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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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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