Acts 5
5
Ananias and Sapphira Die
1But a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some land. 2He kept back part of the money for himself; his wife knew about this and agreed to it. But he brought the rest of the money and gave it to the apostles. 3Peter said, “Ananias, why did you let Satan rule your thoughts to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep for yourself part of the money you received for the land? 4Before you sold the land, it belonged to you. And even after you sold it, you could have used the money any way you wanted. Why did you think of doing this? You lied to God, not to us!” 5-6When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Some young men came in, wrapped up his body, carried it out, and buried it. And everyone who heard about this was filled with fear.
7About three hours later his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. 8Peter said to her, “Tell me, was the money you got for your field this much?”
Sapphira answered, “Yes, that was the price.”
9Peter said to her, “Why did you and your husband agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10At that moment Sapphira fell down by his feet and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11The whole church and all the others who heard about these things were filled with fear.
The Apostles Heal Many
12The apostles did many signs and miracles among the people. And they would all meet together on Solomon’s Porch. 13None of the others dared to join them, but all the people respected them. 14More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to the group of believers. 15The people placed their sick on beds and mats in the streets, hoping that when Peter passed by at least his shadow might fall on them. 16Crowds came from all the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those who were bothered by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
Leaders Try to Stop the Apostles
17The high priest and all his friends (a group called the Sadducees) became very jealous. 18They took the apostles and put them in jail. 19But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and led the apostles outside. The angel said, 20“Go stand in the Temple and tell the people everything about this new life.” 21When the apostles heard this, they obeyed and went into the Temple early in the morning and continued teaching.
When the high priest and his friends arrived, they called a meeting of the leaders and all the important elders. They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them. 22But, upon arriving, the officers could not find the apostles. So they went back and reported to the leaders. 23They said, “The jail was closed and locked, and the guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, the jail was empty!” 24Hearing this, the captain of the Temple guards and the leading priests were confused and wondered what was happening.
25Then someone came and told them, “Listen! The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple teaching the people.” 26Then the captain and his men went out and brought the apostles back. But the soldiers did not use force, because they were afraid the people would stone them to death.
27The soldiers brought the apostles to the meeting and made them stand before the leaders. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in that name. But look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying to make us responsible for this man’s death.”
29Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not human authority! 30You killed Jesus by hanging him on a cross. But God, the God of our ancestors, raised Jesus up from the dead! 31Jesus is the One whom God raised to be on his right side, as Leader and Savior. Through him, all people could change their hearts and lives and have their sins forgiven. 32We saw all these things happen. The Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who obey him, also proves these things are true.”
33When the leaders heard this, they became angry and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the meeting. He was a teacher of the law, and all the people respected him. He ordered the apostles to leave the meeting for a little while. 35Then he said, “People of Israel, be careful what you are planning to do to these men. 36Remember when Theudas appeared? He said he was a great man, and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, and all his followers were scattered; they were able to do nothing. 37Later, a man named Judas came from Galilee at the time of the registration. He also led a group of followers and was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38And so now I tell you: Stay away from these men, and leave them alone. If their plan comes from human authority, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even be fighting against God himself!”
The leaders agreed with what Gamaliel said. 40They called the apostles in, beat them, and told them not to speak in the name of Jesus again. Then they let them go free. 41The apostles left the meeting full of joy because they were given the honor of suffering disgrace for Jesus. 42Every day in the Temple and in people’s homes they continued teaching the people and telling the Good News—that Jesus is the Christ.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Acts 5
5
Lying to the Holy Spirit
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3#Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21; Eccl. 5:4But Peter said, “Ananias, why has #Matt. 4:10; Luke 22:3; John 13:2, 27Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5Then Ananias, hearing these words, #Ezek. 11:13; Acts 5:10, 11fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6And the young men arose and #John 19:40wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together #Matt. 4:7; Acts 5:3, 4to 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#Ezek. 11:13; Acts 5:5Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11#Acts 2:43; 5:5; 19:17So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Continuing Power in the Church
12And #Acts 2:43; 4:30; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12; (Rom. 15:19); 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. #Acts 3:11; 4:32And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13Yet #John 9:22none of the rest dared join them, #Acts 2:47; 4:21but the people esteemed them highly. 14And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, #Matt. 9:21; 14:36; Acts 19:12that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing #Mark 16:17, 18; (John 14:12)sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Imprisoned Apostles Freed
17#Matt. 3:7; Acts 4:1, 2, 6Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18#Luke 21:12; Acts 4:3; 16:37and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19But at night #Matt. 1:20, 24; 2:13, 19; 28:2; Luke 1:11; 2:9; Acts 12:7; 16:26an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people #(John 6:63, 68; 17:3; 1 John 5:11)all the words of this life.”
21And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. #Acts 4:5, 6But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Apostles on Trial Again
22But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24Now when the high priest, #Luke 22:4; Acts 4:1; 5:26the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, #Matt. 21:26for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28saying, #Acts 4:17, 18“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, #Acts 2:23, 36and intend to bring this Man’s #Matt. 23:35blood on us!”
29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: #Acts 4:19“We ought to obey God rather than men. 30#Acts 3:13, 15The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by #Acts 10:39; 13:29; (Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24)hanging on a tree. 31#Mark 16:19; (Acts 2:33, 36; Phil. 2:9–11)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be #Acts 3:15; Rev. 1:5Prince and #Matt. 1:21Savior, #Luke 24:47; (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And #John 15:26, 27; Acts 15:28; Rom. 8:16; Heb. 2:4we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit #Acts 2:4; 10:44whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33When they heard this, they were #Acts 2:37; 7:54furious and plotted to kill them. 34Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named #Acts 22:3Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39#Luke 21:15; 1 Cor. 1:25but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found #Acts 7:51; 9:5to fight against God.”
40And they agreed with him, and when they had #Acts 4:18called for the apostles #Matt. 10:17; Mark 13:9; Acts 16:22, 23; 21:32; 2 Cor. 11:25and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41So they departed from the presence of the council, #Matt. 5:10–12; Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 12:10; Heb. 10:34; (James 1:2; 1 Pet. 4:13–16)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42And daily #Acts 2:46in the temple, and in every house, #Acts 4:20, 29they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.