Acts 5

¹But a certain man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. ²With his wife’s full complicity, he misappropriated some of the proceeds for himself; he brought only a portion and laid it at the feet of the apostles. ³Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan occupied your heart so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and misappropriate for yourself some of the proceeds from the field? ⁴While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your own authority? Why is it that you conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to humans, but to God.”

⁵As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶The younger men got up, wrapped him in a shroud, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷Now it happened after an interval of about three hours that his wife came in, not knowing what had occurred. ⁸Peter addressed her: “Tell me, did you sell the field for this much?” She said, “Yes, for that much.” ⁹Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰Immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered, they found her dead; they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹And great fear came upon the whole ekklesia and upon all who heard these things.

¹²Through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were happening among the people. They were all together with one mind in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³None of the rest dared to associate closely with them, yet the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴More than ever, believers were added to the Lord—multitudes of both men and women— ¹⁵so that they even carried the sick out into the wide streets and laid them on small couches and mats, so that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶The multitude from the cities surrounding Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and every one of them was healed.

¹⁷But the High Priest and all those with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees) rose up and were filled with jealous zeal. ¹⁸They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail. ¹⁹But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, ²⁰“Go, stand in the Temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” ²¹Having heard this, they entered the Temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the High Priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Council—the entire Senate of the sons of Israel—and sent to the prison to have the apostles brought out. ²²But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; they returned and reported, ²³“We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴When the Captain of the Temple and the High Priests heard these words, they were utterly perplexed regarding them, wondering what would come of this. ²⁵Then someone arrived and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the Temple and teaching the people!” ²⁶Then the Captain went with the officers and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of the people—that they might be stoned.

²⁷Having brought them, they stood them before the Council. The High Priest questioned them, ²⁸“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, and look! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, “It is necessary to obey God as the ultimate authority rather than humans. ³⁰The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you disposed of by hanging him on a tree. ³¹God exalted this man to his right hand as Inaugurator and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³²And we are witnesses of these matters, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him as their authority.”

³³When they heard this, they were sawn with rage and wanted to execute them. ³⁴But a certain Pharisee in the Council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. ³⁵He said to them, “Men of Israel, take care regarding what you are about to do to these men. ³⁶For before these days, Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men—about four hundred—joined him. He was killed, and all who were persuaded by him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and misled people into following him. That man also perished, and all who were persuaded by him were scattered. ³⁸So in the present case, I tell you: keep away from these men and let them go. Because if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will be overthrown; ³⁹but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—otherwise you might even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. ⁴⁰After calling the apostles in and flogging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. ⁴¹So they went out from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the Name. ⁴²And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and announcing the good news of the Christ, Jesus.