Acts 4:32-5:14

New American Standard Bible

Sharing among Believers

³² And the ^[a]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^[b]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(A)all things were common property to them. ³³ And ^(B)with great power the apostles were giving ^(C)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 ^(D)would sell them and bring the ^[c]proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and ^(E)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^(F)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.

³⁶ Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(G)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(H)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^[d](I)Encouragement), ^37 [e]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and ^(J)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 ^(K)kept back some of the ^[f]proceeds for himself, with his wife’s ^[g]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^(L)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(M)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(N)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(O)keep back some of the ^[h]proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[i]under your control? Why is it that you have ^[j]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but ^(P)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(Q)collapsed and ^[k]died; and ^(R)great fear came over all who heard about it. ⁶ The young men got up and ^(S)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 ^(T)for ^[l]this price?” And she said, “Yes, for ^[m]that price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(U)put ^(V)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 ^(W)collapsed at his feet and ^[n]died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(X)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard about these things.

^12 [o]At the hands of the apostles many ^[p](Y)signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all ^[q]together in ^(Z)Solomon’s ^[r]portico. ¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(AA)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And increasingly ^(AB)believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being ^(AC)added to their number,