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

But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property,

2 a nd kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.

And 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.

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

But 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?

4 W hile it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

As 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.

5 A nd as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.

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

6 T he young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

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

7 N ow there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

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

8 A nd Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”

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

9 T hen Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the 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.”

Then 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.

10 A nd immediately she fell 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.

And 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.

11 A nd great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

And the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled.

12 A t the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.

Now 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.

13 B ut none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.

And 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.

14 A nd all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,

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

15 t o 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 at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.

So 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.

16 A lso the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. Imprisonment and Release

And 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.

17 B ut the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.

But 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,

18 T hey laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.

They seized and arrested the apostles (special messengers) and put them in the public jail.

19 B ut during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,

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

20 “ Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”

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

21 U pon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

And 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.

22 B ut the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,

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

23 s aying, “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.”

We 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.

24 N ow when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.

Now 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.

25 B ut someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

But 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!

26 T hen the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

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

27 W hen they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,

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

28 s aying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

Saying, 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.

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

Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey God rather than men.

30 T he God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

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

31 H e is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

God 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.

32 A nd we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Gamaliel’s Counsel

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

33 B ut when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.

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

34 B ut a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

But 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.

35 A nd he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.

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

36 F or some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

For 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.

37 A fter this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.

And 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.

38 S o in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;

Now 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);

39 b ut if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

But 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!

40 T hey took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.

So, 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.

41 S o they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

So 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.

42 A nd every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Yet 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).