Acts 5
1 There was a man of the name of Ananias who, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property but,
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 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.
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.
3 "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?
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?
4 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."
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down dead, and all who heard the words were awe-struck.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 The younger men, however, rose, and wrapping the body up, carried it out and buried it.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried [him] out, and buried [him].
7 About three hours had passed, when his wife came in, knowing nothing of what had happened.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 Peter at once questioned her. "Tell me," he said, "whether you sold the land for so much." "Yes," she replied, "for so much."
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 "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."
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 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.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying [her] forth, buried [her] by her husband.
11 This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 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.
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.
13 But none of the others dared to attach themselves to them. Yet the people held them in high honour--
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 and more and more believers in the Lord joined them, including great numbers both of men and women--
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 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.
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.
16 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.
There came also a multitude [out] of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
17 This roused the High Priest. He and all his party--the sect of the Sadducees--were filled with angry jealousy
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,
18 and laid hands upon the Apostles, and put them into the public jail.
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 "Go and stand in the Temple, and go on proclaiming to the people all this Message of Life."
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 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.
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.
22 But the officers went and could not find them in the prison. So they came back and brought word,
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23 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."
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.
24 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.
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
25 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."
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 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.
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 So they brought them and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin. And then the High Priest questioned them.
And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 "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!"
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Peter and the other Apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than man.
Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our forefathers has raised Jesus to life, whom you crucified and put to death.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we--and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him--are witnesses as to these things."
And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 Infuriated at getting this answer, they were disposed to kill the Apostles.
When they heard [that], they were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them.
34 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.
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;
35 "Israelites," he said, "be careful what you are about to do in dealing with these men.
And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 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.
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 nought.
37 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.
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.
38 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.
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 nought:
39 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."
But if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 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.
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.
41 They, therefore, left the Sanhedrin and went their way, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace on behalf of the NAME.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 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.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
