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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Acts 5: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Acts 5
5
Lying to the Holy Spirit
1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. # Ac 4:37; 5:3
3Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart # Mt 4:10; Lk 22:3; Jn 13:2,27 to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? 4Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God! ” 5When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. # Ezk 11:13; Ac 5:10-11 6The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. # Ezk 29:5; Jn 19:40; Ac 8:2
7There was an interval of about three hours; then his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8“Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the field for this price? ”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
9Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree 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! ” # Ac 5:3-4; 15:10; 1Co 10:9
10Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. 11Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
Apostolic Signs and Wonders
12Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. # Ac 2:43; 14:3; 19:11; Rm 15:19; 2Co 12:12; Heb 2:4 By common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. # Jn 10:23; Ac 4:21,32 13None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly. # Ac 2:47; 3:11 14Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers — crowds of both men and women. 15As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow # Mt 14:36; Ac 19:12 might fall on some of them. 16In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
In and Out of Prison
17Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. # Ac 4:1; 15:5 18So they arrested # Lit laid hands on the apostles and put them in the city jail. # Lk 21:12; Ac 4:3 19But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, # Mt 1:20; Lk 1:11; Ac 8:26; 12:7; 16:26; 27:23 20“Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.” # Jn 6:63,68; Php 2:16 21In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.
The Apostles on Trial Again
When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin — the full Senate of the sons of Israel — and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. # Mt 5:22; Ac 4:6; 5:27,34,41 22But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported, 23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside! ” 24As # Other mss add the high priest and the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.
25Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people.” 26Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. # Ac 4:21; 5:13 27After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28“Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? # Jn 14:13; Ac 3:16; 1Jn 3:23 And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us! ” # Mt 27:25; Ac 2:23,36; 3:15; 4:10; 7:52
29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, # Ac 2:24; 3:13 whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. # Ac 10:39; 13:29; Gl 3:13; 1Pt 2:24 31God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. # Ac 2:33; 3:15 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit # Lk 24:48; Jn 15:26; Ac 15:28; Heb 2:4 whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. # Ac 2:37; 7:54 34A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men # Other mss read apostles to be taken outside for a little while. # Lk 2:46; 5:17; Ac 22:3 35He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men. 36Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing. # Ac 8:9; Gl 2:6; 6:3 37After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. # Lit and drew people after him That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered. 38And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; # Mt 15:17; Mk 11:30 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him. # Pr 21:30; Ac 7:51; 11:17 40After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. # Mt 10:17; Mk 13:9; Ac 4:18 41Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. # Other mss add of Jesus, or of Christ # Mt 5:12; Jn 15:21; 1Pt 4:13 42Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
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