Acts 5
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
But, a certain man, Ananias by name, 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, his wife also being privy to it; and, bringing a certain part, at the feet of the Apostles, he laid it.
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?
But Peter said—Ananias! wherefore did Satan fill thy heart, that thou shouldst deal falsely with the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the field?
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, was it not, as thine own, it remained? and, when sold, was it not, in thine own authority, that it still continued? Why was it that thou didst contrive in thy heart this deed? Thou hast not dealt falsely with men but, with God.
5 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.
And, as Ananias heard these words, he fell, and expired. And there came great fear upon all that heard;
6 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
But the young men, rising up, wrapped him about, and, bearing him forth, buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.
And it came to pass, after about three hours interval, that his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
8 “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”
And Peter began to say unto her—Tell me! was it, for so much, ye gave up the field? And she said—Yea! 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.”
And, Peter, [said] unto her—Why was it agreed by you to put to the proof the Spirit of the Lord? Lo! the feet of them that have buried thy husband, are at the door, and they shall bear thee forth.
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.
And she fell instantly at his feet, and expired. And the young men, coming in, found her dead; and, bearing her forth, they buried her with her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
And there came great fear upon the whole assembly, and upon all them that 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.
And, through the hands of the Apostles, were coming to pass many signs and wonders among the people; and they were all with one accord in the portico of Solomon;
13 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
Howbeit, of the rest, no one, durst join himself unto them, —nevertheless the people continued to magnify them;
14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
And, the more, were being added, when they believed in the Lord, throngs both of 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.
So that, even into the broad-ways, were they bringing forth the sick, and laying them on small couches and beds, in order that, if Peter were coming along, even perchance his shadow, might overshadow some one 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.
Moreover even the throng of the cities all round Jerusalem was coming together, bearing sick folk, and such as were harassed by impure spirits, —who, indeed, were being cured, one and all.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
But the High-priest, arising, and all who were with him, —being the sect of the Sadducees, —were filled with jealousy,
18 and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
And thrust their hands upon the Apostles, and put them in a public ward.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
But, a messenger of the Lord, by night, opened the doors of the prison; and, leading them out, said—
20 “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
Be going your way, and, taking your stand, be speaking, in the temple, unto the people, all the declarations 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.
Now, when they heard this, they entered, under the dawn, into the temple, and began teaching. And the High-priest and they who were with him, arriving, called together the high-council, and all the senate of the sons of Israel; and sent off unto 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:
And, the officers who came to the place, found them not in the prison; and, returning, brought tidings,
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—The prison, found we locked with all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors; but, when we had opened the prison, inside, found we, no one.
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 both the captain of the temple and the High-priests heard these words, they were utterly at a loss concerning them—what perhaps this might come to.
25 Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”
But some one, entering, brought tidings unto them—Lo! the men whom ye put in the prison, are in the temple, standing, 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 with the officers, departing, brought them—not with violence, —for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned;
27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.
But, leading them in, set them in the high- council. And the High-priest questioned 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—Strictly, did we charge you not to be teaching upon this name; and lo! ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are minded to bring down upon us, the blood of this man.
29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
But Peter and the Apostles, answering, said—It is needful to be yielding obedience unto God rather than unto 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, hath raised up Jesus, —whom, ye, got into your hands, suspending him upon 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, as Princely-leader and Saviour, hath God exalted unto his right hand, —to give repentance unto Israel, and remission 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 of these things, —also the Holy Spirit, which God hath given unto them who are yielding obedience unto him.
33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.
And, they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were making up their minds to slay 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 a certain man, rising up in the high-council, by name Gamaliel, a law-teacher honoured by all the people, gave orders to put the men, outside, for a little, —
35 “Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.
And said unto them—Men of Israel! be taking heed unto yourselves, what ye are about to inflict upon these men.
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, before these days, there rose up one Theudas, affirming, himself, to be somebody, —unto whom was inclined a number of men, about four hundred; who was slain, and, all as many as had been trusting in him, were disbanded, 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.
After him, rose up Judas the Galilaean, in the days of the enrolling, and drew a people into revolt after him; and, he, perished, and, all, as many as had trusted in him, were scattered.
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.
Now, therefore, I say unto you—stand aloof from these men, and let them alone; because if, of men, be this project or this work, it will be overthrown, —
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, ye will not be able to overthrow them: lest once, even fighters against God, ye be found.
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.
And they were persuaded by him; and, calling unto them the Apostles, they, with beating, charged them not be speaking upon 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.
They, therefore, went rejoicing from the presence of the high-council; in that they had been accounted worthy, in behalf of The Name, to suffer dishonour.
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 at home, they ceased not to be teaching, and telling the good news as to the Anointed Jesus.
