Acts 5

¹Now a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a property,

²and he kept back from the proceeds, also the wife being aware of it, and having brought a certain portion, he laid it at the feet of the apostles.

³But Peter said, “Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart for you to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back from the proceeds of the land?

⁴Remaining, did it not remain yours? And having been sold, was it not in your own authority? Why did you purpose this deed in your heart? You did not lie to men but to God!”

⁵And hearing these words, Ananias, having fallen down, breathed his last. And great fear came upon all those hearing.

⁶And the young ones, having arisen, wrapped him up, and having carried him out, buried him.

⁷Now it came to pass about three hours afterward that his wife also came in, not knowing that having happened.

⁸And Peter responded to her, “Tell me if you sold the land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”

⁹But Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those having buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

¹⁰And immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men, having come in, found her dead; and having carried her out, they buried her by her husband.

¹¹And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all those hearing these things.

¹²Now by the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were happening among the people, and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Colonnade.

¹³Now none of the rest dared to join them, but the people were magnifying them.

¹⁴And more believing in the Lord were added, multitudes of both men and women,

¹⁵so as even to bring out the sick into the streets and to put them on cots and mats, so that of Peter coming, at least the shadow might envelop some of them.

¹⁶Now the multitude from the cities surrounding Jerusalem also were coming together, bringing the sick and those being tormented by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

¹⁷But the high priest, having risen up, and all those with him, being the sect of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy,

¹⁸and they laid the hands on the apostles and put them in the public jail.

¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord, having opened the doors of the jail and having brought them out, said,

²⁰“Go, and having stood in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this life.”

²¹And having heard, they entered into the temple at the dawn and were teaching. Now the high priest having come, and those with him, they called together the Council—even all the senate of the sons of Israel—and they sent to the prison house to bring them.

²²But the officers, having come, did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported back,

²³saying, “We found the prison house shut with all security and the guards standing before the doors; but having opened them, we found no one inside.”

²⁴Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, what this might be.

²⁵And a certain one, having come, reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶Then the captain, having gone with the officers, was bringing them, not with force—for they were afraid of the people, lest they might be stoned.

²⁷And having brought them, they set them in the Council. And the high priest questioned them,

²⁸saying, “By a charge we commanded you not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring upon us the blood of this man.”

²⁹But Peter and the apostles, answering, said, “It is necessary to obey God rather than men.

³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, having hanged Him on a tree.

³¹God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

³²And we are witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those obeying Him.”

³³And having heard, they were cut, and they were intending to put them to death.

³⁴But a certain man having risen up in the Council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, commanded them to put the men outside for a short while.

³⁵And he said to them, “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves what you are about to do with these men.

³⁶For before these days, Theudas rose up, affirming himself to be somebody—to whom a number of men, about four hundred, were joined—who was put to death, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were dispersed; and it came to nothing.

³⁷After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the registration and drew away people after him. And he perished, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were scattered.

³⁸And now I say to you, withdraw from these men and let them alone, for if this purpose or this work may be from men, it will be overthrown.

³⁹But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest perhaps you would be found fighting against God.”

⁴⁰And they were persuaded by him. And having summoned the apostles, having beaten them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and they released them.

⁴¹Therefore they indeed departed from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.

⁴²And every day, in the temple and in the house, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.