Common English Bible CEB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
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A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property.
2 With his wife's knowledge, he withheld some of the proceeds from the sale. He brought the rest and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles.
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They agreed to hold back some of the money [they had pledged] and turned only part of it over to the apostles.
3 Peter asked, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has influenced you to lie to the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from the sale of your land?
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Peter asked, "Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you could deceive the Holy Spirit? You've held back some of the money you received for the land.
4 Wasn't that property yours to keep? After you sold it, wasn't the money yours to do with whatever you wanted? What made you think of such a thing? You haven't lied to other people but to God!"
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While you had the land, it was your own. After it was sold, you could have done as you pleased with the money. So how could you do a thing like this? You didn't lie to people but to God!"
5 When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified.
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When Ananias heard Peter say this, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard about his death was terrified.
6 Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.
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Some young men got up, wrapped his body in a sheet, carried him outside, and buried him.
7 About three hours later, his wife entered, but she didn't know what had happened to her husband.
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About three hours later Ananias' wife arrived. She didn't know what had happened.
8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you and your husband receive this price for the field?" She responded, "Yes, that's the amount."
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So Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for that price?" She answered, "Yes, that was the price."
9 He replied, "How could you scheme with each other to challenge the Lord's Spirit? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too."
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Then Peter said to her, "How could you and your husband agree to test the Lord's Spirit? Those who buried your husband are standing at the door, and they will carry you outside for burial."
10 At that very moment, she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men entered and found her dead, they carried her out and buried her with her husband.
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Immediately, she dropped dead in front of Peter. When the young men came back, they found Sapphira dead. So they carried her outside and buried her next to her husband.
11 Trepidation and dread seized the whole church and all who heard what had happened.
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The whole church and everyone else who heard about what had happened were terrified.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. They would come together regularly at Solomon's Porch.
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The people saw the apostles perform many miracles and do amazing things. The believers had a common faith in Jesus as they met on Solomon's Porch.
13 No one from outside the church dared to join them, even though the people spoke highly of them.
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None of the other people dared to join them, although everyone spoke highly of them.
14 Indeed, more and more believers in the Lord, large numbers of both men and women, were added to the church.
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More men and women than ever began to believe in the Lord.
15 As a result, they would even bring the sick out into the main streets and lay them on cots and mats so that at least Peter's shadow could fall on some of them as he passed by.
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As a result, people carried their sick into the streets. They placed them on stretchers and cots so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some sick people as he went by.
16 Even large numbers of persons from towns around Jerusalem would gather, bringing the sick and those harassed by unclean spirits. Everyone was healed.
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Crowds from the cities around Jerusalem would gather. They would bring their sick and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and each person was cured.
17 The high priest, together with his allies, the Sadducees, was overcome with jealousy.
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The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action
18 They seized the apostles and made a public show of putting them in prison.
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by arresting the apostles and putting them in the city jail.
19 An angel from the Lord opened the prison doors during the night and led them out. The angel told them,
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But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.
20 "Go, take your place in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life."
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The angel told them, "Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life [in Christ]."
21 Early in the morning, they went into the temple as they had been told and began to teach. When the high priest and his colleagues gathered, they convened the Jerusalem Council, that is, the full assembly of Israel's elders. They sent word to the prison to have the apostles brought before them.
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Early in the morning, after they had listened to the angel, the apostles went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is, all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles.
22 However, the guards didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
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When the temple guards arrived at the prison, they didn't find the apostles. The guards came back and reported,
23 "We found the prison locked and well-secured, with guards standing at the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside!"
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"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. However, when we opened the doors, we found no one inside."
24 When they received this news, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were baffled and wondered what might be happening.
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When the officer of the temple guards and the chief priests heard this, they were puzzled about what could have happened.
25 Just then, someone arrived and announced, "Look! The people you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"
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Then someone told them, "The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard. They're teaching the people."
26 Then the captain left with his guards and brought the apostles back. They didn't use force because they were afraid the people would stone them.
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Then the officer of the temple guards went with some of his men to bring back the apostles without using force. After all, the officer and his guards were afraid that the people would stone them to death for using force.
27 The apostles were brought before the council where the high priest confronted them:
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When they brought back the apostles, they made them stand in front of the council. The chief priest questioned them.
28 "In no uncertain terms, we demanded that you not teach in this name. And look at you! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are determined to hold us responsible for this man's death."
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He said, "We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus' name when you teach. Yet, you've filled Jerusalem with your teachings. You want to take revenge on us for putting that man to death."
29 Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than humans!
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Peter and the other apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than people.
30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
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You murdered Jesus by hanging him on a cross. But the God of our ancestors brought him back to life.
31 God has exalted Jesus to his right side as leader and savior so that he could enable Israel to change its heart and life and to find forgiveness for sins.
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God used his power to give Jesus the highest position as leader and savior. He did this to lead the people of Israel to him, to change the way they think and act, and to forgive their sins.
32 We are witnesses of such things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
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We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
33 When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles.
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When the men on the council heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute the apostles.
34 One council member, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law named Gamaliel, well-respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be taken outside for a few moments.
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But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up. He was a highly respected expert in Moses' Teachings. He ordered that the apostles should be taken outside for a little while.
35 He said, "Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you intend to do to these people.
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Then he said to the council, "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you do with these men.
36 Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and some four hundred men joined him. After he was killed, all of his followers scattered, and nothing came of that.
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Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed that he was important, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered. The whole movement was a failure.
37 Afterward, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got some people to follow him in a revolt. He was killed too, and all his followers scattered far and wide.
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"After that man, at the time of the census, Judas from Galilee appeared and led people in a revolt. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered.
38 Here's my recommendation in this case: Distance yourselves from these men. Let them go! If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin.
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"We should keep away from these men for now. We should leave them alone. I can guarantee that if the plan they put into action is of human origin, it will fail.
39 If it originates with God, you won't be able to stop them. Instead, you would actually find yourselves fighting God!" The council was convinced by his reasoning.
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However, if it's from God, you won't be able to stop them. You may even discover that you're fighting against God."
40 After calling the apostles back, they had them beaten. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go.
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The council took his advice. They called the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak about the one named Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name.
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The apostles left the council room. They were happy to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for speaking about Jesus.
42 Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses.
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Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah.
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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.