1 A nd a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

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

2 a nd did keep back of the price -- his wife also knowing -- and having brought a certain part, at the feet of the apostles he laid.

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

3 A nd Peter said, `Ananias, wherefore did the Adversary fill thy heart, for thee to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back of the price of the place?

Peter 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.

4 w hile it remained, did it not remain thine? and having been sold, in thy authority was it not? why it that thou didst put in thy heart this thing? thou didst not lie to men, but to God;'

Was 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.”

5 a nd Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, did expire, and great fear came upon all who heard these things,

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

6 a nd having risen, the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth, they buried.

The young men got up and covered his body and carried him out and buried him.

7 A nd it came to pass, about three hours after, that his wife, not knowing what hath happened, came in,

About three hours later his wife came in. She did not know what had happened.

8 a nd Peter answered her, `Tell me if for so much ye sold the place;' and she said, `Yes, for so much.'

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

9 A nd Peter said unto her, `How was it agreed by you, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? lo, the feet of those who did bury thy husband at the door, and they shall carry thee forth;'

Then 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.”

10 a nd she fell down presently at his feet, and expired, and the young men having come in, found her dead, and having carried forth, they buried by her husband;

At 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.

11 a nd great fear came upon all the assembly, and upon all who heard these things.

Much fear came on all the church and on all who heard it. The First Church Grows

12 A nd through the hands of the apostles came many signs and wonders among the people, and they were with one accord all in the porch of Solomon;

The missionaries did many powerful works among the people. They gathered together on Solomon’s Porch.

13 a nd of the rest no one was daring to join himself to them, but the people were magnifying them,

No one from outside their own group came in with them because they were afraid. But those outside the church had respect for the followers.

14 ( and the more were believers added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,)

Many more men and women put their trust in Christ and were added to the group.

15 s o as into the broad places to bring forth the ailing, and to lay upon couches and mats, that at the coming of Peter, even shadow might overshadow some one of them;

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

16 a nd there were coming together also the people of the cities round about to Jerusalem, bearing ailing persons, and those harassed by unclean spirits -- who were all healed.

Many 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

17 A nd having risen, the chief priest, and all those with him -- being the sect of the Sadducees -- were filled with zeal,

The 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.

18 a nd laid their hands upon the apostles, and did put them in a public prison;

They took hold of the missionaries and put them in prison.

19 a nd a messenger of the Lord through the night opened the doors of the prison, having also brought them forth, he said,

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

20 ` Go on, and standing, speak in the temple to the people all the sayings of this life;'

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

21 a nd having heard, they did enter at the dawn into the temple, and were teaching. And the chief priest having come, and those with him, they called together the sanhedrim and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have them brought,

When 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.

22 a nd the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told,

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

23 s aying -- `The prison indeed we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors, and having opened -- within we found no one.'

The 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.”

24 A nd as the priest, and the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these words, they were doubting concerning them to what this would come;

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

25 a nd coming near, a certain one told them, saying -- `Lo, the men whom ye did put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people;'

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

26 t hen the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

The 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.

27 a nd having brought them, they set in the sanhedrim, and the chief priest questioned them,

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

28 s aying, `Did not we strictly command you not to teach in this name? and lo, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and ye intend to bring upon us the blood of this man.'

“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

29 A nd Peter and the apostles answering, said, `To obey God it behoveth, rather than men;

Then Peter and the missionaries said, “We must obey God instead of men!

30 a nd the God of our fathers did raise up Jesus, whom ye slew, having hanged upon a tree;

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

31 t his one God, a Prince and a Saviour, hath exalted with His right hand, to give reformation to Israel, and forgiveness of sins;

God 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.

32 a nd we are His witnesses of these sayings, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God gave to those obeying him.'

We 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

33 A nd they having heard, were cut, and were taking counsel to slay them,

The religious leaders became angry when they heard this. They planned to kill the missionaries.

34 b ut a certain one, having risen up in the sanhedrim -- a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a teacher of law honoured by all the people -- commanded to put the apostles forth a little,

Gamaliel 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.

35 a nd said unto them, `Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what ye are about to do,

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

36 f or before these days rose up Theudas, saying, that himself was some one, to whom a number of men did join themselves, as it were four hundred, who was slain, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered, and came to nought.

Remember 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.

37 ` After this one rose up, Judas the Galilean, in the days of the enrollment, and drew away much people after him, and that one perished, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered;

After 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.

38 a nd now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone, because if this counsel or this work may be of men, it will be overthrown,

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.

39 a nd if it be of God, ye are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps also ye be found fighting against God.'

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

40 A nd to him they agreed, and having called near the apostles, having beaten, they commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go;

The 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.

41 t hey, indeed, then, departed from the presence of the sanhedrim, rejoicing that for his name they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour,

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

42 e very day also in the temple, and in every house, they were not ceasing teaching and proclaiming good news -- Jesus the Christ.

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