Acts of the Apostles 5
5
Pretenders of sharing
1However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2With his wife’s knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. He brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles. 3Peter asked, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land? 4Wasn’t that property yours to keep? After you sold it, wasn’t the money yours to do with whatever you wanted? What made you think of such a thing? You haven’t lied to other people but to God!” 5When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified. 6Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.
7About three hours later, his wife entered, but she didn’t know what had happened to her husband. 8Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you and your husband receive this price for the field?”
She responded, “Yes, that’s the amount.”
9He replied, “How could you scheme with each other to challenge the Lord’s Spirit? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too.” 10At that very moment, she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men entered and found her dead, they carried her out and buried her with her husband. 11Trepidation and dread seized the whole church and all who heard what had happened.
Responses to the church
12The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. They would come together regularly at Solomon’s Porch. 13No one from outside the church dared to join them, even though the people spoke highly of them. 14Indeed, more and more believers in the Lord, large numbers of both men and women, were added to the church. 15As a result, they would even bring the sick out into the main streets and lay them on cots and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow could fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Even large numbers of persons from towns around Jerusalem would gather, bringing the sick and those harassed by unclean spirits. Everyone was healed.
The Jerusalem Council harasses the apostles
17The high priest, together with his allies, the Sadducees, was overcome with jealousy. 18They seized the apostles and made a public show of putting them in prison. 19An angel from the Lord opened the prison doors during the night and led them out. The angel told them, 20“Go, take your place in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life.” 21Early in the morning, they went into the temple as they had been told and began to teach.
When the high priest and his colleagues gathered, they convened the Jerusalem Council, that is, the full assembly of Israel’s elders. They sent word to the prison to have the apostles brought before them. 22However, the guards didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23“We found the prison locked and well-secured, with guards standing at the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside!” 24When they received this news, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were baffled and wondered what might be happening. 25Just then, someone arrived and announced, “Look! The people you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26Then the captain left with his guards and brought the apostles back. They didn’t use force because they were afraid the people would stone them.
27The apostles were brought before the council where the high priest confronted them: 28“In no uncertain terms, we demanded that you not teach in this name. And look at you! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are determined to hold us responsible for this man’s death.”
29Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than humans! 30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God has exalted Jesus to his right side as leader and savior so that he could enable Israel to change its heart and life and to find forgiveness for sins. 32We are witnesses of such things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles. 34One council member, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law named Gamaliel, well-respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be taken outside for a few moments. 35He said, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you intend to do to these people. 36Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and some four hundred men joined him. After he was killed, all of his followers scattered, and nothing came of that. 37Afterward, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got some people to follow him in a revolt. He was killed too, and all his followers scattered far and wide. 38Here’s my recommendation in this case: Distance yourselves from these men. Let them go! If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. 39If it originates with God, you won’t be able to stop them. Instead, you would actually find yourselves fighting God!” The council was convinced by his reasoning. 40After calling the apostles back, they had them beaten. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go. 41The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name. 42Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses.
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Acts of the Apostles 5: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
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.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.