English Standard Version ESV
Common English Bible CEB
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
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However, a man named Ananias, along with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
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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.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
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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?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God. ”
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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!"
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
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When Ananias heard these words, he dropped dead. Everyone who heard this conversation was terrified.
6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
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Some young men stood up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
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About three hours later, his wife entered, but she didn't know what had happened to her husband.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. ” And she said, “Yes, for so much. ”
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Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you and your husband receive this price for the field?" She responded, "Yes, that's the amount."
9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test 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. ”
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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."
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
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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.
11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
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Trepidation and dread seized the whole church and all who heard what had happened.
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
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The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. They would come together regularly at Solomon's Porch.
13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
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No one from outside the church dared to join them, even though the people spoke highly of them.
14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
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Indeed, more and more believers in the Lord, large numbers of both men and women, were added to the church.
15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
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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.
16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
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Even large numbers of persons from towns around Jerusalem would gather, bringing the sick and those harassed by unclean spirits. Everyone was healed.
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy
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The high priest, together with his allies, the Sadducees, was overcome with jealousy.
18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
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They seized the apostles and made a public show of putting them in prison.
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
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An angel from the Lord opened the prison doors during the night and led them out. The angel told them,
20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life. ”
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"Go, take your place in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life."
21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
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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.
22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,
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However, the guards didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside. ”
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"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!"
24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
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When they received this news, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were baffled and wondered what might be happening.
25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. ”
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Just then, someone arrived and announced, "Look! The people you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"
26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
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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.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
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The apostles were brought before the council where the high priest confronted them:
28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. ”
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"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."
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
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Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than humans!
30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
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The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
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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.
32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. ”
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We are witnesses of such things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
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When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles.
34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.
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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.
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.
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He said, "Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you intend to do to these people.
36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
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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.
37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
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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.
38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
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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.
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! ” So they took his advice,
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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.
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
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After calling the apostles back, they had them beaten. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go.
41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
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The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
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Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible