Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sappirah, his wife, sold a possession,
There was a man of the name of Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property but,
2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and put it at the apostles' feet.
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 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
"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 While you kept it, did not it remain your own? After it was sold, was not it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to 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 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard it.
Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down dead, and all who heard the words were awe-struck.
6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.
The younger men, however, rose, and wrapping the body up, carried it out and buried it.
7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
About three hours had passed, when his wife came in, knowing nothing of what had happened.
8 Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, 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 But Peter asked her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you 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 She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried 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 Great fear came on the whole church, and on all who heard these things.
This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.
12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
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 None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.
But none of the others dared to attach themselves to them. Yet the people held them in high honour--
14 More believers were added to the Lord, crowds of both men and women.
and more and more believers in the Lord joined them, including great numbers both of men and women--
15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and put them on cots and mats, so that as Peter came by at the least his shadow would fall on 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 Crowds also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they 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 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,
This roused the High Priest. He and all his party--the sect of the Sadducees--were filled with angry jealousy
18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.
and laid hands upon the Apostles, and put them into the public jail.
19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said,
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
20 "Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
"Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of Life."
21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them 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 the officers who came did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word,
23 "We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
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 Now when the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
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 One came and told them, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching 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 the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
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 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,
So they brought them and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin. And then the High Priest questioned them.
28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood on us."
"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 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than people.
Peter and the other Apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than man.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
The God of our forefathers has raised Jesus to life, whom you crucified and put to death.
31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Leader and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
32 We are witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
And we--and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him--are witnesses as to these things."
33 But they, when they heard this, were furious, and wanted to kill them.
Infuriated at getting this answer, they were disposed to kill the Apostles.
34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the men out for a little while.
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 He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.
"Israelites," he said, "be careful what you are about to do in dealing with these men.
36 For before these days Todah rose up, making himself out 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 dispersed, and came to nothing.
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, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as 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 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of human origin, it will be overthrown.
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 is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, and you would be found even to be fighting 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 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
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 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the 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 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the 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.
