Acts 5
5
1But a man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, 2and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.
12Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. 14And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, 15so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy 18they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, 20“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught.
Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported, 23“We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside.” 24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25And some one came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30#Deut 21.22-23. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee in the council named Gamali-el, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while. 35And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men. 36For before these days Theudas arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”
40So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41Then they left 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 did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Currently Selected:
Acts 5: RSV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Acts 5
5
Lying to the Holy Spirit
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3#Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21; Eccl. 5:4But Peter said, “Ananias, why has #Matt. 4:10; Luke 22:3; John 13:2, 27Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5Then Ananias, hearing these words, #Ezek. 11:13; Acts 5:10, 11fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6And the young men arose and #John 19:40wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together #Matt. 4:7; Acts 5:3, 4to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10#Ezek. 11:13; Acts 5:5Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11#Acts 2:43; 5:5; 19:17So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Continuing Power in the Church
12And #Acts 2:43; 4:30; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12; (Rom. 15:19); 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. #Acts 3:11; 4:32And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13Yet #John 9:22none of the rest dared join them, #Acts 2:47; 4:21but the people esteemed them highly. 14And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, #Matt. 9:21; 14:36; Acts 19:12that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing #Mark 16:17, 18; (John 14:12)sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Imprisoned Apostles Freed
17#Matt. 3:7; Acts 4:1, 2, 6Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18#Luke 21:12; Acts 4:3; 16:37and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19But at night #Matt. 1:20, 24; 2:13, 19; 28:2; Luke 1:11; 2:9; Acts 12:7; 16:26an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people #(John 6:63, 68; 17:3; 1 John 5:11)all the words of this life.”
21And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. #Acts 4:5, 6But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Apostles on Trial Again
22But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24Now when the high priest, #Luke 22:4; Acts 4:1; 5:26the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, #Matt. 21:26for 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, #Acts 4:17, 18“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, #Acts 2:23, 36and intend to bring this Man’s #Matt. 23:35blood on us!”
29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: #Acts 4:19“We ought to obey God rather than men. 30#Acts 3:13, 15The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by #Acts 10:39; 13:29; (Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24)hanging on a tree. 31#Mark 16:19; (Acts 2:33, 36; Phil. 2:9–11)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be #Acts 3:15; Rev. 1:5Prince and #Matt. 1:21Savior, #Luke 24:47; (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And #John 15:26, 27; Acts 15:28; Rom. 8:16; Heb. 2:4we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit #Acts 2:4; 10:44whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33When they heard this, they were #Acts 2:37; 7:54furious and plotted to kill them. 34Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named #Acts 22:3Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39#Luke 21:15; 1 Cor. 1:25but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found #Acts 7:51; 9:5to fight against God.”
40And they agreed with him, and when they had #Acts 4:18called for the apostles #Matt. 10:17; Mark 13:9; Acts 16:22, 23; 21:32; 2 Cor. 11:25and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41So they departed from the presence of the council, #Matt. 5:10–12; Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 12:10; Heb. 10:34; (James 1:2; 1 Pet. 4:13–16)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42And daily #Acts 2:46in the temple, and in every house, #Acts 4:20, 29they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.