欺骗圣灵

一个名叫亚拿尼亚的人与妻子撒非喇也把田产卖了。 他私自留下一部分钱,然后把其余的拿去交给使徒,这件事他妻子也知道。 彼得说:“亚拿尼亚,你为什么让撒旦充满你的心,欺骗圣灵,私自留下一些卖地的钱呢? 田产没有卖的时候属于你,即使卖了,卖地的钱也由你支配。你怎么做出这种事呢?你不是欺骗人,你是欺骗上帝!” 亚拿尼亚听见这话,当场倒地而死。听见这件事的人都非常惧怕。 有几个青年上前把他的尸体裹起来,抬出去埋葬了。

大约过了三个小时,亚拿尼亚的妻子也进来了,她还不知道发生了什么事。 彼得问她:“你们卖田地的钱就这么多吗?”她说:“是的,就这么多。”

彼得说:“你们二人怎么串通起来试探主的灵呢?埋葬你丈夫的人就到门口了,他们也要把你抬出去。” 10 撒非喇立刻倒在彼得脚前死了。那些青年进来看见她已经死了,便把她抬出去葬在她丈夫的旁边。 11 整个教会和听见这件事的人都非常惧怕。

神迹奇事

12 主借着使徒们在百姓中行了许多神迹奇事,大家同心合意地在所罗门廊那里聚会。 13 其他人不敢接近他们,不过百姓都很敬重他们。 14 信主的人数不断增加,男女都有。 15 人们甚至把病人抬到街上,放在床上或垫子上,希望彼得路过时的影子可以落在病人身上。 16 还有大群的人从耶路撒冷附近的城镇带着病人和被污鬼搅扰的人赶来,他们都得了医治。

使徒受迫害

17 大祭司和他的同党撒都该人看见这情形,妒火中烧, 18 便把使徒拘捕,关在监里。 19 当天晚上,有一位主的天使把狱门打开,领他们出来, 20 说:“你们到圣殿去,把这生命之道传给百姓。” 21 使徒遵从命令,在黎明的时候来到圣殿开始教导众人。

大祭司和他的同党召集了所有公会[a]的人和以色列的众长老,然后派人去监狱把使徒押来受审。 22 差役来到监狱时,发现使徒已经不见了,就回去禀告,说: 23 “我们看见牢门紧锁,守卫都站在门外,但打开门一看,里面却空无一人!”

24 圣殿护卫长和祭司长听后,都很困扰,不知道是怎么回事。 25 这时有人来报告说:“你们关押在牢里的人正在圣殿里教导人!” 26 圣殿护卫长和差役再去把使徒抓回来。这次他们不敢动粗,生怕百姓会用石头打他们。

27 使徒被带来后站在公会前,大祭司盘问他们,说: 28 “我们不是严禁你们奉耶稣的名去教导百姓吗?你们竟然在耶路撒冷各处传道,还想把杀那人的血债归到我们身上!”

29 彼得和其他使徒申辩说:“我们要服从的是上帝,而非人。 30 你们钉死在十字架上的耶稣,我们祖先的上帝已经使祂复活了。 31 上帝把祂提升到自己的右边,立祂为君王和救主,好赐给以色列人悔改的机会,使他们的罪得到赦免。 32 我们就是这些事的见证人,上帝赐给顺服祂之人的圣灵也同样做见证。”

33 他们听了,怒气冲天,打算杀掉使徒。 34 公会中有一位名叫迦玛列的法利赛人,是个德高望重的律法教师。他站起来,叫人把使徒暂且押到外面, 35 然后说:“以色列人啊,你们应当慎重处置这些人。 36 不久前,有个名叫杜达的人起来自立山头,吸引了差不多四百个跟随者,但他被杀之后,那些跟随者就各奔东西,销声匿迹了。 37 后来,又有个加利利人犹大在户口登记期间鼓动百姓跟随他造反。他被杀之后,那些跟随者也烟消云散了。 38 所以,像现在这种情形,我劝大家还是不要管他们,随他们去吧。他们的计划和行为如果是出于人意,终必失败; 39 但如果是出于上帝,你们不但无法阻止他们,恐怕反而是在抵挡上帝!”

40 公会采纳了他的意见,于是把使徒召回来打了一顿,再次警告他们不可奉耶稣的名传道,才放了他们。 41 使徒离开公会后,为自己有资格为主的名受辱而欢喜。 42 他们每天在圣殿里及各家各户教导人,传扬耶稣是基督。

Footnotes

  1. 5:21 公会是犹太人的最高立法与司法机关。

Chapter 5

Ananias and Sapphira.[a] A man named Ananias, however, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. He retained for himself, with his wife’s knowledge, some of the purchase price, took the remainder, and put it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land?(A) While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” She answered, “Yes, for that amount.” Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.(B)

Signs and Wonders of the Apostles.[b] 12 Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico.(C) 13 None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. 14 Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. 15 Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.(D) 16 A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Trial Before the Sanhedrin.[c] 17 Then the high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy,(E) 18 laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,(F) 20 “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” 21 When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. 22 But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. 25 Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.(G)

27 When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, 28 “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”(H) 29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.(I) 30 [d]The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,(J) though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand[e] as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.(K) 32 We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.”(L)

33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. 34 [f]But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time,(M) 35 and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men. 36 [g]Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. 37 After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. 38 So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. 39 But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. 40 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.(N) 41 So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.(O) 42 And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 5:1–11 The sin of Ananias and Sapphira did not consist in the withholding of part of the money but in their deception of the community. Their deaths are ascribed to a lie to the holy Spirit (Acts 5:3, 9), i.e., they accepted the honor accorded them by the community for their generosity, but in reality they were not deserving of it.
  2. 5:12–16 This, the third summary portraying the Jerusalem community, underscores the Twelve as its bulwark, especially because of their charismatic power to heal the sick; cf. Acts 2:42–47; 4:32–37.
  3. 5:17–42 A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission.
  4. 5:30 Hanging him on a tree: that is, crucifying him (cf. also Gal 3:13).
  5. 5:31 At his right hand: see note on Acts 2:33.
  6. 5:34 Gamaliel: in Acts 22:3, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of this Rabbi Gamaliel I who flourished in Jerusalem between A.D. 25 and 50.
  7. 5:36–37 Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Theudas actually occurred when C. Cuspius Fadus was governor, A.D. 44–46. Luke’s placing of Judas the Galilean after Theudas and at the time of the census (see note on Lk 2:1–2) is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events.

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

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

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

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that 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 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,

23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself 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 scattered, and brought to nought.

37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.