Acts 5
5
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2and 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. 3But 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? 4While 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 hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. 6And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.
7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 9But 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. 10And 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. 11And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
12And 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. 13But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; 14and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women: 15insomuch 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. 16And there also came together the multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
17But 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, 18and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward. 19But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, 20Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life. 21And 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. 22But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, 23saying, 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. 24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow. 25And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people. 26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for 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, 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. 29But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. 31Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them. 34But 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. 35And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do. 36For 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. 37After 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. 38And 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: 39but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God. 40And 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. 41They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. 42And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.
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Acts 5: ASV
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Acts 5
5
Fate of Ananias and Sapphira
1Now a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2and with his wife’s full knowledge [and complicity] he kept back some of the proceeds, bringing only a #5:2 Ananias wanted everyone to think that he had turned over all the money from the sale, so secretly holding some back was essentially embezzling. If he had been honest and told Peter that he had kept some of the money, he would have done nothing wrong.portion of it, and set it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and [secretly] keep back for yourself some of the proceeds [from the sale] of the land? 4As long as it remained [unsold], did it not remain your own [to do with as you pleased]? And after it was sold, was the money not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this act [of hypocrisy and deceit] in your heart? You have not [simply] lied to people, but to God.” 5And hearing these words, Ananias fell down suddenly and died; and great fear and awe gripped those who heard of it. 6And the young men [in the congregation] got up and wrapped up the body, and carried it out and buried it.
7Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter asked her, “Tell me whether you sold your land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9Then Peter said to her, “How could you two have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10And at once she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear and awe gripped the whole church, and all who heard about these things.
12At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders (attesting miracles) were continually taking place among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in [the covered porch called] Solomon’s portico. 13But none of the rest [of the people, the non-believers] dared to associate with them; however, the people were holding them in high esteem and were speaking highly of them. 14More and more believers in the Lord, crowds of men and women, were constantly being added to their number, 15to such an extent that they even carried their sick out into the streets and put them on cots and sleeping pads, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one of them [with healing power]. 16And the people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
Imprisonment and Release
17But the #5:17 This may refer to either Caiaphas (the official high priest) or his father-in-law, Annas (the de facto high priest). See note 4:6.high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy and resentment. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said, 20“Go, stand and continue to tell the people in the temple [courtyards] the whole message of this Life [the eternal life revealed by Christ and found through faith in Him].” 21When they heard this, they went into the temple [courtyards] about daybreak and began teaching.
Now when the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent word to the prison for the apostles to be brought [before them]. 22But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they came back and reported, 23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened [the doors], we found no one inside.” 24Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these things, they were greatly perplexed, wondering what would come of this. 25But someone came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing [right here] in the temple [area], teaching the people!” 26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned).
27So they brought them and presented them before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). The high priest questioned them, 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this #5:28 The reason the Council members refused to refer to Jesus by name is unclear, but may indicate contempt, guilt, or perhaps fear.Man’s blood on us [by accusing us as His murderers].” 29Then Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men [we have no other choice]. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a #5:30 Lit wood.cross [and you are responsible]. [Deut 21:22, 23] 31God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior and Deliverer, in order to grant repentance to Israel, and [to grant] forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Counsel
33Now when they heard this, they were infuriated and they intended to kill the apostles. 34But a Pharisee named #5:34 Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul, was among Gamaliel’s students. See 22:3.Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law [of Moses], highly esteemed by all the people, stood up in the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) and ordered that the men be taken outside for a little while. 35Then he said to the Council, “Men of Israel, be careful in regard to what you propose to do to these men. 36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody [of importance], and a group of about four hundred men allied themselves with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up, [and led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew people after him; he was also killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men [merely human in origin], it will fail and be destroyed; 39but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”
40The Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) took his advice; and after summoning the apostles, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. 41So they left the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy [dignified by indignity] to suffer shame for [the sake of] His name. 42And every single day, in the temple [area] and in homes, they did not stop teaching and telling the good news of Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
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