The Acts 5
5
Ananias and Sapphira
1A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some land. 2But he gave only part of the money to the apostles. He secretly kept some of it for himself. His wife knew about this, and she agreed to it. 3Peter said, “Ananias, why did you let Satan rule your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit. Why did you keep part of the money you received for the land for yourself? 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 men!” 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. She did not know what had happened. 8Peter said to her, “Tell me how much money you got for your field. Was it 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! They will carry you out.” 10At that moment Sapphira fell down by his feet and died. 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.
Proofs from God
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 stand with them. All the people were saying good things about them. 14More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to the group of believers. 15As Peter was passing by, the people brought their sick into the streets. They put their sick on beds and mats so at least Peter’s shadow might fall on them. 16Crowds came from all the towns around Jerusalem. They brought their sick and those who were bothered by evil spirits. All of them were healed.
The Apostles Obey God
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. He led the apostles outside and said, 20“Go and stand in the Temple. Tell the people everything about this new life.” 21When the apostles heard this, they obeyed and went into the Temple. It was early in the morning, and they began to teach.
The high priest and his friends arrived. They called a meeting of the Jewish leaders and all the important older men of the Jews. They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them. 22When the men went to the jail, they could not find the apostles. So they went back and told the Jewish leaders about this. 23They said, “The jail was closed and locked. 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. They wondered, “What will happen because of this?”
25Then someone came and told them, “Listen! The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple. They are 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 that the people would kill them with stones.
27The soldiers brought the apostles to the meeting and made them stand before the Jewish leaders. The high priest questioned them. 28He said, “We gave you strict orders not to go on teaching in that name. But look what you have done! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You are trying to make us responsible for this man’s death.”
29Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not men! 30You killed Jesus. You hung him on a cross. But God, the same God our ancestors had, raised Jesus up from death! 31Jesus is the One whom God raised to be on his right side. God made Jesus our Leader and Savior. God did this so that the people of Israel could change their hearts and lives and have their sins forgiven. 32We saw all these things happen. The Holy Spirit also proves that these things are true. God has given the Spirit to all who obey him.”
33When the Jewish leaders heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill them. 34A 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 to them, “Men of Israel, be careful of what you are planning to do to these men! 36Remember when Theudas appeared? He said that he was a great man, and about 400 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.# Census. A counting of all the people and the things they own. He led a group of followers, too. He was also killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38And so now I tell you: Stay away from these men. Leave them alone. If their plan comes from men, 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 Jewish leaders agreed with what Gamaliel said. 40They called the apostles in again. They beat the apostles 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. 42The apostles did not stop teaching people. Every day in the Temple and in people’s homes they continued to tell the Good News—that Jesus is the Christ.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Acts 5
5
1But a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2and put aside for himself part of the price, his wife also being privy to it; and having brought a certain part, laid it at the feet of the apostles. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lie to the Holy Spirit, and put aside for thyself a part of the price of the estate? 4While it remained did it not remain to thee? and sold, was it not in thine own power? Why is it that thou hast purposed this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God. 5And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired. And great fear came upon all who heard it. 6And the young men, rising up, swathed him up for burial, and having carried him out, buried him. 7And it came to pass about three hours afterwards, that his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8And Peter answered her, Tell me if ye gave the estate for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. 9And Peter said to her, Why is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo, the feet of those that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10And she fell down immediately at his feet and expired. And when the young men came in they found her dead; and, having carried her out, they buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things.
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders done among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch, 13but of the rest durst no man join them, but the people magnified them; 14and believers were more than ever added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;) 15so that they brought out the sick into the streets and put them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came, might overshadow some one of them. 16And the multitude also of the cities round about came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons and persons beset by unclean spirits, who were all healed.
17And the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, were filled with wrath, 18and laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said, 20Go ye and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21And when they heard it, they entered very early into the temple and taught. And when the high priest was come, and they that were with him, they called together the council and all the elderhood of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22And when the officers were come, they did not find them in the prison; and returned and reported 23saying, We found the prison shut with all security, and the keepers standing at the doors; but when we had opened them, within we found no one. 24And when they heard these words, both the priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests were in perplexity as to them, what this would come to. 25And some one coming reported to them, Lo, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.
26Then the captain, having gone with the officers, brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27And they bring them and set them in the council. And the high priest asked them, 28saying, We strictly enjoined you not to teach in this name: and lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and purpose to bring upon us the blood of this man. 29But Peter answering, and the apostles, said, God must be obeyed rather than men. 30The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom ye have slain, having hanged on a cross. 31Him has God exalted by his right hand as leader and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, which God has given to those that obey him. 33But they, when they heard these things, were cut to the heart, and took counsel to kill them. 34But a certain man, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in honour of all the people, rose up in the council, and commanded to put the men out for a short while, 35and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as regards these men what ye are going to do; 36for before these days Theudas rose up, alleging himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, were joined; who was slain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. 37After him rose Judas the Galilean in the days of the census, and drew away a number of people after him; and he perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work have its origin from men, it will be destroyed; 39but if it be from God, ye will not be able to put them down, lest ye be found also fighters against God. 40And they listened to his advice; and having called the apostles, they beat them, and enjoined them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. 41They therefore went their way from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonoured for the name. 42And every day, in the temple and in the houses, they ceased not teaching and announcing the glad tidings that Jesus was the Christ.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.