Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sappirah, his wife, sold a possession,
Now a man called Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property.
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.
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 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?
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 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 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 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard it.
Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. Everyone who heard what happened was terrified.
6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried 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 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
About three hours later his wife arrived, not knowing what had happened.
8 Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, for so much."
Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes, that was the price,” she replied.
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."
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 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.
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 Great fear came on the whole church, and on all who heard these things.
Great fear spread through the whole church, as well as among everyone who heard what had happened.
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 miraculous signs were performed among the people by the apostles. All the believers used to meet together in Solomon's porch.
13 None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.
Nobody else dared to join them even though they were greatly respected.
14 More believers were added to the Lord, crowds of both men and women.
However, many men and women came to believe in the Lord.
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.
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 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.
Crowds from the towns around Jerusalem brought their sick and those afflicted by evil spirits. They were all healed.
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,
However, the high priest and those with him (who were Sadducees) became very jealous and decided to intervene.
18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.
They arrested the apostles and threw them in 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 led them out.
20 "Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
“Go to the Temple and tell the people everything about this new way of life!” he told them.
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.
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 the officers who came did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
But when the officials went to the prison they couldn't find the apostles so they went back and told the council,
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."
“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 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.
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 One came and told them, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching 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 the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
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 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,
The apostles were brought in and made to stand in front of the council.
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."
“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 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than people.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We have to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
The God of our forefathers raised Jesus from the dead—the one you killed by hanging him on a cross.
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 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 We are witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
We are witnesses of what happened, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 But they, when they heard this, were furious, and wanted to kill them.
When the council heard this they were furious and wanted to kill them.
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 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 He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.
Gamaliel addressed the council: “Leaders of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to 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.
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, 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.
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 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.
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 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 comes from God, you won't be able to defeat them. You could even find yourselves 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.
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 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
The apostles left the council, happy to be considered worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.
42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah.
Every day they continued to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, in the Temple and from house to house.
