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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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.