Acts 5
5
Ananias and Sapphira
1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2and with his wife’s knowledge #ver. 3 he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and #ch. 4:35, 37laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has #[Luke 22:3; John 13:2, 27] Satan filled your heart to lie #[ver. 4, 9] to the Holy Spirit and #ver. 2to keep back for yourself 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? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but #[ver. 3, 9]to God.” 5When Ananias heard these words, he #[Ezek. 11:13] fell down and breathed his last. And #ver. 11great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6The young men rose and #[ch. 8:2; Ezek. 29:5; John 19:40]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#5:8 The Greek for you is plural here 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 #[ch. 15:10; 1 Cor. 10:9] to test #[ver. 3, 4]the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And #ver. 5great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Many Signs and Wonders Done
12Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people #ch. 2:43; 4:30; 14:3; 19:11; Mark 16:20; Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4 by the hands of the apostles. And they were all #See ch. 1:14 together in #ch. 3:11; John 10:23Solomon’s Portico. 13None of the rest dared join them, but #ver. 26; ch. 2:47; 4:21the people held them in high esteem. 14And #[ch. 6:1, 2]more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15#[ch. 19:12] so that they even #Mark 6:55, 56 carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by #[2 Kgs. 4:29; Matt. 14:36]at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, #Mark 16:17, 18bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
17But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of #See Matt. 22:23 the Sadducees), and filled with #ch. 13:45; James 3:14, 16; [ch. 7:9; 17:5]jealousy 18they arrested the apostles and #See Luke 21:12put them in the public prison. 19But during the night #See ch. 8:26 an angel of the Lord #ch. 12:10; 16:26opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all #[John 6:63, 68; Phil. 2:16] the words of #[ch. 13:46; 22:4; 28:28] this #ch. 3:15; 11:18Life.” 21And when they heard this, #ver. 25, 42 they entered the temple #[John 8:2]at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24Now when #ver. 26; See ch. 4:1the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison #ver. 21are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26Then #ver. 24 the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for #ver. 13; See ch. 4:21they 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, #ch. 4:18 “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you #ch. 2:23, 36; 3:15; 4:10; 7:52; Matt. 27:25intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, #[ch. 4:19, 20]“We must obey God rather than men. 30#See ch. 3:13 The God of our fathers #See ch. 2:24 raised Jesus, #ch. 10:39; Gal. 3:13; See Luke 24:20 whom you killed by hanging him on #ch. 13:29; 1 Pet. 2:24a tree. 31God exalted #See ch. 2:33 him at his right hand as #See ch. 3:15 Leader and #See Luke 2:11 Savior, #Luke 24:47; See Luke 5:32 to give #ch. 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25; [Rom. 2:4]repentance to Israel and #Luke 24:47; See Luke 5:32 forgiveness of sins. 32And #See Luke 24:48 we are witnesses to these things, and #[ch. 15:28; John 15:26, 27; Heb. 2:4; 1 John 5:7] so is the Holy Spirit, #See ch. 2:4whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33When they heard this, they #ch. 7:54; [ch. 2:37]were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee in the council named #ch. 22:3 Gamaliel, #See Luke 5:17a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36For #[ch. 21:38] before these days Theudas rose up, #ch. 8:9; [Gal. 2:6; 6:3]claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of #[Luke 2:2]the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too 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 #Lam. 3:37if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39but #Prov. 21:30; Isa. 8:9, 10; Nah. 1:9 if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You #2 Chr. 13:12; [ch. 11:17]might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40and #ch. 4:18 when they had called in the apostles, #[ch. 22:19; Mark 13:9; Luke 23:16]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, #1 Pet. 4:13, 14, 16; See Matt. 5:12 rejoicing that they were counted worthy #ch. 9:16; 21:13; [Rom. 1:5]; See John 15:21 to suffer dishonor for #Lev. 24:11, 16; Phil. 2:9; 3 John 7the name. 42And every day, #ch. 2:46 in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and #ch. 8:35; 11:20; 17:18 preaching #See ch. 18:5that the Christ is Jesus.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Acts 5
5
1 BUT A certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property,
2 And with his wife's knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land?
4 As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.
5 Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped up [the body] and carried it out and buried it.
7 Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not having learned of what had happened.
8 And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? Yes, she said, for so much.
9 Then Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed and conspired together to try to deceive the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out [also].
10 And instantly she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men entering found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them].
12 Now by the hands of the apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in the covered porch (walk) called Solomon's.
13 And none of those who were not of their number dared to join and associate with them, but the people held them in high regard and praised and made much of them.
14 More and more there were being added to the Lord those who believed [those who acknowledged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him joined and gathered with them], crowds both of men and of women,
15 So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
16 And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured.
17 But the high priest rose up and all who were his supporters, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and being filled with jealousy and indignation and rage,
18 They seized and arrested the apostles (special messengers) and put them in the public jail.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and, leading them out, said,
20 Go, take your stand in the temple courts and declare to the people the whole doctrine concerning this Life (the eternal life which Christ revealed).
21 And when they heard this, they accordingly went into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now the high priest and his supporters who were with him arrived and called together the council (Sanhedrin), even all the senate of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have [the apostles] brought.
22 But when the attendants arrived there, they failed to find them in the jail; so they came back and reported,
23 We found the prison quite safely locked up and the guards were on duty outside the doors, but when we opened [it], we found no one on the inside.
24 Now when the military leader of the temple area and the chief priests heard these facts, they were much perplexed and thoroughly at a loss about them, wondering into what this might grow.
25 But some man came and reported to them, saying, Listen! The men whom you put in jail are standing [right here] in the temple and teaching the people!
26 Then the military leader went with the attendants and brought [the prisoners], but without violence, for they dreaded the people lest they be stoned by them.
27 So they brought them and set them before the council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined them by questioning,
28 Saying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this Man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree (cross). [Deut. 21:22, 23.]
31 God exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Leader and Savior and Deliverer and Preserver, in order to grant repentance to Israel and to bestow forgiveness and release from sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit is also, Whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.
33 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and infuriated and wanted to kill the disciples.
34 But a certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin) named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while.
35 Then he addressed them [the council, saying]: Men of Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do concerning these men.
36 For before our time there arose Theudas, asserting himself to be a person of importance, with whom a number of men allied themselves, about 400; but he was killed and all who had listened to and adhered to him were scattered and brought to nothing.
37 And after this one rose up Judas the Galilean, [who led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew away a popular following after him; he also perished and all his adherents were scattered.
38 Now in the present case let me say to you, stand off (withdraw) from these men and let them alone. For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail (be overthrown and come to nothing);
39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!
40 So, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.
41 So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.
42 Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah).
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