But a man named
Ananias
, with his wife
Sapphira
, sold
a piece
of property
,
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
.
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
?
"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
."
And as he heard these
words
, Ananias
afell
down
and breathed
his last
; and bgreat
fear
came
over
all
who heard
of it.
The young men
got
up and acovered
him up, and after carrying
him out, they buried
him.
Now there elapsed
an interval
of about
three
hours
, and his wife
came
in, not knowing
what had happened
.
And Peter responded
to her, "Tell
me whether
you sold
the land
1 afor such
and such
a price
?" And she said
, "Yes
, 1that was the price
."
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."
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
.
And agreat fear
came
over
the whole
church
, and over
all
who heard
of these
things
.
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
.
But none of the rest
dared
to associate
with them; however
, athe people
held
them in high
esteem
.
And all the more
abelievers
in the Lord
, multitudes
of men
and women
, were constantly badded
to their number,
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.
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
.
But the high priest
rose
up, along
with all
his associates
(that is athe sect
of bthe Sadducees
), and they were filled
with jealousy
.
They laid hands
on the apostles
and aput
them in a public
jail
.
But during the night
aan angel
of the Lord
opened
the gates
of the prison
, and taking
them out he said
,
"Go, stand
and 1speak
to the people
in the temple
2 athe whole
message
of this
Life
."
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
.
But athe officers who came
did not find
them in the prison
; and they returned
and reported
back,
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
."
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
.
But someone came
and reported
to them, "The men
whom
you put
in prison
are standing
in the temple
and teaching
the people
!"
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
).
When they had brought them, they stood
them 1before
athe Council
. The high
priest
questioned
them,
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."
But Peter and the apostles
answered
, " aWe must
obey
God
rather
than
men
.
" aThe God of our fathers
braised
up Jesus
, 1whom
you had cput
to death
by hanging
Him on a 2cross
.
" aHe is the one whom God exalted
1to His right
hand
as a 2 bPrince
and a cSavior
, to grant
drepentance
to Israel
, and forgiveness
of sins
.
"And we are awitnesses 1of these
things
; and bso is the Holy
Spirit
, whom
God
has given
to those
who obey
Him."
But when they heard this, they were acut
1to the quick
and intended
to kill
them.
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
.
And he said to them, "Men
of Israel
, take
care
what
you propose
to do
with these
men
.
"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
.
"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
.
"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
;
but if it is of God
, you will not be able
to overthrow
them; or
else
you may even
be found
afighting
against
God
."
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.
So they went
on their way
from the presence
of the 1 aCouncil
, brejoicing
that they had been considered
worthy
to suffer
shame
cfor His name
.
aAnd every day
, in the temple
and 1from house
to house
, they 2kept
right
on teaching
and 3 bpreaching
Jesus
as the 4Christ
.