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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Acts 5
5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a field,
2 and he was deceitful about the price of the field, with his wife's consent. And bringing only part of it, he placed it at the feet of the Apostles.
3 But Peter said: "Ananias, why has Satan tempted your heart, so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and be deceitful about the price of the land?
4 Did it not belong to you while you retained it? And having sold it, was it not in your power? Why have you set this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!"
5 Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired. And a great fear overwhelmed all who heard of it.
6 And the young men rose up and removed him; and carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Then about the space of three hours passed, and his wife entered, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter said to her, "Tell me, woman, if you sold the field for this amount?" And she said, "Yes, for that amount."
9 And Peter said to her: "Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out!"
10 Immediately, she fell down before his feet and expired. Then the young men entered and found her dead. And they carried her out and buried her next to her husband.
11 And a great fear came over the entire Church and over all who heard these things.
12 And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were accomplished among the people. And they all met with one accord at Solomon's portico.
13 And among the others, no one dared to join himself to them. But the people magnified them.
14 Now the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was ever increasing,
15 so much so that they laid the infirm in the streets, placing them on beds and stretchers, so that, as Peter arrived, at least his shadow might fall upon any one of them, and they would be freed from their infirmities.
16 But a multitude also hurried to Jerusalem from the neighboring cities, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, who were all healed.
17 Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy.
18 And they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed them in the common prison.
19 But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,
20 "Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of life."
21 And when they had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them,
23 saying: "We found the prison certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within."
24 Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen.
25 But someone arrived and reported to them, "Behold, the men whom you placed in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people."
26 Then the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
28 and said: "We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us."
29 But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: "It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.
30 The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree.
31 It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.
32 And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him."
33 When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death.
34 But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly.
35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men.
36 For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced to nothing.
37 After this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed.
38 And now therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken.
39 Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God." And they agreed with him.
40 And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.
41 And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus.
42 And every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus.
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