Acts 5
1 A certayne man named Ananias with Saphira his wyfe solde a possession
There was, however, a man named Ananias, who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property,
2 and kepte awaye parte of the pryce (his wyfe also beynge of counsell) and brought a certayne parte and layde it doune at the Apostles fete.
and, with her connivance, kept back some of the proceeds. He brought only a part and laid it at the Apostles’ feet.
3 Then sayde Peter: Ananias how is it that Satan hath filled thyne hert that thou shuldest lye vnto the holy goost and kepe awaye parte of the pryce of the lyvelod:
“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 Pertayned it not vnto the only and after it was solde was not the pryce in thyne awne power? How is it that thou hast coceaved this thinge in thyne herte? Thou hast not lyed vnto men but vnto 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 men, but to God!”
5 When Ananias herde these wordes. he fell doune and gave vp the goost. And great feare came on all the that these thinges hearde.
As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired; and every one who heard of it was appalled.
6 And the yonge men roose vp and put him a parte and caryed him out and buryed him.
The young men got up, and, winding the body in a sheet, carried it out and buried it.
7 And it fortuned as it were aboute the space of. iii. houres after that his wyfe came in ignoraunt of that which was done.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter sayde vnto her: Tell me gave ye the londe for so moche? And she sayde: ye for so moche
“Is it true,” Peter asked, addressing her, “that you sold your land for such a sum?” “Yes,” she answered, “we did.”
9 Then Peter sayde vnto her: why have ye agreed to gether to tept the sprete of the Lorde? Beholde the fete of them which have buryed thy husbande are at the dore and shall cary the out.
Then Peter said: “How did you come to agree to provoke the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The foot-steps of those who have buried your husband are at the door; and they will carry you out too.”
10 Then she fell doune strayght waye at his fete and yelded vp the goost. And the yonge men came in and founde her ded and caryed her out and buryed her by her husbande.
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 feare came on all the congregacion and on as many as hearde it.
The whole Church and all who heard of these events were appalled.
12 By the hondes of the Apostles were many signes and wondres shewed amoge the people. And they were all together with one acorde in Salomons porche.
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 other durst no man ioyne him selfe to them: neverthelater the people magnyfied them.
but of the rest no one ventured to join them. On the other hand, the people were full of their praise,
14 The noumbre of them that beleved in the Lorde bothe of men and wemen grewe moare and moare:
and still larger numbers, both of men and women, as they became believers in the Lord, were added to their number.
15 in so moche that they brought the sicke into the strettes and layde them on beddes and palettes that at the lest waye the shadowe of Peter when he came by myght shadowe 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 some one of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of ye cities roud about vnto Ierusalem bringynge sicke folkes and them which were vexed with vnclene spretes. 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 every one.
17 Then ye chefe preste rose vp and all they that were with him (which is the secte of the Saduces) and were full of indignacion
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 layde hondes on the Apostles and put them in the comen preson.
arrested the Apostles, and had them placed in custody.
19 But the angell of the Lorde by nyght openned the preson dores and brought them forthe and sayde:
An angel of the Lord, however, opened the prison doors at night and led them out.
20 goo steppe forthe and speake in the temple to the people all the wordes of this lyfe.
“Go,” he said, “and stand in the Temple Courts, and tell the people the whole Message of this new Life.”
21 When they hearde that they entred into the temple erly in the morninge and taught. The chefe prest came and they that were with him and called a counsell to gedder and all the elders of the chyldren of Israel and sent to the preson to fet them.
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 leading men among the Israelites, and sent to the jail to fetch the Apostles.
22 When the ministres came and founde them not in the preson they returned and tolde
But, when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported that,
23 sayinge: the preson founde we shut as sure as was possible and the kepers stondynge with out before ye dores. But whe we had opened we founde no man with in.
while they had found the goal barred securely and the guards posted at the doors, yet, on opening them, they had not found any one inside.
24 When the chefe prest of all and the ruler of the temple and the hye prestes hearde these thinges they douted of them whervnto this wolde growe.
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 shewed them: beholde ye men yt ye put in preson stonde in the teple and teache the people.
Presently, however, some one 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 ruler of the teple with ministers and brought the with out violence. For they feared the people lest they shuld have bene stoned.
On this, 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 counsell. And ye chefe preste axed the
And then brought them before the Council. The High Priest demanded an explanation from them.
28 sayinge: dyd not we straytely comaunde you that ye shuld not teache in this name? And beholde ye have filled Ierusalem with youre doctrine and ye intende to brynge this mans bloud vpon vs.
“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 Peter and the other Apostles answered and sayde: We ought moare to obey God then men.
To this Peter and the Apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of oure fathers raysed vp Ie Iesus whom ye slewe and hanged on tre.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a cross.
31 Him hath god lifte vp with his right hand to be a ruler and a savioure for to geve repetauce to Israell and forgevenes of synnes.
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 recordes concernynge these thinges and also the holy goost whom God hath geve to them yt 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 hearde yt they clave asunder: and sought meanes to slee them.
The members of the Council became frantic with rage on hearing this, and were for putting the Apostles to death.
34 Then stode ther vp one in ye counsell a Pharisey named Gamaliel a doctoure of lawe had in auctorite amoge all the people and commaunded to put the Apostles a syde a lytell 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 sayde vnto them: Men of Israel take hede to youre selves what ye entende to do as touchinge these men
He then said: “Men of Israel, take care as to what you intend to do with these men.
36 Before these dayes rose vp one Theudas bostinge him selfe to whom resorted a nombre of men about a foure hondred which was slayn and they all which beleved him were scatred a broode and brought to nought.
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 arose ther vp one Iudas of Galile in the tyme when tribute began and drewe awaye moche people after him. He also perisshed: and all even as many as harkened to him are scattered a brood.
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 saye vnto you: refrayne youre selves from these men let them alone. For yf ye cousell or this worke be of men it will come to nought.
And, in this present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these men, but to let them alone, for, if their designs and their work are merely of human origin, they will come to an end;
39 But and yf it be of God ye can not destroye it lest haply ye be founde to stryve agaynst 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 called the Apostles and bet them and comaunded that they shuld not speake in ye name of Iesu and let them goo.
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 counsell reioysynge yt they were counted worthy to soffre rebuke for his name.
But the Apostles left the Council, rejoicing that they had been thought worthy to suffer disgrace for that Name;
42 And dayly in the teple and in every housse they ceased not teachinge and preachinge Iesus 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.
