Acts 5
1 There was, however, a man named Ananias, who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property,
There was a man of the name of Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property but,
2 and, with her connivance, kept back some of the proceeds. He brought only a part and laid 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 “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?
"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 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!”
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 As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and everyone who heard of it was appalled.
Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down dead, and all who heard the words were awe-struck.
6 The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.
The younger men, however, rose, and wrapping the body up, carried it out and buried it.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
About three hours had passed, when his wife came in, knowing nothing of what had happened.
8 “Is it true,” Peter asked, addressing her, “that you sold your land for such a sum?” “Yes,” she answered, “we did.”
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 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.”
"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 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.
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 The whole church and all who heard of these events were appalled.
This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.
12 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;
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 but of the rest no one ventured to join them. On the other hand, the people were full of their praise,
But none of the others dared to attach themselves to them. Yet the people held them in high honour--
14 and still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number.
and more and more believers in the Lord joined them, including great numbers both of men and women--
15 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.
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 Besides this, the inhabitants of the towns around Jerusalem flocked into the city, bringing with them their sick and those who were troubled by foul spirits; and they were cured everyone.
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 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,
This roused the High Priest. He and all his party--the sect of the Sadducees--were filled with angry jealousy
18 arrested the apostles, and had them placed in custody.
and laid hands upon the Apostles, and put them into the public jail.
19 An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
20 “Go,” he said, “and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell the people the whole message of this new 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 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.
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 got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that,
But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word,
23 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 officer went with his men and fetched the apostles – without using violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people –
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 then brought them before the Council. The high priest demanded an explanation from them.
So they brought them and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin. And then the High Priest questioned them.
28 “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.”
"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 To this Peter and the apostles replied, “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 ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross.
The God of our forefathers has raised Jesus to life, whom you crucified and put to death.
31 It is this Jesus whom God has exalted to his right hand, to be a guide and a Savior, to give Israel repentance 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 And we are witness to the truth of this, and so is the Holy Spirit – the gift of God 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 The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the apostles to death.
Infuriated at getting this answer, they were disposed to kill the Apostles.
34 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.
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 then said, “People of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men.
"Israelites," he said, "be careful what you are about to do in dealing with these men.
36 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.
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 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.
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, 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;
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 they are of divine origin, you will be powerless to put an end to them – or else you may find yourselves 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 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.
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 But the apostles left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that 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 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.
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.
