Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a field,2 and he was deceitful about the price of the field, with his wifes consent. And bringing only part of it, he placed it at the feet of the Apostles.3 But Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan tempted your heart, so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and be deceitful about the price of the land?4 Did it not belong to you while you retained it? And having sold it, was it not in your power? Why have you set this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!5 Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired. And a great fear overwhelmed all who heard of it.6 And the young men rose up and removed him; and carrying him out, they buried him.7 Then about the space of three hours passed, and his wife entered, not knowing what had happened.8 And Peter said to her, Tell me, woman, if you sold the field for this amount? And she said, Yes, for that amount.9 And Peter said to her: Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out!10 Immediately, she fell down before his feet and expired. Then the young men entered and found her dead. And they carried her out and buried her next to her husband.11 And a great fear came over the entire Church and over all who heard these things.12 And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were accomplished among the people. And they all met with one accord at Solomons portico.13 And among the others, no one dared to join himself to them. But the people magnified them.14 Now the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was ever increasing,15 so much so that they laid the infirm in the streets, placing them on beds and stretchers, so that, as Peter arrived, at least his shadow might fall upon any one of them, and they would be freed from their infirmities.16 But a multitude also hurried to Jerusalem from the neighboring cities, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, who were all healed.17 Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy.18 And they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed them in the common prison.19 But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,20 Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of life.21 And when they had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the prison to have them brought.22 But when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them,23 saying: We found the prison certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within.24 Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen.25 But someone arrived and reported to them, Behold, the men whom you placed in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.26 Then the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.27 And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,28 and said: We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.29 But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.30 The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree.31 It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.32 And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.33 When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death.34 But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly.35 And he said to them: Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men.36 For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced to nothing.37 After this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed.38 And now therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken.39 Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God. And they agreed with him.40 And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.41 And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus.42 And every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus.
Acts 5
The Judgment on Ananias and Sapphira
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property.2 Het kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he broughtt only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet.3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filleds your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale oft the land?
4 Before it was sold,t did it nott belong to you? And when it was sold, was the moneyt not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart?t You have not lied to peoplet but to God!”
5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear grippedt all who heard about it.6 So the young men came,t wrapped him up,t carried him out, and burieds him.7 After an interval of about three hours,t his wife came in, but she did not knowt what had happened.8 Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of yout paid this amountt for the land?” Sapphirat said, “Yes, that much.”9 Peter then told her, “Why have you agreed together to test 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!”10 At oncet she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 Greatt fear grippedt the whole churchs and all who heard about these things.
The Apostles Perform Miraculous Signs and Wonders
12 Now many miraculous signst and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. Byt common consentt they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico.ts13 None of the rest dared to join them,t but the people held them in high honor.t14 More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number,t crowds of both men and women.15 Thust they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them.
16 A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalems also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits.s Theyt were alls being healed.
Further Trouble for the Apostles
17 Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadduceess),s and they were filled with jealousy.s18 Theyt laid hands ont the apostles and put them in a public jail.19 But during the night an angel of the Lordt openedt the doors of the prison,t led them out,ts and said,20 “Go and stand in the temple courtst and proclaimt to the people all the words of this life.”
21 When they heard this, they entered the temple courtst at daybreak and began teaching.t
Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrint – that is, the whole high councilt of the Israelitest – and sent to the jail to have the apostlest brought before them.t22 But the officerst who came for themt did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,t23 “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them,t we found no one inside.”24 Now when the commandert of the temple guardt and the chief priests heard this report,t they were greatly puzzled concerning it,t wondering what this couldt be.25 But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtst and teachings the people!”
26 Then the commandert of the temple guardt went with the officerst and brought the apostlest without the use of forcet (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).t
27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the council,t and the high priest questionedt them,28 saying, “We gaves you strict orderst not to teach in this name.s Look,t you have filled Jerusalems with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s bloods on us!”29 But Peter and the apostles replied,t “We must obeys God rather than people.t30 The God of our forefatherst raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree.t31 God exalted himt to his right hand as Leadert and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.t
32 And we are witnesses of these events,t and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obeys him.”
33 Now when they heard this, they became furiouss and wanted to execute them.s34 But a Pharisees whose name was Gamaliel,s a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood upt in the councilt and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.35 Then he said to the council,t “Men of Israel,t pay close attention tot what you are about to do to these men.36 For some time agot Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. Het was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it.t37 After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census,t and incited people to follow him in revolt.t He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered.38 So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people,t it will come to nothing,t39 but ift it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be foundt fighting against God.” He convinced them,t40 and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten.s Thent they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.41 So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthys to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.s
42 And every day both in the temple courtst and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good newst that Jesus was the Christ.ts