Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
There was, however, a man named Ananias, who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
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 filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, (pneuma) and to keep back part of 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 While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? why have you conceived this thing in your heart? you have not lied unto men, but unto 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 And Ananias hearing these words (logos) fell down, and gave up the spirit: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and everyone who heard of it was appalled.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether all of you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
‘Is it true,’ Peter asked, addressing her, ‘that you sold your land for such a sum?’ ‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘we did.’
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that all of you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit (pneuma) of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door, and 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 Then fell she down immediately at his feet, and yielded up the spirit: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by 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 great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
The whole church and all who heard of these events were appalled.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
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 of the rest durst no man 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 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
and still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number.
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
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 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: (pneuma) and they were healed every one.
Besides this, the inhabitants of the towns round 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 rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees, ) and were filled with indignation,
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 laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
arrested the apostles, and had them placed in custody.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words (rhema) of this 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 heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and 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 officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,
But, when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man 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 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, (logos) they doubted of them unto which this would grow.
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 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom all of you put in prison are standing in the temple, 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 went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been 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 set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
and then brought them before the Council. The high priest demanded an explanation from them.
28 Saying, Did not we strictly command you that all of you should not teach in this name? and, behold, all of you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood 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 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
To this Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than people.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom all of you slew and hanged on a tree.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross.
31 Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, in order to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to his right hand, to be a guide and a Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; (rhema) and so is also the Holy Spirit, (pneuma) whom God has given to them that obey 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 heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the apostles to death.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
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 said unto them, All of you men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what all of you intend to do as concerning 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 rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought 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 man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed 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 I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nothing:
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 But if it be of God, all of you cannot overthrow it; lest lest by any means all of you be found even to fight against God.
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 to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
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 they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
But the apostles left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that name;
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
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.
