Acts 5

1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.

2 With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

4 Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

5 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

6 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.

8 “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”

9 “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10 At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11 And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

13 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.

14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.

15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out

18 and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

20 “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

21 At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:

23 “We indeed found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

24 When the high priest and the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.

25 Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”

26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.

27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

28 “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name?” he asked. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.

31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

32 We are His witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.

34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the apostles be put outside for a short time.

35 “Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.

36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away many people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

38 So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.

39 But if it is from God, you cannot stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus.

42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

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 thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?

4 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 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and 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 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 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 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as 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 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 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 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 ¶ 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 their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21 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 when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

23 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 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 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 ¶ Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

27 And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them,

28 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 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31 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 are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

33 When they heard [that], they were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them.

34 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 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36 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 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 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 be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40 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 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

1 And a man named Ananias, and Sapphira his wife, sold their goods.

2 And took away some of the money, with the knowledge of his wife, and brought a part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 And Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart, that thou hast lied to the Holy Ghost, and stolen some of the money of the field?

4 If thou hadst had him, thou mightest have kept him; and when he was sold, it was in thy power. Why then didst thou make such a thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

5 And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down, and gave up the ghost. And great fear came upon all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, and laid him aside, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it came to pass about three hours, that his wife came in, and knew not what was done.

8 But Peter said unto her, Tell me, sold ye the field so dear? And she said, Yea, so dearly.

9 And Peter said unto her, Why then are ye become one to tempt the Spirit of the LORD? Behold, the feet of them that buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 And straightway she fell at his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men came, and found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her with her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the congregation, and upon all them that heard these things.

12 And there were many signs and wonders done among the people by the hands of the apostles, and they were all with one accord in the hall of Solomon.

13 And the rest were not to be joined unto them: but the people thought much of them.

14 And the more were added that believed on the LORD, both men and women,

15 So that they carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and stretchers, that, when Peter came, his shadow might overshadow some of them.

16 There came also many from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing the sick, and those that were tormented with unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

17 And the high priest stood up, and all that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with zeal.

18 And laid hands on the apostles, and cast them into the common prison.

19 And the angel of the LORD opened the door of the prison in the night, and brought them forth, and said:

20 Go ye, stand, and speak in the temple unto the people all the words of this life.

21 And when they had heard it, they went early into the temple, and taught. And the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch them.

22 And the servants came, and found them not in prison, and came again, and preached

23 And they said: We found the prison shut up with all diligence, and the keepers without standing before the doors: but when we opened, we found none within.

24 And when the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the other chief priests, heard this saying, they were troubled at what it was to be.

25 And one came and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye cast into prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.

26 Then the centurion went with the servants, and took them, not by force: 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 And said, Have we not earnestly commanded you that ye should not teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and will bring this man's blood upon us.

29 And Peter answered and the apostles, and said: One must obey God more than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, and hanged on the wood.

31 Whom God hath exalted by his right hand to be a prince and a saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins unto Israel.

32 And we are his witnesses concerning these words, and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

33 And when they heard it, it went through their hearts, and they thought to kill them.

34 And there arose in the council a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a scribe, well kept in the sight of all the people, and bade the apostles go forth a little

35 And said unto them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves of these men, what ye ought to do.

36 Before these days Theudas stood pretending to be something, and there were hanging upon him a number of men about four hundred: he is slain, and all that fell to him are scattered and destroyed.

37 After these things arose Judas of Galilee in the days of the reckoning, and made much people reproach him: and he also perished, and all that fell to him were scattered.

38 And now I say unto you, Depart from these men, and let them go. If the counsel or the work be of men, it shall perish;

39 But if it be of God, ye cannot restrain it, lest ye be found fighting against God.

40 And they fell upon him, and called unto the apostles, and nudged them, and commanded them that they should not speak in the name of JEsu, and sent them away.

41 And they departed gladly from the presence of the council, because they had been worthy to suffer reproach for his name's sake;

42 And ceased not all the days in the temple, and in every house, to teach and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.