Acts 4:29-5:16

New American Standard Bible

²⁹ And ^[a]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to ^(A)speak Your word with all ^(B)confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^[b](C)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ^[c](D)servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the ^(E)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ^(F)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(G)speak the word of God with ^(H)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

³² And the ^[d]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^[e]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(I)all things were common property to them. ³³ And ^(J)with great power the apostles were giving ^(K)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^(L)would sell them and bring the ^[f]proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and ^(M)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^(N)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.

³⁶ Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(O)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(P)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^[g](Q)Encouragement), ^37 [h]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and ^(R)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and ^(S)kept back some of the ^[i]proceeds for himself, with his wife’s ^[j]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^(T)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(U)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(V)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(W)keep back some of the ^[k]proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[l]under your control? Why is it that you have ^[m]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but ^(X)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(Y)collapsed and ^[n]died; and ^(Z)great fear came over all who heard about it. ⁶ The young men got up and ^(AA)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now an interval of about three hours elapsed, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^(AB)for ^[o]this price?” And she said, “Yes, for ^[p]that price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(AC)put ^(AD)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.” ¹⁰ And immediately she ^(AE)collapsed at his feet and ^[q]died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(AF)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard about these things.

^12 [r]At the hands of the apostles many ^[s](AG)signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all ^[t]together in ^(AH)Solomon’s ^[u]portico. ¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(AI)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And increasingly ^(AJ)believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being ^(AK)added to their number, ¹⁵ to 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 ^(AL)at least his shadow might fall on any of them. ¹⁶ The ^[v]people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick ^[w]or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.