Acts 4:32–5:11

Distribution Among Needy Believers

³²And the ¹congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own, but, for them, ^aeverything was common.

³³And ^awith great power the apostles were bearing ^bwitness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

³⁴For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^awould sell them and bring the ¹proceeds of the sales

³⁵and ^alay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^bdistributed to each as any had need.

³⁶Now Joseph, a Levite of ^aCyprian birth, who was also called ^bBarnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^1cEncouragement),

³⁷and who owned a field, sold it and brought the money and ^alaid it at the apostles’ feet.

CHAPTER 5

Ananias and Sapphira

¹But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

²and ^akept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s ¹full knowledge. And bringing a portion of it, he ^blaid it at the apostles’ feet.

³But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^aSatan filled your heart to lie ^bto the Holy Spirit and to ^ckeep back some of the price of the land?

⁴“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ¹under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ^ato God.”

⁵And as he heard these words, Ananias ^afell down and breathed his last; and ^bgreat fear came over all who heard.

⁶And the young men rose up and ^awrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷Now there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

⁸And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you were paid ^athis much for the land?” And she said, “Yes, that much.”

⁹Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^aput ^bthe Spirit of the ¹Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”

¹⁰And immediately she ^afell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

¹¹And ^agreat fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard these things.