Acts

Ananias and Sapphira

1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.

2With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

4Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

5On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

6Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.

8“Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”

9“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

12The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

13Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.

14Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.

15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

16Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

17Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out

18and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

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

20“Go, stand in the temple courtsand tell the people the full message of this new life.”

21At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:

23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.

25Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”

26At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.

27They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

28“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.

31God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

33When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolvedto put the apostles to death.

34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.

35“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.

36Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

38So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.

39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

42Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

1And a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2and did keep back of the price — his wife also knowing — and having brought a certain part, at the feet of the apostles he laid [it].

3And Peter said, 'Ananias, wherefore did the Adversary fill thy heart, for thee to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back of the price of the place?

4while it remained, did it not remain thine? and having been sold, in thy authority was it not? why [is] it that thou didst put in thy heart this thing? thou didst not lie to men, but to God;'

5and Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, did expire, and great fear came upon all who heard these things,

6and having risen, the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth, they buried [him].

7And it came to pass, about three hours after, that his wife, not knowing what hath happened, came in,

8and Peter answered her, 'Tell me if for so much ye sold the place;' and she said, 'Yes, for so much.'

9And Peter said unto her, 'How was it agreed by you, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? lo, the feet of those who did bury thy husband [are] at the door, and they shall carry thee forth;'

10and she fell down presently at his feet, and expired, and the young men having come in, found her dead, and having carried forth, they buried [her] by her husband;

11and great fear came upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things.

12And through the hands of the apostles came many signs and wonders among the people, and they were with one accord all in the porch of Solomon;

13and of the rest no one was daring to join himself to them, but the people were magnifying them,

14(and the more were believers added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,)

15so as into the broad places to bring forth the ailing, and to lay [them] upon couches and mats, that at the coming of Peter, even [his] shadow might overshadow some one of them;

16and there were coming together also the people of the cities round about to Jerusalem, bearing ailing persons, and those harassed by unclean spirits — who were all healed.

17And having risen, the chief priest, and all those with him — being the sect of the Sadducees — were filled with zeal,

18and laid their hands upon the apostles, and did put them in a public prison;

19and a messenger of the Lord through the night opened the doors of the prison, having also brought them forth, he said,

20'Go on, and standing, speak in the temple to the people all the sayings of this life;'

21and having heard, they did enter at the dawn into the temple, and were teaching. And the chief priest having come, and those with him, they called together the sanhedrim and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have them brought,

22and the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told,

23saying — 'The prison indeed we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, and having opened — within we found no one.'

24And as the priest, and the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these words, they were doubting concerning them to what this would come;

25and coming near, a certain one told them, saying — 'Lo, the men whom ye did put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people;'

26then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

27and having brought them, they set [them] in the sanhedrim, and the chief priest questioned them,

28saying, 'Did not we strictly command you not to teach in this name? and lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and ye intend to bring upon us the blood of this man.'

29And Peter and the apostles answering, said, 'To obey God it behoveth, rather than men;

30and the God of our fathers did raise up Jesus, whom ye slew, having hanged upon a tree;

31this one God, a Prince and a Saviour, hath exalted with His right hand, to give reformation to Israel, and forgiveness of sins;

32and we are His witnesses of these sayings, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God gave to those obeying him.'

33And they having heard, were cut [to the heart], and were taking counsel to slay them,

34but a certain one, having risen up in the sanhedrim — a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a teacher of law honoured by all the people — commanded to put the apostles forth a little,

35and said unto them, 'Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what ye are about to do,

36for before these days rose up Theudas, saying, that himself was some one, to whom a number of men did join themselves, as it were four hundred, who was slain, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered, and came to nought.

37'After this one rose up, Judas the Galilean, in the days of the enrolment, and drew away much people after him, and that one perished, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered;

38and now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone, because if this counsel or this work may be of men, it will be overthrown,

39and if it be of God, ye are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps also ye be found fighting against God.'

40And to him they agreed, and having called near the apostles, having beaten [them], they commanded [them] not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go;

41they, indeed, then, departed from the presence of the sanhedrim, rejoicing that for his name they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour,

42every day also in the temple, and in every house, they were not ceasing teaching and proclaiming good news — Jesus the Christ.