Acts 5:1-16

New International Reader's Version

Ananias and Sapphira

5 A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also sold some land. ² He kept part of the money for himself. Sapphira knew he had kept it. He brought the rest of it and put it down at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your heart? He made you lie to the Holy Spirit. You have kept some of the money you received for the land. ⁴ Didn’t the land belong to you before it was sold? After it was sold, you could have used the money as you wished. What made you think of doing such a thing? You haven’t lied just to people. You’ve also lied to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. All who heard what had happened were filled with fear. ⁶ Some young men came and wrapped up his body. They carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later, the wife of Ananias came in. She didn’t know what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me. Is this the price you and Ananias sold the land for?”

“Yes,” she said. “That’s the price.”

⁹ Peter asked her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! You can hear the steps of the men who buried your husband. They are at the door. They will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at Peter’s feet and died. Then the young men came in. They saw that Sapphira was dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ The whole church and all who heard about these things were filled with fear.

The Apostles Heal Many People

¹² The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers used to meet together at Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ No outsider dared to join them. But the people thought highly of them. ¹⁴ More and more men and women believed in the Lord. They joined the other believers. ¹⁵ So people brought those who were sick into the streets. They placed them on beds and mats. They hoped that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he walked by. ¹⁶ Crowds even gathered from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought their sick people. They also brought those who were suffering because of evil spirits. All of them were healed.