Acts 5

Lying to the Holy Spirit

5But 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. ^w

³Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart ^xto 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. ^y6The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. ^z

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!” ^a

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. ^bBy common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. ^c13None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly. ^d14Believers 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 ^emight 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. ^f18So they arrested ^gthe apostles and put them in the city jail. ^h19But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, ⁱ²⁰“Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.” ^j21In 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. ^k22But 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 ^lthe 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. ^m27After 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? ⁿAnd look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!” ^o

²⁹But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, ^pwhom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. ^q31God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ^r32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit ^swhom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ^t34A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men ^uto be taken outside for a little while. ^v35He 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. ^w37After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. ^xThat 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; ^y39but 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. ^z40After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. ^a41Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. ^bc42Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.