Acts 5

1 BUT a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of land,2 And by fraud kept back part of the price of the land, his wife being privy thereunto: and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles.3 But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and by fraud keep part of the price of the land?4 Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.5 And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it.6 And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him.7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.8 And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much.9 And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.10 Immediately she fell down before his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in, found her dead: and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.11 And there came great fear upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.12 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 of the rest no man durst join himself unto them; but the people magnified them.14 And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord, was more increased:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.16 And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits; who were all healed.17 Then the high prist rising up, and all they that were with him, (which is the heresy of the Sadducees,) were filled with envy.18 And they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.19 But an angel of the Lord by night opening the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said:20 Go, and standing speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.21 Who having heard this, early in the morning, entered into the temple, and taught. And the high priest coming, and they that were with him, called together the council, and all the ancients of the children of Israel; and they sent to the prison to have them brought.22 But when the ministers came, and opening the prison, found them not there, they returned and told,23 Saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the doors; but opening it, we found no man within.24 Now when the officer of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what would come to pass.25 But one came and told them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple standing, and teaching the people.26 Then went the officer with the ministers, and brought them without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,28 Saying: Commanding we commanded you, that you should not teach in this name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us.29 But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men.30 The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.32 And we are witnesses of these things and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey him.33 When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they thought to put them to death.34 But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.35 And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.36 For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all that believed him were scattered, and brought to nothing.37 After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed.38 And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought;39 But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.40 And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus; and they dismissed them.41 And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.42 And every day they ceased not in the temple, and from house to house, to teach and preach 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