Acts 5
1 But a certaine man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, solde a possession,
Now a man called Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property.
2 And kept away part of the price, his wife also being of counsell, and brought a certaine part, and layde it downe at the Apostles feete.
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.
3 Then saide Peter, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart, that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy Ghost, and keepe away part of the price of this possession?
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?
4 Whiles it remained, appertained it not vnto thee? and after it was solde, was it not in thine owne power? howe is it that thou hast conceiued this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto God.
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!”
5 Now when Ananias heard these wordes, he fell downe, and gaue vp the ghost. Then great feare came on all them that heard these things.
Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. Everyone who heard what happened was terrified.
6 And the yong men rose vp, and tooke him vp, and caried him out, and buried him.
Some of the young men got up and wrapped him in a shroud. Then they carried him out and buried him.
7 And it came to passe about the space of three houres after, that his wife came in, ignorant of that which was done.
About three hours later his wife arrived, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter sayd vnto her, Tell me, solde ye the land for so much? And she sayd, Yea, for so much.
Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes, that was the price,” she replied.
9 Then Peter sayde vnto her, Why haue ye agreed together, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? beholde, the feete of them which haue buried thine husband, are at the doore, and shall carie thee out.
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!”
10 Then she fell downe straightway at his feete, and yeelded vp the ghost: and the yong men came in, and found her dead, and caried her out, and buried her by her husband.
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.
11 And great feare came on all the Church, and on as many as heard these things.
Great fear spread through the whole church, as well as among everyone who heard what had happened.
12 Thus by the hands of the Apostles were many signes and wonders shewed among the people (and they were all with one accorde in Salomons porche.
Many miraculous signs were performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers used to meet together in Solomon's porch.
13 And of the other durst no man ioyne him selfe to them: neuerthelesse the people magnified them.
Nobody else dared to join them even though they were greatly respected.
14 Also the number of them that beleeued in the Lord, both of men and women, grewe more and more)
However, many men and women came to believe in the Lord.
15 In so much that they brought the sicke into the streetes, and layd them on beds and couches, that at the least way the shadowe of Peter, when he came by, might shadow some of them.
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.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about vnto Hierusalem, bringing sicke folkes, and them which were vexed with vncleane spirits, who were all healed.
Crowds from the towns around Jerusalem brought their sick and those afflicted by evil spirits. They were all healed.
17 Then the chiefe Priest rose vp, and all they that were with him (which was the sect of the Sadduces) and were full of indignation,
However, the high priest and those with him (who were Sadducees) became very jealous and decided to intervene.
18 And laide hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.
They arrested the apostles and threw them in the public jail.
19 But the Angel of the Lord, by night opened the prison doores, and brought them forth, and sayd,
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out.
20 Go your way, and stand in the Temple, and speake to the people, all the wordes of this life.
“Go to the Temple and tell the people everything about this new way of life!” he told them.
21 So when they heard it, they entred into the Temple early in the morning, and taught. And the chiefe Priest came, and they that were with him, and called the Councill together, and all the Elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison, to cause them to be brought.
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.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and tolde it,
But when the officials went to the prison they couldn't find the apostles so they went back and told the council,
23 Saying, Certainely we founde the prison shut as sure as was possible, and the keepers standing without, before the doores: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
“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.”
24 Then when the chiefe Priest, and the captaine of the Temple, and the hie Priestes heard these things, they doubted of them, whereunto this would growe.
Now when the captain of the Temple guards and the chief priests heard this they were totally baffled, and wondered what was going on.
25 Then came one and shewed them, saying, Beholde, the men that ye put in prison, are standing in the Temple, and teach the people.
Then someone came in and said, “Look, the men you put in prison are right there in the Temple teaching people!”
26 Then went the captaine with the officers, and brought them without violence (for they feared the people, lest they should haue bene stoned)
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.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Councill, and the chiefe Priest asked them,
The apostles were brought in and made to stand in front of the council.
28 Saying, Did not we straightly commaund you, that ye should not teach in this Name? and behold, ye haue filled Hierusale with your doctrine, and ye would bring this mans blood vpon vs.
“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!”
29 Then Peter and the Apostles answered, and sayd, We ought rather to obey God then men.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We have to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus, whom ye slewe, and hanged on a tree.
The God of our forefathers raised Jesus from the dead—the one you killed by hanging him on a cross.
31 Him hath God lift vp with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Sauiour, to giue repentance to Israel, and forgiuenes of sinnes.
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.
32 And we are his witnesses concerning these things which we say: yea, and the holy Ghost, whome God hath giuen to them that obey him.
We are witnesses of what happened, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 Now when they heard it, they brast for anger, and consulted to slay them.
When the council heard this they were furious and wanted to kill them.
34 Then stoode there vp in the Councill a certaine Pharise named Gamaliel, a doctour of the Lawe, honoured of all the people, and commanded to put the Apostles forth a litle space,
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.
35 And sayd vnto them, Men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye intende to doe touching these men.
Gamaliel addressed the council: “Leaders of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men.
36 For before these times, rose vp Theudas boasting himselfe, to whom resorted a number of men, about a foure hundreth, who was slaine: and they all which obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
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.
37 After this man, arose vp Iudas of Galile, in the dayes of the tribute, and drewe away much people after him: hee also perished, and all that obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
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.
38 And nowe I say vnto you, Refraine your selues from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsell, or this worke be of men, it will come to nought:
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.
39 But if it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest ye be found euen fighters against God.
But if it comes from God, you won't be able to defeat them. You could even find yourselves fighting against God!”
40 And to him they agreed, and called the Apostles: and when they had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speake in the Name of Iesus, and let them goe.
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.
41 So they departed from the Councill, reioycing, that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name.
The apostles left the council, happy to be considered worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.
42 And dayly in the Temple, and from house to house they ceased not to teach, and preach Iesus Christ.
Every day they continued to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, in the Temple and from house to house.
