Acts 5

The Judgment of Ananias and Sapphira

1Now, a man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, # 5:1 The Aramaic can be translated “Ananias, together with his wife, who was famous for her beauty.” The Aramaic name Shapeera means “beauty.” likewise sold their farm. 2They conspired to secretly keep back for themselves a portion of the proceeds. So when Ananias brought the money to the apostles, it was only a portion of the entire sale. 3God revealed their secret to Peter, # 5:3 With supernatural discernment, God revealed to Peter what had happened. The words “pretended to give it all” are not in the original text, but supplied because of the inference of the words “lie to the Holy Spirit.” The true sin was more than simply telling Peter a lie, but lying to the Holy Spirit. so he said to him, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your heart and make you think you could lie to the Holy Spirit? You only pretended to give it all, yet you hid back part of the proceeds from the sale of your property to keep for yourselves. 4Before you sold it, wasn’t it yours to sell or to keep? And after you sold it, wasn’t the money entirely at your disposal? How could you plot such a thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to people; you’ve lied to God!” # 5:4 The Aramaic can be translated “You are not a phony with just men, but with God.”

5The moment Ananias heard those words, he fell over dead. Everyone was terrified when they heard what had happened. 6Some young men came in and removed the body and buried him.

7Three hours later, his wife came into the room, with no clue what had happened to her husband.

8Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the sale of your land?”

Sapphira said, “Yes, that’s how much it was.”

9Peter told her, “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? # 5:9 The Aramaic is “the Spirit of the Lord Yahweh.” I hear the footsteps of those who buried your husband at the door—they’re coming here to bury you too!” 10At that moment she dropped dead at Peter’s feet.

When the young men came in, she was already dead, so they carried her out and buried her next to her husband. 11The entire church was seized with a powerful sense of the fear of God, # 5:11 Or “mega-fear fell on the church.” which came over all who heard what had happened.

The Apostles Perform Miracles, Signs, and Wonders

12The apostles performed many signs, wonders, and miracles among the people. 13And the believers were wonderfully united as they met regularly in the temple courts in the area known as Solomon’s Porch. No one dared harm them, # 5:13 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “No one else dared join them,” which is somewhat confusing because of the next verse. for everyone held them in high regard.

14Continually more and more people believed in the Lord # 5:14 The Aramaic is “the Lord Yahweh.” and were added to their number—great crowds of both men and women. 15In fact, when people knew Peter was going to walk by, they carried the sick out to the streets and laid them down on cots and mats, knowing the incredible power emanating from him would overshadow them and heal them. # 5:15 The Greek word translated “overshadow” is episkiazo, which is used exclusively for the power of the Almighty “overshadowing,” such as with Mary, who conceived a child supernaturally by God. It is also used for the cloud that overshadowed Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. See Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 1:35. This was not a natural shadow created by the light of the sun, but the supernatural overshadowing of God’s power coming upon the sick to bring healing. 16Great numbers of people swarmed into Jerusalem from the nearby villages. They brought with them the sick and those troubled by demons—and everyone was healed!

The Apostles Persecuted

17The high priest and his officials, who formed the party of the Sadducees, became extremely jealous over all that was happening, 18so they had the apostles arrested, placed in chains, # 5:18 As translated from the Aramaic. and thrown into jail. 19But during the night, the Lord # 5:19 The Aramaic is “Lord Yahweh.” sent an angel who appeared before them. He supernaturally opened their prison doors and brought the apostles outside. 20“Go,” the angel told them. “Stand in the temple courts and preach the words that bring life!” 21So early that morning they entered the temple courts and taught the people. The high priest and his officials, unaware of their supernatural release from prison, convened the members of the supreme council. # 5:21 Or “the Sanhedrin.” They sent for the apostles to be brought to them from prison. 22But when the officers came to the prison cell, it was empty! They returned to the council and informed them, 23“We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing by their cell, but when we opened the door, there was no one inside!”

24When the captain of the temple guard and the leading priests heard this report, they were perplexed and at a loss over what to make of it.

25Someone came and informed them, “The men you put in prison are out there standing in the temple courts, teaching the people!”

26So the captain of the temple guard and his officers went to arrest them once again, but without using force, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

27When they brought them before the council, the high priest demanded an explanation, 28saying, “Didn’t we strictly warn you that you were to never again teach in this name? But instead you have now filled all of Jerusalem with this doctrine and are committed to holding us responsible for this man’s death!” # 5:28 Or “bringing [the guilt of] this man’s blood on us.”

29Peter and the apostles replied, “We must listen to and obey God more than pleasing religious leaders. 30You had Jesus arrested and killed by crucifixion, # 5:30 Or “by hanging him on a tree,” an Aramaic idiom for crucifixion. See Deut. 21:22–23. but the God of our forefathers # 5:30 See Ex. 3:15. has raised him up. 31He’s the one God has exalted and seated at his right hand as our Savior and Champion. # 5:31 Or “Prince.” He is the provider of grace as the Redeemer of Israel. # 5:31 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “He gives repentance and removal of sins to Israel.” 32We are witnesses of these things, # 5:32 Or “words.” This is the Greek word rhema. and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God freely gives to all who believe in him.” # 5:32 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “to those who hear and obey him.”

33When they heard this, they were infuriated and determined to murder them. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a noted religious professor who was highly respected by all, stood up. He gave orders to send the apostles outside. 35Then he said to the council, “Men of Israel, you need to be very careful about how you deal with these men. 36Some time ago there was a man named Theudas who rose up claiming to be somebody. He had a following of about four hundred men, but when he was killed, all of his followers were scattered, and nothing came of it.

37“After him, in the days of the census, # 5:37 Or “registration for the Roman tax.” another man rose up, Judas the Galilean, who got people to follow him in a revolt. He too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38So in this situation, you should just leave these men to themselves. For if this plan or undertaking originates with men, it will fade away and come to nothing. 39But if this movement is of God, you won’t be able to stop it. And you might discover that you were fighting God all along!”

Gamaliel’s words convinced the council. 40So they brought the apostles back in and had them severely beaten. They ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus and then let them go.

41The apostles left there rejoicing, thrilled that God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42And nothing stopped them! They kept preaching every day in the temple courts and went from house to house, preaching the gospel of Jesus, God’s Anointed One!

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Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira

1There was a man named Ananias. His wife’s name was Sapphira. Ananias sold some land he had, 2but he gave only part of the money to the apostles. He secretly kept some of the money for himself. His wife knew this, and she agreed with it.

3Peter said, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your mind with such an idea? You kept part of the money for yourself and lied about it to the Holy Spirit! 4Before you sold the field, it belonged to you, right? And even after you sold it, you could have used the money any way you wanted. How could you even think of doing such a thing? You lied to God, not to us!”

5-6When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Some young men came and wrapped his body. They carried it out and buried it. And everyone who heard about this was filled with fear.

7About three hours later his wife came in. Sapphira did not know about what had happened to her husband. 8Peter said to her, “Tell me how much money you got for your field. Was it this much?”

Sapphira answered, “Yes, that was all we got for the field.”

9Peter said to her, “Why did you and your husband agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! Do you hear those footsteps? The men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out in the same way.” 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 other people who heard about this were filled with fear.

Proofs From God

12The apostles were given the power to do many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. They were together in Solomon’s Porch, and they all had the same purpose. 13None of the other people dared to stand with the apostles, but everyone was saying wonderful things about them. 14More and more people believed in the Lord, and many men and women were added to the group of believers. 15So the people brought those who were sick into the streets and put them on little beds and mats. They were hoping that Peter’s shadow might fall on them as he walked by. 16People came from all the towns around Jerusalem. They brought those who were sick or troubled by evil spirits. All of them were healed.

The Apostles Are Arrested

17The high priest and all his friends, a group called the Sadducees, became very jealous. 18They grabbed the apostles and put them in jail. 19But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail. The angel led the apostles outside and said, 20“Go and stand in the Temple area. Tell the people everything about this new life.” 21When the apostles heard this, they did what they were told. They went into the Temple area about sunrise and began to teach the people.

The high priest and his friends came together and called a meeting of the high council and all the older Jewish leaders. 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 there. 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!” 24The captain of the Temple guards and the leading priests heard this. They were confused and wondered what it all meant.

25Then another man came and told them, “Listen! The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple area teaching the people.” 26The captain and his men went out and brought the apostles back. But the soldiers did not use force, because they were afraid of the people. They were afraid the people would stone them to death.

27The soldiers brought the apostles in and made them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them. 28He said, “We told you never again to teach using that name.#5:28 that name That is, Jesus’ name. The Jewish leaders avoided saying his name. See Acts 4:17, 18. But look at what you have done! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are trying to blame us for his death.”

29Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God, not you! 30You killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. But God, the same God our fathers had, raised Jesus up from death. 31Jesus is the one God honored by giving him a place at his right side. He made him our Leader and Savior. God did this to give all the people of Israel the opportunity to change and turn to God to have their sins forgiven. 32We saw all these things happen, and we can say that they are true. The Holy Spirit also shows that these things are true. God has given this Spirit to all those who obey him.”

33When the council members heard this, they became very angry. They began to plan a way to kill the apostles. 34But one member of the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, stood up. He was a teacher of the law, and all the people respected him. He told the men to make the apostles leave the meeting for a few minutes. 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 he was an important man, and about 400 men joined him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and ran away. They were not able to do anything. 37Later, during the time of the census, a man named Judas came from Galilee. Many people joined his group, but 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 is something they thought up, 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 them and told them not to speak anymore using the name of Jesus. Then they let them go free. 41The apostles left the council meeting. They were happy because they were given the honor of suffering dishonor for Jesus. 42The apostles did not stop teaching the people. They continued to tell the Good News—that Jesus is the Messiah. They did this every day in the Temple area and in people’s homes.

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