1 A man by the name of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold some land.

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

2 H e kept back part of the money for himself. His wife knew it also. The other part he took to the missionaries.

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

3 P eter said to Ananias, “Why did you let Satan fill your heart? He made you lie to the Holy Spirit. You kept back part of the money you got from your land.

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

4 W as not the land yours before you sold it? After it was sold, you could have done what you wanted to do with the money. Why did you allow your heart to do this? You have lied to God, not to men.”

While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

5 W hen Ananias heard these words, he fell down dead. Much fear came on all those who heard what was done.

Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

6 T he young men got up and covered his body and carried him out and buried him.

The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

7 A bout three hours later his wife came in. She did not know what had happened.

About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

8 P eter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount of money?” She said, “Yes.”

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 talked together about lying to the Holy Spirit? See! Those who buried your husband are standing at the door and they will carry you out also.”

But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt 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.”

10 A t once she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found that she was dead. They took her out and buried her beside her husband.

She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

11 M uch fear came on all the church and on all who heard it. The First Church Grows

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

12 T he missionaries did many powerful works among the people. They gathered together on Solomon’s Porch.

By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

13 N o one from outside their own group came in with them because they were afraid. But those outside the church had respect for the followers.

None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.

14 M any more men and women put their trust in Christ and were added to the group.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

15 T hey brought the sick people and laid them on the streets hoping that if Peter walked by, his shadow would fall on some of them.

They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

16 M any people went into Jerusalem from towns nearby. They took with them their sick people and all who were troubled with demons. All of them were healed. The Missionaries Are Put in Prison

Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

17 T he head religious leader heard this. Some of the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead also heard of the people being healed. They became very jealous.

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

18 T hey took hold of the missionaries and put them in prison.

and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.

19 A n angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison in the night and let them out. The angel said to them,

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

20 “ Go, stand where you have been standing in the house of God. Keep on telling the people about this new life.”

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

21 W hen Peter and John heard this, they went in the house of God early in the morning and began to teach. When the head religious leader and those with him had come, they gathered the men of the court and the leaders of the Jews together. Then they sent to have the missionaries brought to them from the prison.

When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 W hen the soldiers got there, they did not find them in prison. They went back and told the court.

But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,

23 T he soldiers said, “We found the door of the prison locked and the soldiers watching the doors. When we opened the door, we found no one inside.”

“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

24 W hen the religious leaders and the leader of the house of God heard this, they were much troubled as to what might happen.

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.

25 T hen someone came and told them, “The men you put in prison are now standing in the house of God and teaching the people.”

One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

26 T he leader of the house of God took his men and got them. They did not hurt the missionaries because they were afraid the people would throw stones at them.

Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

27 T hey brought the missionaries in and made them stand in front of the court. The head religious leader said,

When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,

28 “ We told you not to teach about Christ! See! You are spreading this teaching over all Jerusalem. Now you are making it look as if we are guilty of killing this Man.” The Missionaries Speak the Truth

saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

29 T hen Peter and the missionaries said, “We must obey God instead of men!

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

30 T he God of our early fathers raised up Jesus, the One you killed and nailed to a cross.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

31 G od raised this Man to His own right side as a leader and as the One Who saves from the punishment of sin. He makes it possible for the Jews to be sorry for their sins. Then they can turn from them and be forgiven.

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

32 W e have seen these things and are telling about them. The Holy Spirit makes these things known also. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him.” Gamaliel Speaks in Court

We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 T he religious leaders became angry when they heard this. They planned to kill the missionaries.

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them.

34 G amaliel was a man of the religious leaders’ court. He was a proud religious law-keeper and a teacher of the Law. He was respected by all the people. He stood up and said that the missionaries should be sent outside for a short time.

But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

35 T hen Gamaliel said to the court, “Jewish men, be careful what you plan to do with these men.

He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

36 R emember that many years ago a man called Theudas made himself out to be someone great. He had about 400 followers. He was killed. His followers were divided and nothing came of his teaching.

For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing.

37 A fter him, Judas of the country of Galilee gathered many followers. It was the time for every person to have his name written in the books of the nation. This Judas was killed also. All his followers were divided and went away.

After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

38 I say to you now, stay away from these men and leave them alone. If this teaching and work is from men, it will come to nothing.

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

39 I f it is from God, you will not be able to stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

40 T he court agreed with Gamaliel. So they called the missionaries in and beat them. They told them they must not speak in the name of Jesus. Then they were sent away.

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 S o the missionaries went away from the court happy that they could suffer shame because of His Name.

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

42 E very day in the house of God and in the homes, they kept teaching and preaching about Jesus Christ.

Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.