Acts 5

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

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 With 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.

2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3 Then 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?

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4 Did 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!”

4 While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

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

5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

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

6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

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

7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

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

8 Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

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.”

9 But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

10 At 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.

10 She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

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

11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

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

12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

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

13 None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them.

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

14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

15 As 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.

15 They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

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

16 The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

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

17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy

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

18 and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.

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

19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,

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

20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

21 At 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.

21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

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

22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,

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

23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

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

24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.

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

25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

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

26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

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

27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned 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.”

28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

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

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

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

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

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

31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

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

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

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

33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.

34 But 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.

34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

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

35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

36 Some 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.

36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.

37 After 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.

37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

38 So 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.

38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

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

39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

40 At 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.

40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

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

41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

42 Every 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.

42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.