Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira

1 A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also sold some land.2 He kept part of the money for himself. Sapphira knew he had kept it. He brought the rest of it and put it down at the apostles' feet.
3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your heart? He made you lie to the Holy Spirit. You have kept some of the money you received for the land.4 Didn't the land belong to you before it was sold? After it was sold, you could have used the money as you wished. What made you think of doing such a thing? You haven't lied to just anyone. You've lied to God."
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. All who heard what had happened were filled with fear.6 Some young men came and wrapped up his body. They carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later, the wife of Ananias came in. She didn't know what had happened.8 Peter asked her, "Tell me. Is this the price you and Ananias sold the land for?"
"Yes," she said. "That's the price."
9 Peter asked her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! You can hear the steps of the men who buried your husband. They are at the door. They will carry you out also."
10 At that very moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in. They saw that Sapphira was dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.11 The whole church and all who heard about these things were filled with fear.

The Apostles Heal Many People

12 The apostles did many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. All the believers used to meet together at Solomon's Porch.13 No outsider dared to join them. But the people thought highly of them.14 More and more men and women believed in the Lord. They joined the other believers.15 So people brought those who were sick into the streets. They placed them on beds and mats. They hoped that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he walked by.16 Crowds even gathered from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought their sick. They also brought those who were suffering because of evil spirits. All of them were healed.

An Angel Opens the Prison Doors

17 The high priest and all his companions were Sadducees. They were very jealous of the apostles.18 So they arrested them and put them in the public prison.19 But during the night an angel of the Lord came. He opened the prison doors and brought the apostles out.20 "Go! Stand in the temple courtyard," the angel said. "Tell the people all about this new life."
21 Early the next day they did as they had been told. They entered the temple courtyard. There they began to teach the people.
The high priest and his companions arrived. They called the Sanhedrin together. The Sanhedrin was a gathering of all the elders of Israel. They sent for the apostles who were in prison.22 The officers arrived at the prison. But they didn't find the apostles there. So they went back and reported it.23 "We found the prison locked up tight," they said. "The guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, we didn't find anyone inside."24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were bewildered. They wondered what would happen next.
25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard. They are teaching the people."26 So the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles back. But they didn't use force. They were afraid the people would kill them by throwing stones at them.
27 They brought the apostles to be judged by the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them.28 "We gave you clear orders not to teach in Jesus' name," he said. "But you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You want to make us guilty of this man's death."
29 Peter and the other apostles replied, "We must obey God instead of people!30 You had Jesus killed by nailing him to a cross. But the God of our people raised Jesus from the dead.31 Now Jesus is Prince and Savior. God has proved this by giving him a place of honor at his own right hand. He did it so that he could turn Israel away from their sins and forgive them.32 We are witnesses of these things. And so is the Holy Spirit. God has given the Spirit to those who obey him."
33 When the leaders heard this, they became very angry. They wanted to put the apostles to death.34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin. He was a teacher of the law. He was honored by all the people. He ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.35 Then he spoke to the Sanhedrin. "Men of Israel," he said, "think carefully about what you plan to do to these men.36 Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed he was really somebody. About 400 people followed him. But he was killed. All his followers were scattered. So they accomplished nothing.37 After this, Judas from Galilee came along. This was in the days when the Romans made a list of all the people. Judas led a gang of men against the Romans. He too was killed. All his followers were scattered.38 So let me give you some advice. Leave these men alone! Let them go! If their plans and actions are only human, they will fail.39 But if their plans come from God, you won't be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God."
40 His speech won the leaders over. They called the apostles in and had them whipped. The leaders ordered them not to speak in Jesus' name. Then they let the apostles go.
41 The apostles were full of joy as they left the Sanhedrin. They considered it an honor to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.42 Day after day, they kept teaching in the temple courtyards and from house to house. They never stopped telling the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 5

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,2 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 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?4 While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.11 And great fear came 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 durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them;14 and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;15 insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.16 And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bring sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.17 But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward.19 But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,20 Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.21 And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, 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-house to have them brought.22 But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told,23 saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow.25 And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but 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, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree.31 Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them.34 But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while.35 And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.36 For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out 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 dispersed, and came to nought.37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.38 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 be overthrown:39 but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.42 And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.