Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
There was, however, a man named Ananias, who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property,
2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
and, with her connivance, kept back some of the proceeds. He brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?
‘Ananias,’ Peter exclaimed, ‘how is it that Satan has so taken possession of your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit, and kept back a part of the money paid for the land?
4 While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”
While it was unsold, was not it your own? And after it was sold, was not the money at your own disposal? How did you come to think of such a thing? You have lied, not to people, but to God!’
5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.
As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and everyone who heard of it was appalled.
6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.
The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.
7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”
‘Is it true,’ Peter asked, addressing her, ‘that you sold your land for such a sum?’ ‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘we did.’
9 But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
Then Peter said, ‘How did you come to agree to provoke the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door; and they will carry you out too.’
10 She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
Instantly Sapphira fell down at Peter’s feet and expired. On coming in, the young men found her dead; so they carried her out and buried her by her husband’s side.
11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
The whole church and all who heard of these events were appalled.
12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done amongst the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Many signs and wonders continued to occur among the people, through the instrumentality of the apostles, whose custom it was to meet all together in the Colonnade of Solomon;
13 None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honoured them.
but of the rest no one ventured to join them. On the other hand, the people were full of their praise,
14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
and still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number.
15 They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.
The consequence was that people would bring out their sick even into the streets, and lay them on mattresses and mats, in the hope that, as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on someone of them.
16 The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.
Besides this, the inhabitants of the towns round Jerusalem flocked into the city, bringing with them their sick and those who were troubled by foul spirits; and they were cured everyone.
17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy
At this the high priest was roused to action, and he and all his supporters (who formed the party of the Sadducees), moved by jealousy,
18 and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.
arrested the apostles, and had them placed in custody.
19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,
An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.
20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
‘Go,’ he said, ‘and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell the people the whole message of this new life.’
21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
When they heard this, they went at daybreak into the Temple Courts, and began to teach. The high priest and his party, on their arrival, summoned the High Council, including all the leaders of the people among the Israelites, and sent to the jail to fetch the apostles.
22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
But, when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that,
23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
while they had found the goal barred securely and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found anyone inside.
24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
When the officer in charge at the Temple and the chief priests heard their story, they were perplexed about the apostles and as to what all this would lead to.
25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
Presently, however, someone came and told them, that the men whom they had put in prison were actually standing in the Temple Courts, teaching the people.
26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
Then, the officer went with his men and fetched the apostles – without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people –
27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,
and then brought them before the Council. The high priest demanded an explanation from them.
28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”
‘We gave you strict orders,’ he said, ‘not to teach in this name. Yet you have actually flooded Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to make us responsible for the death of this man.’
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
To this Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than people.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross.
31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to his right hand, to be a guide and a Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
32 We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
And we are witness to the truth of this, and so is the Holy Spirit – the gift of God to those who obey him.’
33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.
The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the apostles to death.
34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honoured by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.
But Gamaliel, a Pharisee, who was a Doctor of the Law and who was held in universal respect, rose in the Council, and directed that the men should be taken out of court for a little while.
35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.
He then said, ‘People of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men.
36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.
For not long ago Theudas appeared, professing to be somebody, and was joined by a body of some four hundred men. But he was killed; and all his followers scattered and dwindled away.
37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared at the time of the census, and induced people to follow him; yet he, too, perished and all his followers were dispersed.
38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.
And, in this present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these men, but to leave them alone, for, if their designs and their work are merely of human origin, they will come to an end;
39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
but, if they are of divine origin, you will be powerless to put an end to them – or else you may find yourselves fighting against God!’
40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
The Council followed his advice, and, calling the apostles in, had them flogged, and then, after cautioning them not to speak in the name of Jesus, set them free.
41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for Jesus’ name.
But the apostles left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that name;
42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
and never for a single day, either in the Temple Courts or in private houses, did they cease to teach, or to tell the good news of Jesus, the Christ.
