Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold property,
There was, however, a man named Ananias, who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property,
2 and kept back from the price, his wife also having joint awareness. And having brought a certain part, he placed 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 did Satan fill thy heart for thee to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back from 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 it remained, did it not remain to thee? And after it was sold, it was in thine authority. Why is it that thou have placed this matter in thy heart? Thou have not 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 men, but to God!”
5 And Ananias hearing these words, after falling down he expired. And great fear developed in all who heard these things.
As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and every one who heard of it was appalled.
6 And after rising the young men wrapped him, and having carried him out they buried him.
The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.
7 And it came to pass after an interval of three hours, his wife also came in, not knowing that which happened.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter responded to her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And 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 said to her, How is it that it was agreed by you to challenge the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried thy husband are at the door, and they will carry thee out.
Then Peter said: “How did you come to agree to provoke the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The foot-steps of those who have buried your husband are at the door; and they will carry you out too.”
10 And immediately she fell down at his feet and expired. And after coming in the young men found her dead, and having carried her out, they 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 And great fear developed in the whole church, and in all who heard these things.
The whole Church and all who heard of these events were appalled.
12 And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders happened among the people. And 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 But of the rest no man dared join them, but the people magnified them.
but of the rest no one ventured to join them. On the other hand, the people were full of their praise,
14 And more who believe were added to the Lord, multitudes both of 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 so as to bring the feeble to the thoroughfares, and to place them on cots and mats, so that while coming, the shadow of Peter might at the least 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 some one of them.
16 And also the populace of the cities round about came together to Jerusalem bringing the feeble, and those tormented by unclean spirits, who 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 every one.
17 But after rising up, the high priest and all those with him (being the sect of the Sadducees) were filled of envy.
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 they threw their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.
arrested the Apostles, and had them placed in custody.
19 But an agent of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and after leading them out, he said,
An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.
20 Go ye, and after standing in the temple, speak to the people all the sayings of this Life.
“Go,” he said, “and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell the people the whole Message of this new Life.”
21 And having heard, they entered into the temple at early morning, and taught. But the high priest having arrived, and those with him, they called the council together, and all the senate of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the prison for them to be 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 leading men among the Israelites, and sent to the jail to fetch the Apostles.
22 But the subordinates who came did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported,
But, when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that,
23 saying, We found the prison indeed shut in all security, and the guards standing before the doors, but after opening, we found no man inside.
while they had found the goal barred securely and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found any one inside.
24 Now when they heard these words, the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, were perplexed about them, whatever this would become.
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 But a certain man who arrived, reported to them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.
Presently, however, some one 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 after departing, the captain with the subordinates brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they would be stoned.
On this, the Officer went with his men and fetched the Apostles — without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people —
27 And having brought them, they placed them in the council. And the high priest demanded them,
And then brought them before the Council. The High Priest demanded an explanation from them.
28 saying, Did we not command by an order for you not to teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem of your doctrine, and intend to bring upon us this man's blood.
“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 And Peter and the apostles having answered, they said, We must obey God rather than men.
To this Peter and the Apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye murdered, having hung on a tree.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross.
31 God exalted this man with his right hand, a Pathfinder and a Savior 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 And we are his witnesses of these things, and also 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 And when they heard this, they were as being split with a saw, and wanted to annihilate them.
The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the Apostles to death.
34 But after standing up in the council, a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a law teacher, esteemed by all the people, commanded to make the apostles be outside 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 And he said to them, Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves what ye are going to do against these men.
He then said: “Men of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men.
36 For before these days Theudas rose up saying himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, bonded themselves, who was killed. And all, as many as were persuaded by him, were dispersed and developed into 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 the Galilean rose up in the days of the registration, and drew a considerable crowd behind him. That man was also destroyed, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were scattered.
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 And now I say to you, keep away from these men, and let them go, because if the project or this work is from men, it will be overthrown,
And, in this present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these men, but to let 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 from God, ye cannot overthrow it, and perhaps ye may be found 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 And they were persuaded by him. And after summoning the apostles, having beat them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
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 Indeed therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be treated shamefully for the name of Jesus.
But the Apostles left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that Name;
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching good news, 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.
