Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a field,
There was, however, a man named Ananias, who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property,
2 and he was deceitful about the price of the field, with his wife’s consent. And bringing only part of it, he placed it at the feet of the Apostles.
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 tempted your heart, so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and be deceitful about 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 Did it not belong to you while you retained it? And having sold it, was it not in your power? Why have you set this thing in your heart? You 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 people, but to God!”
5 Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired. And a great fear overwhelmed all who heard of it.
As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and everyone who heard of it was appalled.
6 And the young men rose up and removed him; and carrying him out, they buried him.
The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.
7 Then about the space of three hours passed, and his wife entered, not knowing what had happened.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me, woman, if you sold the field for this amount?” And she said, “Yes, for that amount.”
“Is it true,” Peter asked, addressing her, “that you sold your land for such a sum?” “Yes,” she answered, “we did.”
9 And Peter said to her: “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall 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 Immediately, she fell down before his feet and expired. Then the young men entered and found her dead. And they carried her out and buried her next to 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 a great fear came over the entire Church and over all who heard these things.
The whole church and all who heard of these events were appalled.
12 And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were accomplished among the people. And they all met with one accord at Solomon’s portico.
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 And among the others, no one dared to join himself to 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 Now the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was ever increasing,
and still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number.
15 so much so that they laid the infirm in the streets, placing them on beds and stretchers, so that, as Peter arrived, at least his shadow might fall upon any one of them, and they would be freed from their infirmities.
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 But a multitude also hurried to Jerusalem from the neighboring cities, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, who were all healed.
Besides this, the inhabitants of the towns around Jerusalem flocked into the city, bringing with them their sick and those who were troubled by foul spirits; and they were cured everyone.
17 Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and 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 they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed them in the common prison.
arrested the apostles, and had them placed in custody.
19 But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,
An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.
20 “Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of life.”
“Go,” he said, “and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell the people the whole message of this new life.”
21 And when they had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they 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 when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them,
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 certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within.”
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 Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen.
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 someone arrived and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you placed 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 magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.
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 And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
and then brought them before the Council. The high priest demanded an explanation from them.
28 and said: “We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon 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 responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.
To this Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.
30 The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross.
31 It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.
It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to his right hand, to be a guide and a Savior, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to 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 When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death.
The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the apostles to death.
34 But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly.
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 of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men.
He then said, “People of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men.
36 For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced 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 one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed.
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 therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken.
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 Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God.” And they agreed with him.
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 calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed 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 And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of 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 among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus.
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.
