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.

1But a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of land,

2And by fraud kept back part of the price of the land, his wife being privy thereunto: and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles.

3But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and by fraud keep part of the price of the land?

4Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.

5And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it.

6And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him.

7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

8And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much.

9And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.

10Immediately she fell down before his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in, found her dead: and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.

11And there came great fear upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.

12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

13But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them; but the people magnified them.

14And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord, was more increased:

15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.

16And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits; who were all healed.

17Then the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him, (which is the heresy of the Sadducees,) were filled with envy.

18And they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19But an angel of the Lord by night opening the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said:

20Go, and standing speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21Who having heard this, early in the morning, entered into the temple, and taught. And the high priest coming, and they that were with him, called together the council, and all the ancients of the children of Israel; and they sent to the prison to have them brought.

22But when the ministers came, and opening the prison, found them not there, they returned and told,

23Saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the doors; but opening it, we found no man within.

24Now when the officer of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what would come to pass.

25But one came and told them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple standing, and teaching the people.

26Then went the officer with the ministers, and brought them without violence; for 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: Commanding we commanded you, that you should not teach in this name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us.

29But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men.

30The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.

31Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

32And we are witnesses of these things and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey him.

33When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they thought to put them to death.

34But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.

35And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.

36For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all that believed him were scattered, and brought to nothing.

37After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed.

38And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought;

39But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.

40And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus; and they dismissed them.

41And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.

42And every day they ceased not in the temple, and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.