Chapter 5

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

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

2 and 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.

3 But 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 control? Why is it that you have 2conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ato God.”

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

6 The young men got up and acovered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

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

8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land 1afor such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, 1that was the price.”

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

10 And 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.

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

12 1At the hands of the apostles many asigns and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in bSolomon’s portico.

13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, athe people held them in high esteem.

14 And all the more abelievers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly badded to their number,

15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by aat least his shadow might fall on any one of them.

16 Also the 1people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick 2or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is athe sect of bthe Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.

18 They laid hands on the apostles and aput them in a public jail.

19 But during the night aan angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,

20 “Go, stand and 1speak to the people in the temple 2athe whole message of this Life.”

21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple aabout daybreak and began to teach.

Now when bthe high priest and his associates came, they called cthe 1Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

22 But athe officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,

23 saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.”

24 Now when athe captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what 1would come of this.

25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

26 Then athe captain went along with bthe officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for cthey were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

27 When they had brought them, they stood them 1before athe Council. The high priest questioned them,

28 saying, “We gave you astrict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and 1yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and bintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “aWe must obey God rather than men.

30 “aThe God of our fathers braised up Jesus, 1whom you had cput to death by hanging Him on a 2cross.

31 “aHe is the one whom God exalted 1to His right hand as a 2bPrince and a cSavior, to grant drepentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

32 “And we are awitnesses 1of these things; and bso is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

33 But when they heard this, they were acut 1to the quick and intended to kill them.

34 But a Pharisee named aGamaliel, a bteacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in cthe Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.

36 “For some time ago Theudas rose up, aclaiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. 1But he was killed, and all who 2followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

37 “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of athe census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who 1followed him were scattered.

38 “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or 1action ais of men, it will be overthrown;

39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found afighting against God.”

40 They 1took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they aflogged them and ordered them not to 2speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.

41 So they went on their way from the presence of the 1aCouncil, brejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame cfor His name.

42 aAnd every day, in the temple and 1from house to house, they 2kept right on teaching and 3bpreaching Jesus as the 4Christ.