Acts 5
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
Now a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession
2 With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
and kept back part of the price for himself, his wife also being party to it; bringing a certain part he placed it at the Apostles' feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
So Peter said: “Ananias, on what basis has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the price of the land?
4 Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”
While it remained unsold was it not yours, and once sold was it not in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You did not lie to men but to God.”
5 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.
Well upon hearing these words Ananias fell down and expired! (Great fear came on all who heard these things.)
6 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
So the young men got up and wrapped him, and carrying him out they buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.
Now after an interval of some three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”
So Peter addressed her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” So she said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
Peter said to her: “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!”
10 At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
So she immediately fell down at his feet and expired! So upon entering the young men found her dead, and carrying her out they buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
So great fear came on the whole assembly and on all who heard these things.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people by the hands of the Apostles; and they were all in Solomon's Porch with one purpose.
13 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
None of the rest dared to join them, but the people were magnifying them.
14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
to the point that they kept carrying the sick into the streets, placing them on cots and pallets, so that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
Further, the multitude from the surrounding cities also kept coming into Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
Then the high priest rose up, and all those with him (being the sect of the Sadducees); they were filled with jealousy
18 and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
and laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
But, during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out he said,
20 “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
21 At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.
So upon hearing it they entered the temple about daybreak and started to teach. Then the high priest and those with him arrived and convened the Sanhedrin, even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:
Well, upon arriving the operatives did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported,
23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
saying: “We certainly found the prison securely locked, and the guards standing in front of the doors, but upon opening them we found no one inside!”
24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.
Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were really perplexed as to what the implications might be.
25 Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”
But someone came and told them, “Hey, the men whom you put in the jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
Then the captain went with the operatives and brought them without violence, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.
27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.
So bringing them they set them before the Sanhedrin; and the high priest addressed them
28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”
saying: “Did we not emphatically command you not to teach in this name? Just look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
So in answer Peter and the Apostles said: “One must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Him God has exalted to His right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
And we are witnesses to these statements about Him, as also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those obeying Him.”
33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.
Well upon hearing it they became infuriated and started plotting to kill them.
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.
But someone in the council stood up (a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people) and commanded to put the Apostles out for a bit.
35 “Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.
He then said to them: “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves concerning these men, as to what you are about to do.
36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody; with whom about four hundred men joined up; who was killed, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.
37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.
Later Judas the Galilean rose up, in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.
38 So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.
So now I say to you, keep away from these men and leave them alone; because if this counsel or this work should be of men, it will be abolished;
39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it—lest you even be found to be fighting against God!”
40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
Well they were persuaded by him, and summoned the Apostles; after beating them they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
So they went out rejoicing from the presence of the council, in that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of the Christ.
42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
