Acts 5
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 5
The Fraud of Ananias and Sapphira.[a] 1 There was a man named Ananias who with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. 2 With the approval of his wife, he held back some of the proceeds, and he brought the remainder to the apostles and laid it at their feet.
3 Then Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan so gained control of your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the sale price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not belong to you? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds yours? What caused you to contrive this scheme? You have lied not to men but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard these words, he collapsed and died, and a great sense of fear seized all who heard about it. 6 The young men came forward and wrapped up his body. Then they carried him out and buried him.
7 After about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for this much.” She replied, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter asked her, “Why did the two of you agree to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen! The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will also carry you out.”
10 Instantly, she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. And so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And a great sense of fear seized the whole Church[b] and all those who heard of this.
12 Life of the First Community—III.[c] Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. They all used to assemble in Solomon’s Portico. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 More believers, men and women, were constantly being added to their ranks. 15 People brought those who were sick into the streets and placed them on cots and mats so that when Peter passed by, his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 A large number of people also came from the neighboring towns around Jerusalem, bringing with them the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.
17 Conclusion of the Trial.[d] Then the high priest and his colleagues from the party of the Sadducees rose up, filled with jealousy, 18 and they arrested the apostles and placed them in the public jail. 19 But during the night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life.” 21 Accordingly, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught the people.
When the high priest and his colleagues arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. 22 But when the temple police went to the prison, they did not find them there. So they returned and announced, 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside.”
24 Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss to understand what this would come to. 25 Then someone arrived to report, “The men whom you imprisoned are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 The captain thereupon went with the temple officers and brought them in, although without force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 When they had brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them, saying, 28 “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Yet, despite that, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you appear determined to hold us responsible for that man’s death.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus after you had put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and Savior so that he might grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they became enraged, and they wanted to put them to death. 34 However, one member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the apostles be sent outside for a little while.
35 Then he addressed them, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas[e] appeared. He claimed to be someone important, and about four hundred men decided to follow him. He was killed, and all of his followers disbanded, and everything came to naught. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census. He also convinced people to follow him, but he too was killed and his followers were dispersed.
38 “Therefore, I advise you to keep away from these men and let them go. If this movement is human in origin, it will fail. 39 If, however, it comes from God, you will never be able to overcome them, but may find yourselves fighting against God.”
His words persuaded them. 40 After they summoned the apostles once again, they had them scourged. Then, ordering them not to speak in the name of Jesus, they released them. 41 They left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer humiliation for the sake of the name.[f] 42 And every day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Christ.
Footnotes
- Acts 5:1 The sharing of goods is voluntary, but gold has a fascinating power. A couple lies to the community, contrary to the life of the Spirit. They violate the life of the community and undermine it. In the Old Testament (Jos 7:1), such people were to be put to death. Paul would have harsh words on the problem of riches and neglect of the poor when the Christians of Corinth later failed to respect the assembly, the Body of Christ.
- Acts 5:11 The word Church (Greek: ekklesia, “assembly called together”), already heard on the lips of Jesus (Mt 16:18), appears for the first time in Acts at the end of this story. In the Greek world, the word denoted an assembly convoked for deliberation; in the Jewish tradition, the ekklesia was the assembly of God’s people, which God had called together in the wilderness.
- Acts 5:12 These verses show the components of a believing community: its unity, its internal communication, and its worship. Luke emphasizes the difference between this community and the rest of society. In the miracles worked by the apostles, the Spirit of Pentecost shines forth, continuing the work of Jesus, which is so significant of a change in the human condition.
- Acts 5:17 The apostles continue their activity without letting themselves be intimidated. A time in prison is ended with deliverance, described in Old Testament terminology—with angels personifying God’s providential intervention as in the Exodus. Luke stresses the positive conclusion of the matter: the Word of God cannot be chained.
Standing in the midst of the Sanhedrin and the party of the Sadducees (who desire to crush the new movement), Peter repeats the message about Jesus. His discourse has the same structure as the previous ones, and the name of Jesus remains at the center of the discussion. Of the life of Jesus, only the trial and death are recalled, but Peter stresses that the God of their ancestors has raised the one who was hung on a gibbet and has exalted him as head of a people capable of introducing them to repentance. The apostles are to bear witness to the Resurrection under the power of the Spirit, and nothing can stifle their testimony.
The suppression of the leaders of this new movement is decreed. They are saved by the intervention of Gamaliel, who was a teacher of Paul (Acts 22:3). He speaks in the manner of a sage of the Old Testament and points out that there have been other uprisings that have come to naught and only time will tell if this enterprise of the followers of Christ is a more serious thing. For their part, the apostles express their joy at suffering everything for Christ. The community has a provisional freedom but looks to the future to bring the good news of the risen Christ to the world. - Acts 5:36 Theudas: one of the many agitators of the period. Another agitator was Judas the Galilean, who rebelled around the year A.D. 6 and was the leader of the most terrible uprising prior to that of 70. He had a following in the Zealot party. The movements of Theudas and Judas were probably associated—and both occurred in the time of Quirinius.
- Acts 5:41 The name: some manuscripts add “of Jesus.” In Judaism, “the Name” signified God himself. Christians immediately took over the term and applied it to Jesus who had been given “the name that is above all other names” (Phil 2:9).
Acts 5
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of land,
2 And by fraud kept back part of the price of the land, his wife being privy thereunto: and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles.
3 But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and by fraud keep part of the price of the land?
4 Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it.
6 And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
8 And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much.
9 And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.
10 Immediately she fell down before his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in, found her dead: and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
11 And there came great fear upon the whole church, and upon all that 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 But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them; but the people magnified them.
14 And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord, was more increased:
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.
16 And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighbouring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits; who were all healed.
17 Then the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him, (which is the heresy of the Sadducees,) were filled with envy.
18 And they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But an angel of the Lord by night opening the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said:
20 Go, and standing speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 Who having heard this, early in the morning, entered into the temple, and taught. And the high priest coming, and they that were with him, called together the council, and all the ancients of the children of Israel; and they sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the ministers came, and opening the prison, found them not there, they returned and told,
23 Saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the doors; but opening it, we found no man within.
24 Now when the officer of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what would come to pass.
25 But one came and told them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple standing, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the officer with the ministers, and brought them without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
28 Saying: Commanding we commanded you, that you should not teach in this name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us.
29 But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey him.
33 When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they thought to put them to death.
34 But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.
35 And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all that believed him were scattered, and brought to nothing.
37 After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed.
38 And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought;
39 But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.
40 And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus; and they dismissed them.
41 And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.
42 And every day they ceased not in the temple, and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)