Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and ^(A)kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s ^[a]full knowledge. And bringing a portion of it, he ^(B)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(C)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(D)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(E)keep back some of the price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[b]under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ^(F)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(G)fell down and breathed his last; and ^(H)great fear came over all who heard. ⁶ And the young men rose up and ^(I)wrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you were paid ^(J)this much for the land?” And she said, “Yes, that much.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(K)put ^(L)the Spirit of the ^[c]Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰ And immediately she ^(M)fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(N)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard these things.

¹² Now ^[d]at the hands of the apostles many ^(O)signs and wonders were happening among the people, and they were all with one accord in ^(P)Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(Q)the people were holding them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And more than ever ^(R)believers in the Lord were ^(S)added to their number, multitudes of men and women, ¹⁵ to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that when Peter came by ^(T)at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. ¹⁶ Also the multitude from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ^[e]or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

The Apostles Jailed and Freed

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up and those with him (that is ^(U)the sect of ^(V)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ And they laid hands on the apostles and ^(W)put them in a public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(X)an angel of the ^[f]Lord opened the doors of the prison, and taking them out, he said, ²⁰ “Go, stand and ^[g]speak to the people in the temple ^[h](Y)the whole message of this Life.” ²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple ^(Z)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^(AA)the high priest and those with him came, they called ^(AB)the Sanhedrin together, even all the Council of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the jailhouse for them to be brought. ²² But ^(AC)the officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back, ²³ saying, “We found the jailhouse locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors, but we opened it and found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(AD)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^[i]would come of this. ²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then ^(AE)the captain went along with ^(AF)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(AG)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they stood them ^[j]before ^(AH)the Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, “We ^(AI)strictly commanded you not to continue teaching in this name, and ^[k]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(AJ)intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “^(AK)We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (AL)The God of our fathers ^(AM)raised up Jesus, ^[l]whom you ^(AN)put to death by hanging Him on a tree. ^31 (AO)This One God exalted ^[m]to His right hand as ^[n]a ^(AP)Leader and a ^(AQ)Savior, to grant ^(AR)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are ^(AS)witnesses ^[o]of these things, and ^(AT)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they became ^(AU)furious and intended to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(AV)Gamaliel, a ^(AW)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(AX)the Sanhedrin and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, ^(AY)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ^[p]But he was killed, and all who ^[q]were following him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^(AZ)the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all those who ^[r]were following him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case, I also say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ^[s]action ^(BA)is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or you may even be found ^(BB)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ So they ^[t]followed his advice. And after calling the apostles in and ^(BC)beating them, they commanded them not to ^[u]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^(BD)Sanhedrin, ^(BE)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(BF)for the Name. ^42 (BG)And every day, in the temple and ^[v]from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^(BH)proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the ^[w]Christ.