Acts 5:1-42 (New American Standard)

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and ¹kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's ^afull knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ²laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has ³Satan filled your heart to lie ⁴to the Holy Spirit and to ⁵keep back some of the price of the land ? 4 "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^bunder your control ? Why is it that you have ^cconceived this deed in your heart ? You have not lied to men but ⁶to God." 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias ⁷fell down and breathed his last ; and ⁸great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and ⁹covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. 7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land ^d10for such and such a price ?" And she said, "Yes, ^ethat was the price." 9 Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to ¹¹put ¹²the 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." 10 And immediately she ¹³fell 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. 11 And ¹⁴great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. 12 ^fAt the hands of the apostles many ¹⁵signs and wonders were taking place among the people ; and they were all with one accord in ¹⁶Solomon's portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ¹⁷the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more ¹⁸believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly ¹⁹added to their number, 15 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 ²⁰at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the ^gpeople from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ^hor afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is ²¹the sect of ²²the Sadducees ), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and ²³put them in a public jail. 19 But during the night ²⁴an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 "Go, stand and ⁱspeak to the people in the temple ^j25the whole message of this Life." 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple ²⁶about daybreak and began to teach. Now when ²⁷the high priest and his associates came, they called ²⁸the ^kCouncil together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. 22 But ²⁹the officers who came did not find them in the prison ; and they returned and reported back, 23 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." 24 Now when ³⁰the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^lwould come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people !" 26 Then ³¹the captain went along with ³²the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ³³they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned ). 27 When they had brought them, they stood them ^mbefore ³⁴the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We gave you ³⁵strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ⁿyet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ³⁶intend to bring this man's blood upon us." 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "³⁷We must obey God rather than men. 30 "³⁸The God of our fathers ³⁹raised up Jesus, ^owhom you had ⁴⁰put to death by hanging Him on a ^pcross. 31 "⁴¹He is the one whom God exalted ^qto His right hand as a ^r42Prince and a ⁴³Savior, to grant ⁴⁴repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 "And we are ⁴⁵witnesses ^sof these things ; and ⁴⁶so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Gamaliel's Counsel

33 But when they heard this, they were ⁴⁷cut ^tto the quick and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named ⁴⁸Gamaliel, a ⁴⁹teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ⁵⁰the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 "For some time ago Theudas rose up, ⁵¹claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ^uBut he was killed, and all who ^vfollowed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 "After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of ⁵²the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who ^wfollowed him were scattered. 38 "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ^xaction ⁵³is of men, it will be overthrown ; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ⁵⁴fighting against God." 40 They ^ytook his advice ; and after calling the apostles in, they ⁵⁵flogged them and ordered them not to ^zspeak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the ^aa56Council, ⁵⁷rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ⁵⁸for His name. 42 ⁵⁹And every day, in the temple and ^bbfrom house to house, they ^cckept right on teaching and ^dd60preaching Jesus as the ^eeChrist.