Acts 5
1 Now a man called Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property.
But a certain man, named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold an estate,
2 He kept back some of the money he received for himself, and brought the rest to present to the apostles. His wife knew what he was doing.
and secreted a part of the price, his wife also, being privy to it: and bringing a certain part, he laid it down at the feet of the Apostles.
3 Then Peter asked him, “Ananias, why did you let Satan convince you to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the money from the land you sold?
But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart, that you should attempt to impose on the Holy Spirit, and to secrete a part of the price of the land?
4 While you had the land, didn't it belong to you? And after you sold it, didn't you still have control over what you did with the money? Why did you decide to do this? You haven't lied to human beings, but to God!”
While it remained, did it not continue yours? and when it was sold, was it not at your own disposal? Why have you admitted this thing into your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.
5 Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. Everyone who heard what happened was terrified.
And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired: and great fear fell on all that heard these things.
6 Some of the young men got up and wrapped him in a shroud. Then they carried him out and buried him.
Then the young men arose, and bound him up, and carrying him out, they buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife arrived, not knowing what had happened.
After the interval of about three hours, his wife, also, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes, that was the price,” she replied.
And Peter said to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. And she said, Yes, for so much.
9 Then Peter told her, “How could you agree together to swindle the Spirit of the Lord? Look, those who buried your husband are just returning, and they'll carry you out too!”
Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have conspired together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of those who have been burying your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out.
10 Immediately she fell down dead at his feet. The young men came back in and found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
And immediately she fell down at his feet, and expired: and the young men coming in, found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
11 Great fear spread through the whole church, as well as among everyone who heard what had happened.
And great fear came on all the assembly, and on all that heard these things.
12 Many miraculous signs were performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers used to meet together in Solomon's porch.
And many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the Apostles, (and they were all unanimously in Solomon's portico;
13 Nobody else dared to join them even though they were greatly respected.
and not one of the rest presumed to join himself to them, but the people magnified them:
14 However, many men and women came to believe in the Lord.
and believers were more and more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women: )
15 As a result, people brought those who were sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that as Peter passed by his shadow might fall on them.
insomuch that along the streets they brought out the sick, and laid them on beds, and couches, that even the shadow of Peter, coming by, might overshadow some of them.
16 Crowds from the towns around Jerusalem brought their sick and those afflicted by evil spirits. They were all healed.
And multitudes also, out of the cities round about, came together to Jerusalem, bringing the sick, and those that were troubled with unclean spirits, who were all healed.
17 However, the high priest and those with him (who were Sadducees) became very jealous and decided to intervene.
But the high priest arising, and all they that were him, being the sect of the Sadducees, were filled with zeal,
18 They arrested the apostles and threw them in the public jail.
and laid their hands on the Apostles, and put them into the common prison.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out.
But a messenger of the Lord, by night, opened the doors of the prison, and bringing them out, said,
20 “Go to the Temple and tell the people everything about this new way of life!” he told them.
Go, and presenting yourselves in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this life.
21 They did as they were told and went into the Temple at around dawn and began teaching. Then the high priest and his followers called a council meeting with all the leaders of Israel. He sent for the apostles to be brought from prison.
And hearing this, they went very early into the temple, and taught. But the high priest being come, and they that were with him, they called together the Sanhedrim, even the whole Senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officials went to the prison they couldn't find the apostles so they went back and told the council,
But when the officers came, they found them not in the prison. Returning, therefore, they made their report,
23 “We found the prison all locked up, with guards at the doors. But when we had them open up, we couldn't find anyone inside.”
saying, We found, indeed, the prison shut with all safety, and the keepers standing before the doors; but, having opened them, we found no one within.
24 Now when the captain of the Temple guards and the chief priests heard this they were totally baffled, and wondered what was going on.
Now, when the high priest, and the captain of the temple guard, and the chief priests heard these words, they doubted concerning them, what this could be.
25 Then someone came in and said, “Look, the men you put in prison are right there in the Temple teaching people!”
But one came, and told them, Behold, the men whom you put in prison, are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 So the captain went with his guards and brought them in, but did not use force because they were afraid that the people would stone them.
Then the captain went, with the officers, and brought them, (not by violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned: )
27 The apostles were brought in and made to stand in front of the council.
and when they had brought them, they set them before the Sanhedrim. And the high priest asked them,
28 “Didn't we order you not to teach in this name?” the high priest demanded to know. “Now look—you've filled the whole of Jerusalem with your teaching, and you're trying to blame us for his death!”
saying, Did we not strictly charge you, that you should not teach in this name? and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and would bring this man's blood upon us.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We have to obey God rather than men.
But Peter and the other Apostles answered, and said, It is necessary to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our forefathers raised Jesus from the dead—the one you killed by hanging him on a cross.
The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew, hanging him on a tree:
31 God exalted him to a position of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior, as a way to bring repentance to Israel, and for the forgiveness of sins.
HIM has God exalted at his right hand, a Prince and Saviour, to give reformation to Israel, and remission of sins.
32 We are witnesses of what happened, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God has given to them who submit to his government.
33 When the council heard this they were furious and wanted to kill them.
And when they heard this, they were enraged, and consulted to put them to death.
34 But then one of the council members stood up to speak. He was Gamaliel, a Pharisee and a doctor of law who was respected by everyone. He ordered the apostles sent out for a short while.
But a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrim, whose name was Gamaliel, a doctor of law, in great esteem among all the people, rose up, and commanded the Apostles to be taken out for a little while;
35 Gamaliel addressed the council: “Leaders of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men.
and he said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you are about to do to these men.
36 Some time ago Theudas tried to make a name for himself, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed and all who followed him were scattered and it came to nothing.
Some time ago Theudas arose, pretending himself to be a person of note: to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered, who was slain; and all who hearkened to him were scattered, and came to nothing.
37 Then after him Judas of Galilee came along at the time of the census, and he attracted some followers. He also died, and those who listened to him were dispersed.
After him, Judas, the Galilean, arose, in the days of the enrollment, and drew a multitude of people after him, and he was destroyed; and all who hearkened to him were dispersed.
38 So in the current case I recommend that you leave these men alone, and just let them go. If what they are planning or what they are doing comes from their own human thinking, then it will be defeated.
And now, in the present case, I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this design and work be of men, it will be defeated;
39 But if it comes from God, you won't be able to defeat them. You could even find yourselves fighting against God!”
but if it be of God, you can not defeat them: lest, perhaps, you be found fighters against God.
40 They were convinced by what he said. So they called the apostles back in, had them whipped, and ordered them not to say anything in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.
And they yielded to him; and having called in the Apostles, and scourged them, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
41 The apostles left the council, happy to be considered worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.
And they departed from the presence of the Sanhedrim. rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be exposed to infamy for the sake of his name.
42 Every day they continued to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, in the Temple and from house to house.
And, daily, in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not to teach and declare the good news, that Jesus is the Messiah.
