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Ananias And Sapphira Sell a Property, But Deceive The Church About Their Generosity

But a certain man, Ananias by name, along with his wife Sapphira, sold property. And he kept-back[a] some of the proceeds, his wife also having shared-the-knowledge. And having brought a certain part of it, he laid it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, “Ananias, for what reason did Satan fill your heart that you should lie-to the Holy Spirit and keep-back some of the proceeds of the land? While remaining unsold, was it not remaining yours? And having been sold, was it not within your authority? Why is it that you put this thing in your heart? You did not lie to people, but to God”. And Ananias, hearing these words, having fallen-down, expired. And great fear came upon all the ones hearing it. And having arisen, the younger men wrapped him up. And having carried him out, they buried him. Now an interval of about three hours took place, and his wife came in— not knowing the thing having happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you[b] two sold the land for so much?” And the one said, “Yes, for so much”. And Peter said to her, “Why is it that it was agreed by you two to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold— the feet of the ones having buried your husband are at the door. And they will carry you out”. 10 And she fell at-once at his feet, and expired. And having come in, the young-men found her dead. And having carried her out, they buried her with her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all the ones hearing-of these things.

The Apostles Continue To Speak And Do Miracles. Multitudes Believe. Many Are Healed

12 Now many signs and wonders were taking place through the hands of the apostles among the people. And they were all with-one-accord in the portico[c] of Solomon. 13 But none of the rest[d] was daring to join[e] them, yet the people were magnifying them. 14 And more people believing in the Lord[f] were being added— multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they were even bringing-out the sick into the wide-roads and putting them on little-beds and cots, in order that while Peter was coming, if-even[g] his shadow might overshadow one of them. 16 And the multitude from the cities around Jerusalem was also coming-together, bringing sick ones and ones being troubled by unclean spirits, who all were being cured.

The Jewish Leaders Jail The Apostles Again, But an Angel Lets Them Out

17 And having arisen, the high priest and all the ones with him— the sect[h] of the Sadducees existing there— were filled with jealousy. 18 And they put their hands on the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord— having opened the doors of the prison during the night, and having led them out— said, 20 “Go! And having stood, be speaking in the temple to the people all the words of this life”. 21 And having heard, they entered into the temple at dawn[i] and were teaching.

The Apostles Are Found In The Temple, And Are Brought Before The Sanhedrin

And having arrived, the high priest and the ones with him called together the Sanhedrin— even the whole council-of-elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent-out officers to the jailhouse that they might be brought. 22 But having arrived, the officers did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported, 23 saying that “We found the jailhouse having been locked with all security, and the guards standing at the doors. But having opened, we found no one inside”. 24 And when both the captain of the temple [guard] and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly-perplexed about them as to what this would become. 25 But having arrived, someone reported to them that “Behold— the men whom you put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people”. 26 Then the captain, having gone away with the officers, was bringing them— not with violence (for they were fearing the people, that they might be stoned).

Peter Responds: God Raised Jesus As The Savior of Israel. We Are Witnesses

27 And having brought them, they stood them in the council[j] [chamber]. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Did we not command you with a command not to be teaching on the basis of this name? And behold— you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you intend[k] to bring the blood of this man upon us”. 29 But having responded, Peter and the apostles said, “It-is-necessary to obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus— Whom you murdered, having hung Him on a cross. 31 God exalted this One to His right hand as Leader[l] and Savior, that He might grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things. And so is the Holy Spirit, Whom God gave to the ones obeying Him”. 33 And the ones having heard it were infuriated, and were intending to kill them.

Gamaliel Advises a Wait-And-See Approach. The Apostles Are Beaten And Released

34 But having stood up, a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrin— Gamaliel by name, a Law-teacher honored by all the people— gave-orders to make the men be outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves as to what you are about to do to these men. 36 For before these days, Theudas arose saying that he was somebody, with whom a number of men joined-up (about four-hundred)— who was killed. And all who were being persuaded[m] by him were dispersed, and they became nothing. 37 After this one, Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the registration[n] and drew-away a group-of-people after him. That one also perished, and all who were being persuaded by him were scattered. 38 And as to the things now, I say to you, draw-away from these men and leave them alone. Because if this plan or this work should be from humans, it will be overthrown[o]; 39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them— that you indeed may not perhaps be found to be fighting-against-God”. And they were persuaded by him. 40 And having summoned the apostles, having beaten them, they commanded them not to be speaking on the basis of the name of Jesus, and released them.

The Apostles Rejoice In Their Mistreatment, And Continue Proclaiming Jesus As Messiah

41 So indeed the ones were going from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they were considered-worthy to be dishonored for the[p] Name. 42 And every day, in the temple and house by house, they were not ceasing teaching and announcing-the-good-news as to Jesus, the Christ[q].

Footnotes

  1. Acts 5:2 Or, removed for himself; pilfered (from the donation he had announced).
  2. Acts 5:8 This word is plural.
  3. Acts 5:12 That is, the covered colonnade in the temple where people gathered. In other words, the apostles were publicly violating the command in 4:18.
  4. Acts 5:13 Or, the others. That is, the rest of the people not coming for the signs and wonders; or, the other believers, who did not dare to publicly defy the Jewish leaders in this way.
  5. Acts 5:13 Or, associate with.
  6. Acts 5:14 Or, believing were being added to the Lord.
  7. Acts 5:15 This expresses the people’s hope of being healed.
  8. Acts 5:17 Or, faction, party.
  9. Acts 5:21 The apostles were there when the gates opened.
  10. Acts 5:27 Or, among the Sanhedrin.
  11. Acts 5:28 Or, you are determined, you want.
  12. Acts 5:31 Or, Prince, not in the sense of royalty, but in the sense of ‘leader’. Jesus is our leader, not you.
  13. Acts 5:36 Or, were obeying him.
  14. Acts 5:37 Or, census. This may refer to the census around a.d. 6 after Judea was put under Roman rule.
  15. Acts 5:38 Since Jesus has been killed, like Theudas and Judas, His followers will soon be scattered as theirs were.
  16. Acts 5:41 Or, His.
  17. Acts 5:42 Or, as to Christ Jesus; or, of Jesus as the Christ.

Ananias and Sapphira

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,(A) but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.(B)

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan(C) has so filled your heart(D) that you have lied to the Holy Spirit(E) and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?(F) Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?(G) What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”(H)

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.(I) And great fear(J) seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,(K) and carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”(L)

Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?(M) Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.(N) Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.(O) 11 Great fear(P) seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders(Q) among the people. And all the believers used to meet together(R) in Solomon’s Colonnade.(S) 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.(T) 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.(U) 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.(V) 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.(W)

The Apostles Persecuted

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party(X) of the Sadducees,(Y) were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.(Z) 19 But during the night an angel(AA) of the Lord opened the doors of the jail(AB) and brought them out.(AC) 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”(AD)

21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates(AE) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin(AF)—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.(AG) So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests(AH) were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people(AI) would stone them.

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin(AJ) to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”(AK) he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”(AL)

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!(AM) 30 The God of our ancestors(AN) raised Jesus from the dead(AO)—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.(AP) 31 God exalted him to his own right hand(AQ) as Prince and Savior(AR) that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.(AS) 32 We are witnesses of these things,(AT) and so is the Holy Spirit,(AU) whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were furious(AV) and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,(AW) a teacher of the law,(AX) who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census(AY) and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.(AZ) 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”(BA)

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.(BB) Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing(BC) because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.(BD) 42 Day after day, in the temple courts(BE) and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news(BF) that Jesus is the Messiah.(BG)