Acts 5
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.
Currently Selected:
Acts 5: ERV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Acts 5
5
Ananias and Sapphira
1Now a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2#Ac 4:37He kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet.
3#Jn 13:2; 13:27Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to deceive the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4#Ac 5:3While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And when it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why have you conceived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to men, but to God.”
5#Ac 5:10–11; 2:43On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came on all those who heard these things. 6#Jn 19:40The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for this amount?”
She said, “Yes, for that much.”
9#Ac 5:3–4; 1Co 10:9Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to 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.”
10At once she fell down at his feet and died. Upon entering, the young men found her dead and carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11#Ac 5:5; 19:17Great fear came on the entire church and on all those who heard these things.
Signs and Wonders
12#Ac 3:11; Jn 10:23Many signs and wonders were performed among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Porch. 13#Ac 2:47; 4:21No one else dared join them, but the people respected them. 14#Ac 2:47Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, crowds of both men and women, 15#Mt 14:36so that they even brought the sick out into the streets and placed them on beds and mats, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might touch some of them. 16#Mk 16:17–18Crowds also came out of the cities surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were afflicted by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
Persecution of the Apostles
17#Ac 7:9; 13:45Then the high priest and all those who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees) rose up and were filled with jealousy. 18#Ac 4:3; Lk 21:12They seized the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19#Ac 8:26; 16:26But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out, and said, 20#Jn 6:63; 6:68“Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
21#Jn 8:2Having heard this, they entered the temple at dawn and taught.
But the high priest and those who were with him came and called together the Sanhedrin and the senate of all the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought out. 22But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23“We found the prison securely shut and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened it, we found no one inside.” 24#Ac 4:1; 5:26Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they were in doubt of what might become of this.
25Then one came and told them, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26#Ac 5:13; 4:21Then the captain with his escorts went and brought them, without force lest they should be stoned, for they feared the people.
27When they had brought them, they stood them before the Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them, 28#Mt 27:25; Ac 7:52saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? Yet now you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring on us this Man’s blood.”
29#Ac 4:19Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30#Ac 10:39; Gal 3:13The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging on a tree. 31#Lk 24:47; 2:11; Ac 2:33God exalted this Man to His right hand to be a Ruler and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32#Jn 15:26–27; Ac 2:4We are His witnesses to these words, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
33#Ac 2:37; 7:54When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and took counsel to kill them. 34#Ac 22:3; Lk 2:46But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, stood and ordered the apostles to be put outside for a little while. 35Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do concerning these men. 36#Ac 8:9; 21:38For in previous days Theudas rose up, boasting to be somebody, to whom a number of about four hundred men joined themselves. He was killed, and all who obeyed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37#Lk 2:1–2After Theudas, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away many people after him. This man also perished, and all who obeyed him were scattered. 38#La 3:37; Mt 15:13Now I tell you, keep away from these men and leave them alone, because if this intention or this activity is of men, it will come to nothing. 39#Pr 21:30; Ac 7:51But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest perhaps you be found even fighting against God.”
40#Mt 10:17; Mk 13:9They agreed with him. When they had called in the apostles, they beat them, and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
41#Jn 15:21Then they departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42#Ac 2:46; 8:35Daily, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Military Bible Association