1 B ut a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property,

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

2 A nd with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles.

And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3 B ut Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land?

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

4 A s long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And after it was sold, was not at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? You have not lied to men but to God.

While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 U pon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it.

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.

6 A nd the young men arose and wrapped up and carried it out and buried it.

And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

7 N ow after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not having learned of what had happened.

Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 A nd Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? Yes, she said, for so much.

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

9 T hen Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed and conspired together to try to deceive the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.

Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

10 A nd instantly she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men entering found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.

11 A nd the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled.

So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. Continuing Power in the Church

12 N ow by the hands of the apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people. And by common consent they all met together in the covered porch (walk) called Solomon’s.

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

13 A nd none of those who were not of their number dared to join and associate with them, but the people held them in high regard and praised and made much of them.

Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

14 M ore and more there were being added to the Lord those who believed, crowds both of men and of women,

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

15 S o that they kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

16 A nd the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured.

Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Imprisoned Apostles Freed

17 B ut the high priest rose up and all who were his supporters, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and being filled with jealousy and indignation and rage,

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

18 T hey seized and arrested the apostles (special messengers) and put them in the public jail.

and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

19 B ut during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and, leading them out, said,

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

20 G o, take your stand in the temple courts and declare to the people the whole doctrine concerning this Life (the eternal life which Christ revealed).

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

21 A nd when they heard this, they accordingly went into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now the high priest and his supporters who were with him arrived and called together the council (Sanhedrin), even all the senate of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have brought.

And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. Apostles on Trial Again

22 B ut when the attendants arrived there, they failed to find them in the jail; so they came back and reported,

But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported,

23 W e found the prison quite safely locked up and the guards were on duty outside the doors, but when we opened, we found no one on the inside.

saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

24 N ow when the military leader of the temple area and the chief priests heard these facts, they were much perplexed and thoroughly at a loss about them, wondering into what this might grow.

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.

25 B ut some man came and reported to them, saying, Listen! The men whom you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people!

So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

26 T hen the military leader went with the attendants and brought, but without violence, for they dreaded the people lest they be stoned by them.

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

27 S o they brought them and set them before the council (Sanhedrin). And the high priest examined them by questioning,

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

28 S aying, We definitely commanded and strictly charged you not to teach in or about this Name; yet here you have flooded Jerusalem with your doctrine and you intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.

saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

29 T hen Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

30 T he God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree (cross).

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

31 G od exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Leader and Savior and Deliverer and Preserver, in order to grant repentance to Israel and to bestow forgiveness and release from sins.

Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

32 A nd we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit is also, Whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.

And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Gamaliel’s Advice

33 N ow when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and infuriated and wanted to kill the disciples.

When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

34 B ut a certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin) named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while.

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.

35 T hen he addressed them: Men of Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do concerning these men.

And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.

36 F or before our time there arose Theudas, asserting himself to be a person of importance, with whom a number of men allied themselves, about 400; but he was killed and all who had listened to and adhered to him were scattered and brought to nothing.

For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.

37 A nd after this one rose up Judas the Galilean, during the time of the census, and drew away a popular following after him; he also perished and all his adherents were scattered.

After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.

38 N ow in the present case let me say to you, stand off (withdraw) from these men and let them alone. For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail (be overthrown and come to nothing);

And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;

39 B ut if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!

but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

40 S o, convinced by him, they took his advice; and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.

And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 S o they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for His name.

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

42 Y et they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus the Christ (the Messiah).

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.