Acts 5–6

Lying to the Holy Spirit

5But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. ²And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ^3aBut Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^bSatan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? ⁴While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

⁵Then Ananias, hearing these words, ^cfell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. ⁶And the young men arose and ^dwrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

⁷Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

She said, “Yes, for so much.”

⁹Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together ^eto 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.” ^10fThen immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. ^11gSo great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Continuing Power in the Church

¹²And ^hthrough the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. ⁱAnd they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. ¹³Yet ^jnone of the rest dared join them, ^kbut the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, ^lthat at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing ^msick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Imprisoned Apostles Freed

¹⁷ⁿThen the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with ¹indignation, ^18oand laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹But at night ^pan angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people ^qall the words of this life.”

²¹And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. ^rBut the high priest and those with him came and called the ²council together, with all the ³elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Apostles on Trial Again

²²But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, ²³saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing ⁴outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴Now when ⁵the high priest, ^sthe captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. ²⁵So one came and told them, ⁶saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, ^tfor they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸saying, ^u“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, ^vand intend to bring this Man’s ^wblood on us!”

²⁹But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ^x“We ought to obey God rather than men. ^30yThe God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by ^zhanging on a tree. ^31aHim God has exalted to His right hand to be ^bPrince and ^cSavior, ^dto give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³²And ^ewe are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit ^fwhom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³When they heard this, they were ^gfurious ⁷and plotted to kill them. ³⁴Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named ^hGamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. ³⁵And he said to them: “Men of Israel, ⁸take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, ⁹joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. ³⁷After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. ³⁸And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; ³⁹ⁱbut if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found ^jto fight against God.”

⁴⁰And they agreed with him, and when they had ^kcalled for the apostles ^land beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹So they departed from the presence of the council, ^mrejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for ¹His name. ⁴²And daily ⁿin the temple, and in every house, ^othey did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6Now in those days, ^awhen the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the ^bHellenists, ¹because their widows were neglected ^cin the daily distribution. ²Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ^d“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. ³Therefore, brethren, ^eseek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this ^fbusiness; ⁴but we ^gwill give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, ^ha man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and ⁱPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and ^jNicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, ⁶whom they set before the apostles; and ^kwhen they had prayed, ^lthey laid hands on them.

⁷Then ^mthe word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many ⁿof the priests were obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

⁸And Stephen, full of ²faith and power, did great ^owonders and signs among the people. ⁹Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰And ^pthey were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. ^11qThen they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹²And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. ¹³They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak ³blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; ^14rfor we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.