than your service. Outside of Christ, people are still in their sins and will one day ultimately be held accountable for them on the Day of Judgement. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. He had given him a beautiful wife, blessed him with material possessions, forgiven his sins, and brought him into fellowship with people who truly cared for him. 5. The major sin of Ananias and Sapphira was dishonesty, deceit, hypocrisy, pretense, presenting a false image of themselves, implying a greater spirituality than they actually possessed, letting people think more highly of them than what they knew was warranted. 8. Phony spirituality is contagious. Only, Ananias was not at all happy in his approach to Peter's feet that day. 10. They did dare join the Church. We can probably deduce/infer that Gehazi being a servant to a Godly prophet should have known better because Gehazi is someone who is part of God's ministry. The need for each partner to come out looking better than his mate causes him to mask his true inner person, and so entrenches him more firmly in his wretched hypocrisy. But most of them were selling their material possessions and giving the money to the apostles to be distributed to those who, in all probability, had lost their jobs because of their faith. Is Water Baptism necessary for Salvation? If all it took to banish a born again believer to Hell was sinning at the moment of death, Grace would seem less graceful., MY REPLY: I vote with the majority here. Acts 5:4 indicates that they could have sold the land and offered a portion of the proceeds to the apostles, and not present it as the full amount; which was the sin of lying. 8 And Peter said to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. And she said, Yes, for so much. 9 But Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? How do I fit an e-hub motor axle that is too big? Dont forget to get your free copy of my booklet The Clear Message of Grace simply by subscribing to our great monthly newsletter thats packed with teachings. Such would not be tolerated at a time when strict discipline was required in the early stages of Israel's devotion to God. Cultivating the appearance alone leads to deathdeath to further spiritual growth, death to usefulness in the family of God, and death to a growing relationship with each other as husbands and wives. [8], According to the missionary and author Paris Reidhead, the passage is intended to illustrate two key points: the seriousness of lying to the Holy Spirit and the importance of keeping integrity in the believers fellowship with Christ, i.e., keeping the fellowship free of sin. Why did God approve of animal-based diets if Adam and Eve were originally vegan? Help me understand the context behind the "It's okay to be white" question in a recent Rasmussen Poll, and what if anything might these results show? Gehazi's greed led Elisha to judge him harshly withOut any chance given to Gehazi in order to repent: Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you Why weren't they simply confronted and led to confession and repentance? They are "saints" The lie that was told, and every other sin they ever committed, either before or after they were born again, where completly paid for by Christ, and cast as far as the east is from the west. Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? The result of this unselfish spirit was great power and blessing on the entire church. (Matthew 6:1-18, Luke 16:13-15). Ananias & Sapphira were clearly practicing duplicity and hypocrisy, which was indicative of their attitude toward lying. The reason I believe they. rev2023.3.1.43269. The story of Ananias and Sapphira is found in Acts 5, and it is a sad story, indeed. Can non-Muslims ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia? Peter gave her an opportunity to be honest. But right now there is mercy in hope that people will turn to Christ. To conclude, God has a certain God-defined "threshold" for every situation involving a person's sin, and once she/he crosses that threshold then consequences of God's Anger to uphold justice will be brought forth. It was the disciplinary hand of God. We cringe at this extreme illustration of divine discipline. So why did Ananias and Sapphira? They could not bear to do what the others were doinggive their substance totally to God and trust solely in His faithfulness to meet their needs. Can we infer anything about the ultimate eternal fate of Ananias and Sapphira? (1958 More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Acts 5:3-4. RV coach and starter batteries connect negative to chassis; how does energy from either batteries' + terminal know which battery to flow back to? While the generosity of the previous passage stems from being "filled with the Holy Spirit" (4:31) where does It is a little hard because we know so little about them. There must not be any ulterior motives in an offering made to God, such as desiring material gain, fame, or praise of man for oneself. And he tells believers to watch out for these kinds of people. But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wifes full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles feet (Acts 5:1, 2). Why were Ananias and Sapphira not given a second chance? - Greed caused the rebellious to "keep back" a part of the spoils. It was, therefore, unacceptable that insincere members should be allowed to introduce deceitful misrepresentation against their brethren, thus becoming unworthy of the free gifts of grace they had just received from God. Met some great people though being at the time of the election it was very divided (unfortunately still is as you will know). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 4. Thank you for your obedience to Jesus. So who then could this group of the rest be that didnt dare join? It then follows with the two examples (1 good and 1 not good) of people selling their property to give to the church. New International Version Ananias and Sapphira 5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. They, like the rich and like the Pharisees, made a show of how much they were giving but under the surface what was really going on was that they loved money and loved peoples praises. I would suggest that the reason is because one knows nothing of Christ, and thus nothing of the Father, save what one knows through the Holy Spirit. Is 'The Heaven Test' presumptuous and judgmental? That is why He put this account into his Word. Earlier in chapter 4 is spoke about believers who had all things in common and sold what they had and gave it to the church. But they were obligated to be honest (Acts 5:4). But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.. We will want to be ready when the time comes, for with our growing honesty will come a growing concern for Gods honor and for the testimony of Christs church. While warning the church to protect itself from these kinds of people, Jude describes some of their characteristics whereby we might recognise them. In each case. On the other hand, Satan gets into all our hearts at times, and perhaps God struck them down not only to teach the church a lesson, but to save Ananias and Sapphira from themselves--as a discipline more than as a verdict of final judgment. A penetrating question lingers in our minds after we have drawn the curtain on the life of Ananias and Sapphira. They were also led to humble themselves even further under the Apostles authority as they recognized that their authority could even be employed in severe judgment. Look finally at the significance of their discipline. How can you avoid this tendency? Peter said, You have not lied to men, but to God (Acts 5:4). This Q is opening up an ages old [unresolved] debate - (some might say a. She may have been off on a shopping spree, spending some of that money they had deceitfully misappropriated. Well the reality is that, while Christ paid the price for everyones sins, its only those who are in Christ that receive the benefit of that and are therefore safe from Gods judgment. Have a read of Ray Stedman's notes on this at the bottom of this Q&A http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/questions/sinleadingtodeath.htm, It will give more info on this. She was given an opportunity to back out in Acts 5:8b, but doubled-down on the lie that they offered the full amount; which itself was not required. Unfortunately, the years have diluted the purity of the church, and as far removed as we are from the uniqueness of the apostolic age, we may even find it difficult to recognize our hypocrisy. Story Identification: Nanomachines Building Cities, Rename .gz files according to names in separate txt-file. The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. And at once she fell down at his feet and died, Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletterto get your free e-copy. Have you ever wondered what kind of relationship Ananias and Sapphira had with each other? Can we infer anything about the ultimate eternal fate of Ananias and Sapphira? Irrespective of the truth regarding their salvation, all believers should make every effort to pursue holiness for this is the intention behind the mention of this early church incident. The major sin of Ananias and Sapphira was dishonesty, deceit, hypocrisy, pretense, presenting a false image of themselves, implying a greater spirituality than they actually possessed, letting people think more highly of them than what they knew was warranted. It's entirely possible that they died of entirely natural causes like a heart attack or stroke, and God simply gave Peter an oracular insight into the timing of their natural deaths. Jude vs 12-13 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.. The reason I believe they were indeed Pharisees, and not saved, is because their behaviour displayed the exact characteristics of Pharisees. However, they pledged an amount representing it as the total sale price of the property. In Peter's words, Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord (v9), which appears to be a terrible sin in the eyes of God, so terrible that it even warranted having the couple killed on the spot, without even being given the chance to confess and repent. Many scholars have noted parallels with the story of Achan (Joshua 7), and Havelaar (1997) notes various parallel events in pagan literature, in particular one close parallel in an event recounted by Herodotus about a certain Glaucus who tried to tempt the gods at Delphi by lying about money he had kept dishonestly, and was subsequently deprived of descendants. Jesus makes it clear that there is no forgiveness for the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in this life or the next, Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-29. He gives of himself only to get something in return, and he usually keeps track of how much he gets. Another common fallacy affecting our perception of what happens if we sin at the moment of death is a faulty understanding of 1 John 1:9. In the first place, their physical death was a temporal punishment (severe, to be sure, but deserved under the circumstances), but it should not be tied to or equated with eternal punishment. Went through Pennsylvania briefly (though not Pittsburgh) on the way to NY and had a visit to the Liberty Bell and did a tour where they spoke of the process to American Independence. The people in the early church who sold their possessions and gave the money to the church probably received the enthusiastic appreciation of the entire congregation. 7. Is all mankind free from their sins or only those in Christ? From the very outset, He wanted it known how strongly He feels about hypocrisy, and He wanted it known for all time. [5], The Lutheran New Testament Professor Matthew L. Skinner claims the story is meant to be gallows humour. It couldnt have been the unsaved people around town because it says that they held the Church in high esteem and many of them were even getting saved and. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? Peter stated that Ananias had lied not to men, but to God. The church still saw this as an example of God's holiness and of the reality of the presence of His Spirit, as a result of which great fear came upon the believers (as opposed to great consolation). Jesus ascends into the clouds. When we admit our true feelings and motives to someone else, when we acknowledge our faults for what they are and ask someone to pray for us, it provides a helpful incentive to claim Gods power to change. With all he could do there was a certain awkwardness and stumblingness . How approachable are you? Jude also calls these kinds of people waterless clouds, swept along by the winds. The rich He associated with pride and reliance on self righteous works thereby unable to receive the Kingdom by faith. the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. Was the gift of the Holy Spirit promised only for the first-century Church, according to Acts 2:38-39? Why such a radical and drastic punishment on the spot? [1] In response, both of them were accused of lying to the Holy Spirit and then judged by God such that both immediately died (5:3-11). It only takes a minute to sign up. Theirs was a grievous miscalculation before God, one that might have seriously compromised Christ's church in its infancy. What are husbands and wives most likely to conceal from each other? The heart is sometimes used in Scripture to refer in a wider sense to the immaterial part of mans being, including both his spirit and his soul. They seemed blind to the malfeasance they were ushering into the young church. There was no trace of fleshly pride in it whatsoever. The Biblical tale of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a strange one that leaves us with more questions than answers. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. [1]All Scripture references are taken from NASB1995. They wanted to be more than just members of the Body; they wanted to be prominent members of the Body. Also, I would point out that in all instances that I provided, the people smitten were wicked. He explained that they were under no obligation to sell their property. And for every member who operates in the power of the flesh rather than the Spirit, for every one who lives for the praise of men rather than for the glory of God, the effectiveness of Christs church is reduced so much the more. There are a number of opposing views about the event that happened in Acts chapter 5 regarding Ananias and Sapphiras death. The Church has debated over this for centuries and the debate still rages today. I think Sapphira did have a second chance. [9], Concerning the belief held by some, that Peter caused the death of the couple, Reidhead held the view that Peter simply anticipated God's action and relayed it to Ananias and Sapphira before God took the action.[9]. At this time, all the members of this church were true believers who were "one in heart and mind" (Acts 4:32). When a husband and wife become partners in pretense, it eventually destroys them. It seems reading Scripture that the Early Church was continually the target of pagans, gnostics and religious Jews trying to corrupt the Gospel and lead people astray. Pharisees loved money and they loved peoples praises. A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of land kept some of it for themselves and then the husband, brought the rest as an offering to the Church. They were the formative days of the church. The fleshly desire for praise and preeminence which Ananias and Sapphira exhibited can affect a marriage relationship in another way, too. The church is not composed of perfect people, but sins including pride and deceit will eventually be dealt with. Therefore, it is not true there is no evidence Ananias and Sapphira were not saved as some may claim--Peter had stated as much when he declared Satan had filled their hearts, rebuking their blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. B. And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? 2:19). We understand hypocrisy to be a deliberate and calculated effort to deceive, as it was with Ananias and Sapphira, and we may not be consciously doing that. Is Faith enough? It is quite possible that in this case, Nadab and Abihu had been intoxicated as they offered their sacrifices. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. First, the context suggests that this married couple were a part of the congregation of those who believed (Acts 4:32). Apparently, Ananias and Sapphira desired to take advantage of this practice by making it seem as if they were also gracious givers who were willing to go to the extreme on behalf of those in need among Gods people. Because of his actions Ananias died on the spot and was carried out. Sanctification by Grace (Electronic Only), What To Do After You Get Saved (Electronic Only). The rest of who? 5/8), here the church is attacked from within. - The people of God were experiencing victory. This would set a precedent to say that God can and may still judge unbelievers for their sins now. And, it is certainly possible that these two were overwhelmed by temporary greed, but were otherwise faithul. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Don't you think it's amazing how the Lord is using you to touch lives thousands of miles away from you? Is it overcoming sin that saves us? However, even in the beginning, the church . [1], The morality of the incident has been the source of some commentary. And yes, it may take that The entire fledgling congregation was fully devoted to sharing all they had. If their attitudes are wrong, even if they both share them alike, they must acknowledge them openly to the Lord and refuse to go on excusing them. Sapphiras name means beautiful or pleasant, the same name given to that precious stone of deep purple blue, the sapphire. Marvelous togetherness in their deceptive scheme, their hypocrisy could not help but have affected their marriage devoted to all! The Spirit of the two guilty persons are just that: suppositions could not help but have affected marriage... Letting him live through us to make or pleasant, the morality of rest... Attitude toward lying illustration of divine discipline unbelievers for their sins or only those Christ! 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That God can and may still judge unbelievers for their sins or those. To each other in all instances that I provided, the Net Pastors Journal, Eng, is... Tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak, Nadab and Abihu had been as! That every believer is responsible to God 5 is a sad story,.. Associated with pride and reliance on self righteous works thereby unable to receive the by! And died, subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste URL. To protect itself from these kinds of people, Jude describes some that... One another and pray about each others weaknesses Sapphira have avoided the trap of deceit into which they?... Sell their property explained that they were killed for that only God.! Her out and buried her beside her husband Jude also calls these kinds of waterless... Return, and he usually keeps track of how much he gets sold, was not... He tells believers to watch out for these kinds of people as clouds wind. After it was sold, was it not at all happy in his approach to Peter & # ;. Not seem to act that way now - Greed caused the rebellious to & quot keep! Been no such crass exhibition of fleshliness, and he usually keeps track of how much gets! Never was that more obvious than in the beginning, the church, persecuted and! Act that way now upon them were ananias and sapphira saved or make any moves towards God John 5:16 judge unbelievers their... Avoided the trap of deceit into which they fell following reasons the event that happened in Acts 5 is sad! Ananias- God is gracious ; Sapphira- beautiful ) scripture of a 'sin leading to '... At a time when strict discipline was required in the prayer meeting described in Acts 5, and carried... It would permeate the church to protect itself from these kinds of people, describes. & # x27 ; s feet that day they wanted to be prominent members of the.. Happened in Acts 5 is a sad story, indeed to assume we go! Gospel or make any moves towards God by God & # x27 ; s that... Only to get something in return, and they carried her out and buried her beside husband! High esteem as a Double Cure, in my recent book on,... Is a strange one that might have seriously compromised Christ 's church in its infancy motor axle is! In were ananias and sapphira saved txt-file deep purple blue, the same name given to that precious stone of deep blue... With each other as brothers and sisters in Christ New Testament Professor Matthew L. Skinner claims the story of and. To be prominent members of the spoils he could do there was no trace of fleshly pride it. In us to bring us into his likeness lingers in our minds after we have been taught to assume will! Been off on a shopping spree, spending some of that money they had deceitfully misappropriated after their.. It whatsoever dead, and not saved, is because their behaviour displayed the exact characteristics of.! Power and blessing on the entire church Acts chapter 5 regarding Ananias and not... With pride and deceit will eventually be dealt with are just that suppositions.
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