Acts 5
1 But a certaine man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, solde a possession,
There was a man of the name of Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property but,
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.
with her full knowledge and consent, dishonestly kept back part of the price which he received for it, though he brought the rest and gave it to the Apostles.
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?
"Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan taken possession of your heart, that you should try to deceive the Holy Spirit and dishonestly keep back part of the price paid you for this land?
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 it remained unsold, was not the land your own? And when sold, was it not at your own disposal? How is it that you have cherished this design in your heart? It is not to men you have told this lie, 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.
Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down dead, and all who heard the words were awe-struck.
6 And the yong men rose vp, and tooke him vp, and caried him out, and buried him.
The younger men, however, rose, and wrapping the body up, carried it out and buried it.
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 had passed, when his wife came in, knowing nothing of 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 at once questioned her. "Tell me," he said, "whether you sold the land for so much." "Yes," she replied, "for so much."
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.
"How was it," replied Peter, "that you two agreed to try an experiment upon the Spirit of the Lord? The men who have buried your husband are already at the door, and they will carry you out."
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.
Instantly she fell down dead at his feet, and the young men came in and found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her by her husband's side.
11 And great feare came on all the Church, and on as many as heard these things.
This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.
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 signs and marvels continued to be done among the people by the Apostles; and by common consent they all met in Solomon's Portico.
13 And of the other durst no man ioyne him selfe to them: neuerthelesse the people magnified them.
But none of the others dared to attach themselves to them. Yet the people held them in high honour--
14 Also the number of them that beleeued in the Lord, both of men and women, grewe more and more)
and more and more believers in the Lord joined them, including great numbers both of men and women--
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.
so that they would even bring out their sick friends into the streets and lay them on light couches or mats, in order that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or other of 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.
The inhabitants, too, of the towns in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem came in crowds, bringing sick persons and some who were harassed by foul spirits, and they were cured, one and all.
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,
This roused the High Priest. He and all his party--the sect of the Sadducees--were filled with angry jealousy
18 And laide hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.
and laid hands upon the Apostles, and put them into 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 brought them out, and said,
20 Go your way, and stand in the Temple, and speake to the people, all the wordes of this life.
"Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of Life."
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.
Having received that command they went into the Temple, just before daybreak, and began to teach: So when the High Priest and his party came, and had called together the Sanhedrin as well as all the Elders of the descendants of Israel, they sent to the jail to fetch the Apostles.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and tolde it,
But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word,
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.
saying, "The jail we found quite safely locked, and the warders were on guard at the doors, but upon going in we found no one there."
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.
When the Commander of the Temple Guards and the High Priests heard this statement, they were utterly at a loss with regard to it, wondering what would happen next.
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.
And some one came and brought them word, saying, "The men you put in prison are actually in the Temple, standing there, teaching the 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)
Upon this the Commander went with the officers, and brought the Apostles; but without using violence; for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Councill, and the chiefe Priest asked them,
So they brought them and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin. And then the High Priest questioned them.
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.
"We strictly forbad you to teach in that name--did we not?" he said. "And see, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are trying to make us responsible for that man's death!"
29 Then Peter and the Apostles answered, and sayd, We ought rather to obey God then men.
Peter and the other Apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than man.
30 The God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus, whom ye slewe, and hanged on a tree.
The God of our forefathers has raised Jesus to life, whom you crucified and put to death.
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 has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour, to give Israel repentance and 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.
And we--and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him--are witnesses as to these things."
33 Now when they heard it, they brast for anger, and consulted to slay them.
Infuriated at getting this answer, they were disposed to kill the Apostles.
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 a Pharisee of the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, held in honour by all the people, rose from his seat and requested that they should be sent outside the court for a few minutes.
35 And sayd vnto them, Men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye intende to doe touching these men.
"Israelites," he said, "be careful what you are about to do in dealing with 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.
Years ago Theudas appeared, professing to be a person of importance, and a body of men, some four hundred in number, joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and annihilated.
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.
After him, at the time of the Census, came Judas, the Galilaean, and was the leader in a revolt. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.
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:
And now I tell you to hold aloof from these men and leave them alone--for if this scheme or work is of human origin, it will come to nothing.
39 But if it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest ye be found euen fighters against God.
But if it is really from God, you will be powerless to put them down--lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually 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.
His advice carried conviction. So they called the Apostles in, and--after flogging them--ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then let them go.
41 So they departed from the Councill, reioycing, that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name.
They, therefore, left the Sanhedrin and went their way, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace on behalf of the NAME.
42 And dayly in the Temple, and from house to house they ceased not to teach, and preach Iesus Christ.
But they did not desist from teaching every day, in the Temple or in private houses, and telling the Good News about Jesus, the Christ.
