< Acts 5 >
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold property,
There was a man of the name of Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property but,
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.
with her full knowledge and consent, dishonestly kept back part of the price which he received for it, though he brought the rest and gave it to the Apostles.
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," said Peter, "why has Satan taken possession of your heart, that you should try to deceive the Holy Spirit and dishonestly keep back part of the price paid you for this 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 remained unsold, was not the land your own? And when sold, was it not at your own disposal? How is it that you have cherished this design in your heart? It is not to men you have told this lie, but to God."
5 And Ananias hearing these words, after falling down he expired. And great fear developed in all who heard these things.
Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down dead, and all who heard the words were awe-struck.
6 And after rising the young men wrapped him, and having carried him out they buried him.
The younger men, however, rose, and wrapping the body up, 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.
About three hours had passed, when his wife came in, knowing nothing of 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.
Peter at once questioned her. "Tell me," he said, "whether you sold the land for so much." "Yes," she replied, "for so much."
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.
"How was it," replied Peter, "that you two agreed to try an experiment upon the Spirit of the Lord? The men who have buried your husband are already at the door, and they will carry you out."
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 she fell down dead at his feet, and the young men came in and 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.
This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.
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 marvels continued to be done among the people by the Apostles; and by common consent they all met in Solomon's Portico.
13 But of the rest no man dared join them, but the people magnified them.
But none of the others dared to attach themselves to them. Yet the people held them in high honour--
14 And more who believe were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,
and more and more believers in the Lord joined them, including great numbers both of men and women--
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.
so that they would even bring out their sick friends into the streets and lay them on light couches or mats, in order that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or other 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.
The inhabitants, too, of the towns in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem came in crowds, bringing sick persons and some who were harassed by foul spirits, and they were cured, one and all.
17 But after rising up, the high priest and all those with him (being the sect of the Sadducees) were filled of envy.
This roused the High Priest. He and all his party--the sect of the Sadducees--were filled with angry jealousy
18 And they threw their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.
and laid hands upon the Apostles, and put them into the public jail.
19 But an agent of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and after leading them out, he said,
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
20 Go ye, and after standing in the temple, speak to the people all the sayings of this Life.
"Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of 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.
Having received that command they went into the Temple, just before daybreak, and began to teach: So when the High Priest and his party came, and had called together the Sanhedrin as well as all the Elders of the descendants of Israel, they 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 the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word,
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.
saying, "The jail we found quite safely locked, and the warders were on guard at the doors, but upon going in we found no one there."
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 Commander of the Temple Guards and the High Priests heard this statement, they were utterly at a loss with regard to it, wondering what would happen next.
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.
And some one came and brought them word, saying, "The men you put in prison are actually in the Temple, standing there, 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.
Upon this the Commander went with the officers, and brought the Apostles; but 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,
So they brought them and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin. And then the High Priest questioned 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 strictly forbad you to teach in that name--did we not?" he said. "And see, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are trying to make us responsible for that man's death!"
29 And Peter and the apostles having answered, they said, We must obey God rather than men.
Peter and the other Apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than man.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye murdered, having hung on a tree.
The God of our forefathers has raised Jesus to life, whom you crucified and put to death.
31 God exalted this man with his right hand, a Pathfinder and a Savior to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.
God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as 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--and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him--are witnesses as to these things."
33 And when they heard this, they were as being split with a saw, and wanted to annihilate them.
Infuriated at getting this answer, they were disposed to kill the Apostles.
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 a Pharisee of the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, held in honour by all the people, rose from his seat and requested that they should be sent outside the court for a few minutes.
35 And he said to them, Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves what ye are going to do against these men.
"Israelites," he said, "be careful what you are about to do in dealing 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.
Years ago Theudas appeared, professing to be a person of importance, and a body of men, some four hundred in number, joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and annihilated.
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, at the time of the Census, came Judas, the Galilaean, and was the leader in a revolt. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.
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 now I tell you to hold aloof from these men and leave them alone--for if this scheme or work is of human origin, it will come to nothing.
39 but if it is from God, ye cannot overthrow it, and perhaps ye may be found to be fighting against God.
But if it is really from God, you will be powerless to put them down--lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually 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.
His advice carried conviction. So they called the Apostles in, and--after flogging them--ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then let them go.
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.
They, therefore, left the Sanhedrin and went their way, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace on behalf of the NAME.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching good news, Jesus, the Christ.
But they did not desist from teaching every day, in the Temple or in private houses, and telling the Good News about Jesus, the Christ.