Acts 5
5
Lying to the Holy Spirit
1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. # Ac 4:37; 5:3
3Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart # Mt 4:10; Lk 22:3; Jn 13:2,27 to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? 4Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God! ” 5When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. # Ezk 11:13; Ac 5:10-11 6The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. # Ezk 29:5; Jn 19:40; Ac 8:2
7There was an interval of about three hours; then his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8“Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the field for this price? ”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
9Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree 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! ” # Ac 5:3-4; 15:10; 1Co 10:9
10Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. 11Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
Apostolic Signs and Wonders
12Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. # Ac 2:43; 14:3; 19:11; Rm 15:19; 2Co 12:12; Heb 2:4 By common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. # Jn 10:23; Ac 4:21,32 13None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly. # Ac 2:47; 3:11 14Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers — crowds of both men and women. 15As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow # Mt 14:36; Ac 19:12 might fall on some of them. 16In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
In and Out of Prison
17Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. # Ac 4:1; 15:5 18So they arrested # Lit laid hands on the apostles and put them in the city jail. # Lk 21:12; Ac 4:3 19But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, # Mt 1:20; Lk 1:11; Ac 8:26; 12:7; 16:26; 27:23 20“Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.” # Jn 6:63,68; Php 2:16 21In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.
The Apostles on Trial Again
When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin — the full Senate of the sons of Israel — and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. # Mt 5:22; Ac 4:6; 5:27,34,41 22But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported, 23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside! ” 24As # Other mss add the high priest and the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.
25Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people.” 26Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. # Ac 4:21; 5:13 27After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28“Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? # Jn 14:13; Ac 3:16; 1Jn 3:23 And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us! ” # Mt 27:25; Ac 2:23,36; 3:15; 4:10; 7:52
29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, # Ac 2:24; 3:13 whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. # Ac 10:39; 13:29; Gl 3:13; 1Pt 2:24 31God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. # Ac 2:33; 3:15 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit # Lk 24:48; Jn 15:26; Ac 15:28; Heb 2:4 whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. # Ac 2:37; 7:54 34A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men # Other mss read apostles to be taken outside for a little while. # Lk 2:46; 5:17; Ac 22:3 35He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men. 36Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing. # Ac 8:9; Gl 2:6; 6:3 37After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. # Lit and drew people after him That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered. 38And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; # Mt 15:17; Mk 11:30 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him. # Pr 21:30; Ac 7:51; 11:17 40After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. # Mt 10:17; Mk 13:9; Ac 4:18 41Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. # Other mss add of Jesus, or of Christ # Mt 5:12; Jn 15:21; 1Pt 4:13 42Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
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Acts 5: HCSB
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
The Acts 5
5
1But a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2and put aside for himself part of the price, his wife also being privy to it; and having brought a certain part, laid it at the feet of the apostles. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lie to the Holy Spirit, and put aside for thyself a part of the price of the estate? 4While it remained did it not remain to thee? and sold, was it not in thine own power? Why is it that thou hast purposed this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God. 5And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired. And great fear came upon all who heard it. 6And the young men, rising up, swathed him up for burial, and having carried him out, buried him. 7And it came to pass about three hours afterwards, that his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8And Peter answered her, Tell me if ye gave the estate for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. 9And Peter said to her, Why is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo, the feet of those that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10And she fell down immediately at his feet and expired. And when the young men came in they found her dead; and, having carried her out, they buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things.
12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders done among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch, 13but of the rest durst no man join them, but the people magnified them; 14and believers were more than ever added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women;) 15so that they brought out the sick into the streets and put them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came, might overshadow some one of them. 16And the multitude also of the cities round about came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons and persons beset by unclean spirits, who were all healed.
17And the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, were filled with wrath, 18and laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said, 20Go ye and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21And when they heard it, they entered very early into the temple and taught. And when the high priest was come, and they that were with him, they called together the council and all the elderhood of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22And when the officers were come, they did not find them in the prison; and returned and reported 23saying, We found the prison shut with all security, and the keepers standing at the doors; but when we had opened them, within we found no one. 24And when they heard these words, both the priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests were in perplexity as to them, what this would come to. 25And some one coming reported to them, Lo, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.
26Then the captain, having gone with the officers, brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27And they bring them and set them in the council. And the high priest asked them, 28saying, We strictly enjoined you not to teach in this name: and lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and purpose to bring upon us the blood of this man. 29But Peter answering, and the apostles, said, God must be obeyed rather than men. 30The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom ye have slain, having hanged on a cross. 31Him has God exalted by his right hand as leader and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, which God has given to those that obey him. 33But they, when they heard these things, were cut to the heart, and took counsel to kill them. 34But a certain man, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in honour of all the people, rose up in the council, and commanded to put the men out for a short while, 35and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as regards these men what ye are going to do; 36for before these days Theudas rose up, alleging himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, were joined; who was slain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. 37After him rose Judas the Galilean in the days of the census, and drew away a number of people after him; and he perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work have its origin from men, it will be destroyed; 39but if it be from God, ye will not be able to put them down, lest ye be found also fighters against God. 40And they listened to his advice; and having called the apostles, they beat them, and enjoined them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. 41They therefore went their way from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonoured for the name. 42And every day, in the temple and in the houses, they ceased not teaching and announcing the glad tidings that Jesus was the Christ.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.