使徒行传 5
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
亞拿尼亞和撒非拉的鑒戒
5 有一個人名叫亞拿尼亞，同他妻子撒非拉，把田產賣了。 2 他私底下把錢留了一部分，妻子也知道這件事。他把其餘的一部分帶來，放在使徒的腳前。 3 彼得說：“亞拿尼亞，為甚麼撒但充滿了你的心，使你欺騙聖靈，私底下把賣地的錢留了一部分呢？ 4 田地還沒有賣，不是你自己的嗎？既然賣了，所得的錢不是由你作主嗎？你為甚麼存心這樣作呢？你這不是欺騙人，而是欺騙 神。” 5 亞拿尼亞一聽見這話，就仆倒斷了氣。所有聽見的人都十分害怕。 6 有幾個青年人來把他包好，抬出去埋了。
7 大約三小時之後，亞拿尼亞的妻子進來，還不知道發生了甚麼事。 8 彼得問她：“你告訴我，你們賣田地的錢，就是這麼多嗎？”她說：“是的，就是這麼多。” 9 彼得說：“你們為甚麼串同試探主的靈呢？你看，埋你丈夫的人的腳，已經到了門口，他們也要把你抬出去。” 10 她立刻就仆倒在彼得腳前，斷了氣。那些青年人進來，發現她死了，把她也抬出去，埋在她丈夫旁邊。 11 全體會眾和所有聽見這事的人，都很害怕。
使徒行神蹟奇事
12 主藉著使徒的手，在民間行了許多神蹟奇事。他們都同心聚集在所羅門廊下， 13 其餘的人，沒有一個敢接近他們，可是民眾都很敬重他們。 14 信主的男男女女越來越多， 15 甚至有人把病人抬到街上，放在小床和褥子上，好讓彼得經過時，至少他的身影可以落在一些人身上。 16 耶路撒冷周圍城市的人，也帶著病人和受污靈纏擾的，蜂擁而來，結果病人全都醫好了。
使徒受迫害
17 大祭司和他的同黨撒都該人都起來，滿心忌恨， 18 於是下手拿住使徒，把他們押在公共拘留所裡。 19 夜間有一位天使，打開監門，把他們領出來，說： 20 “你們去，站在殿裡，把一切有關這生命的話，都講給眾民聽。” 21 使徒聽完了，就在黎明的時候，進到殿裡去教導。大祭司和他的同黨來到了，就召集了公議會和以色列人的眾長老，派人到監牢去帶使徒出來。 22 差役到了監裡，找不到他們，回來報告說： 23 “我們發現監門緊閉，獄卒也守在門外；等到開了門，裡面連一個人也找不到。” 24 聖殿的守衛長和祭司長聽了這些話，覺得很困惑，不知道這件事將來會怎樣。 25 忽然有人來報告說：“你們押在監裡的那些人，正站在殿裡教導眾民呢！” 26 於是守衛長和差役去帶使徒來，不過沒有用暴力，因為怕眾民用石頭打他們。
27 既然帶來了，就叫他們站在公議會前。大祭司問他們： 28 “我們嚴厲地吩咐過你們，不准再奉這名教導。看，你們卻把你們的道理傳遍了耶路撒冷，想要把流這人的血的責任推到我們身上。” 29 彼得和眾使徒回答：“服從 神過於服從人，是應當的。 30 你們掛在木頭上親手殺害的耶穌，我們祖先的 神已經使他復活了。 31 神把他高舉在自己的右邊，作元首作救主，把悔改的心賜給了以色列人，使他們罪得赦免。 32 我們為這些事作證， 神賜給順從的人的聖靈也為這些事作證。”
33 公議會的人聽了，非常惱怒，就想要殺他們。 34 但有一個法利賽人，名叫迦瑪列，是民眾所尊敬的律法教師。他在公議會中站起來，吩咐人把使徒暫時帶出去， 35 然後對大家說：“以色列人哪，你們應當小心處理這些人！ 36 從前有個丟大，自命不凡，附從他的人約有四百。他一被殺，跟從他的人盡都星散，一敗塗地。 37 這人之後，在戶口登記的時候，又有一個加利利人猶大，拉攏人們來跟從他。後來他也喪命，跟從他的人也就煙消雲散了。 38 至於目前的事，我勸你們不要管這些人，由他們吧！因為這計劃或這行動，如果是出於人意，終必失敗； 39 如果是出於 神，你們就不能破壞他們，恐怕你們是與 神作對了。”他們接受了他的勸告， 40 就傳使徒進來，鞭打一頓，禁止他們奉耶穌的名傳講，就把他們釋放了。 41 使徒歡歡喜喜從公議會裡出來，因為他們算是配得為主的名受辱。 42 他們天天在殿裡並在各人的家中，不斷地教導，傳講耶穌是基督。
Acts 5
EasyEnglish Bible
Ananias and Sapphira
5 But there was a man called Ananias among the group of believers. His wife was called Sapphira. Together they sold one of their fields. 2 Ananias gave part of the money that he received to the apostles. But he kept part of the money for himself. Sapphira knew all about what Ananias had done.[a]
3 Peter said to Ananias, ‘Ananias, Satan wanted you to tell a lie and you have obeyed him. You have told a lie to the Holy Spirit. That is a bad thing to do! You sold your field, but you did not give us all the money. You kept part of it for yourselves.[b] 4 Before you sold the field, it belonged to you. And after you sold the field, the money was yours. You could choose what to do with it. But you chose to do a very bad thing. You did not only tell a lie to us men. You have told a lie to God.’
5 As soon as he heard Peter say this, Ananias fell down and he died. When people heard what had happened, they were all very afraid. 6 Some young men came into the room. They put cloths around Ananias's dead body and they carried it outside. Then they buried it.
7 About three hours later, Ananias's wife, Sapphira, came into the room. She did not know what had happened to her husband. 8 Peter asked Sapphira, ‘Was this all the money that you and your husband received for your field?’ ‘Yes,’ Sapphira answered. ‘That was all the money that we received.’
9 Peter said to her, ‘It was wrong for you and your husband to do this bad thing. You agreed together to tell a lie to the Holy Spirit of the Lord God. Listen! The men who have just buried your husband are at the door again now. They will carry your body out too.’
10 Immediately, Sapphira fell down in front of Peter and she died. Then the young men came into the room. They saw that Sapphira was dead. So they carried her outside and they buried her body next to her husband. 11 The whole group of believers, and many other people, heard about what had happened to Ananias and Sapphira. They were all very afraid.
The apostles do some powerful things for the people to see
12 At that time, the apostles were doing many miracles that showed God's power among the people. All the believers often met together in the yard of the temple in a place called Solomon's porch. 13 The other people were afraid to meet with the group of believers. But people respected the believers very much. 14 More and more people became believers and they joined the group. So now many men and women believed in the Lord Jesus.
15 As a result, people carried their sick friends into the streets and put them on beds and mats. They hoped that Peter would pass that way and make their sick friends well again. They just wanted Peter's shadow to touch them.[c] 16 Many people also came into Jerusalem from the small towns near the city. They brought their sick friends with them. Some of those sick people had bad spirits that gave them trouble. God caused all these sick people to become well again.
The most important priest puts the apostles in prison
17 People liked the apostles very much. So the most important priest and his friends who belonged to the Sadducees' group were very jealous. 18 These important men took hold of the apostles and they put them in the city's prison. 19 But during the night, one of the Lord God's angels came and he opened the prison gates. He led the apostles out of the prison. 20 The angel said to them, ‘Go and stand in the yard of the temple. Tell the people everything about this new life that God gives.’
21 The apostles did what the angel told them to do. At dawn they went into the yard of the temple. They began to teach the people there.
Then the most important priest and his friends arrived. They told the group of Jewish leaders to meet with them. All the most important people in Israel were in that group. Then they sent their police to the prison to bring the apostles to the meeting place. 22 But when the police arrived at the prison, they did not find the apostles there. So the police returned to the Jewish leaders and they told them the news. 23 They said, ‘We arrived at the prison. We saw that the soldiers had locked the gates. They were standing at the gates and they were watching carefully. But when we opened the gates of the prison, we did not find anyone there!’[d]
24 The leader of the police of the temple and the leaders of the priests heard the news. They could not understand what had happened. They were afraid of what might happen next.
25 Then a man came to the leaders. He said to them, ‘Listen! Those men that you put in the prison are now standing in the yard of the temple. They are teaching the people there.’ 26 So the leader of the police took his men with him to find the apostles. They took hold of the apostles to take them back to the Jewish leaders. But they did not hurt them because they were afraid of the people. They thought that the people might be angry. They might throw stones at them to kill them.
27 The police brought the apostles into the meeting room. They made them stand in front of the group of Jewish leaders. The most important priest said to the apostles, 28 ‘We told you that you must not teach people any more with the authority of Jesus. But now look at what you have done! Now people everywhere in Jerusalem have heard your teaching. You also want people to think that we are guilty for the death of Jesus.’
29 Peter and the other apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than obey people. 30 You fixed Jesus to a cross so that he died. But then the God of our ancestors caused him to become alive again. 31 God raised Jesus and he put him in the most important place at his right side. Jesus is now the one who leads us and the one who saves us. He has made a way for the people of Israel to turn back to God. He wants us to stop doing wrong things. Then God will forgive us for our sins. 32 We tell people about what happened to Jesus. We ourselves saw these things. Now God has given his Holy Spirit to people who obey him. The Holy Spirit also shows that these things are true.’
33 The group of Jewish leaders heard what the apostles said to them. They were so angry that they wanted to kill the apostles. 34 But one man did not agree. He was called Gamaliel and he was a Pharisee, a teacher of the Law. All the people agreed that he was a good man. Gamaliel stood up in front of the group of Jewish leaders. He told the police to take the apostles out of the room. 35 When they had gone, Gamaliel spoke to the group of leaders: ‘Men of Israel! Think carefully about what you want to do to these men. 36 Remember what happened to Theudas a few years ago. That man told everyone, “I am a very important leader.” As a result, about 400 men joined his group. But then somebody killed him, and all his men went away. Nobody heard any more about them. 37 Later, Judas from Galilee appeared at the time when the Romans were making a list of everyone's names.[e] Many people also came to help him fight against the Romans. But somebody killed him. His men also ran away and nothing more happened.[f]
38 Now think about what is happening with these men. I tell you it would be better to leave them alone. Let them go free. If their message only comes from human ideas, all their work will fail. 39 But perhaps what they are doing really does come from God himself. If that is true, then you cannot stop them. You might even find that you are fighting against God!’
40 The Jewish leaders agreed with Gamaliel. They told the apostles to come back into the room. They told the police to hit them with whips. Then they said to the apostles, ‘You must not use the authority of Jesus to teach the people.’ After that, they let the apostles go free.[g]
41 The apostles went away from the meeting of the Jewish leaders. They were very happy because they thought to themselves, ‘These leaders have done bad things to us because we obey Jesus. That shows that God accepts us as his people.’
42 Every day the apostles continued to teach people about Jesus. They spoke in people's homes and in the yard of the temple. All the time, they told people the good news that Jesus is God's Messiah.
Footnotes
- 5:2 Ananias gave his money to the apostles. Then they would give it to other believers who needed it. Ananias told the apostles that he had given them all the money. But this was not true. He had only given them part of it.
- 5:3 The Holy Spirit had told Peter what Ananias had done. Ananias did not need to tell him.
- 5:15 God's Holy Spirit caused the apostles to be powerful. They could cause sick people to become well again. In those days, people thought that shadows were powerful. And they thought that Peter's shadow would cause sick people to become well again.
- 5:23 The soldiers at the gates of the prison did not know that the apostles were not inside.
- 5:37 The Romans were making a list of all the people at the time when Jesus was born.
- 5:37 Judas from Galilee would not pay money to the Roman government. People joined Judas's group and they helped him. They fought the Roman soldiers. These people were called Zealots. This Judas was not the same man that Jesus chose to follow him.
- 5:40 Rulers used a whip to punish people who did not obey the law.
Acts 5
New King James Version
Lying to the Holy Spirit
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 (A)But Peter said, “Ananias, why has (B)Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, (C)fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and (D)wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together (E)to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 (F)Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 (G)So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Continuing Power in the Church
12 And (H)through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. (I)And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet (J)none of the rest dared join them, (K)but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, (L)that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing (M)sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Imprisoned Apostles Freed
17 (N)Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with [a]indignation, 18 (O)and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night (P)an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people (Q)all the words of this life.”
21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. (R)But the high priest and those with him came and called the [b]council together, with all the [c]elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Apostles on Trial Again
22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing [d]outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 Now when [e]the high priest, (S)the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, [f]saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, (T)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, (U)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, (V)and intend to bring this Man’s (W)blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: (X)“We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 (Y)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by (Z)hanging on a tree. 31 (AA)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be (AB)Prince and (AC)Savior, (AD)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And (AE)we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit (AF)whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33 When they heard this, they were (AG)furious[g] and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named (AH)Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, [h]take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, [i]joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 (AI)but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found (AJ)to fight against God.”
40 And they agreed with him, and when they had (AK)called for the apostles (AL)and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, (AM)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for [j]His name. 42 And daily (AN)in the temple, and in every house, (AO)they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 5
King James Version
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 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.
3 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?
4 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.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 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.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
EasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 - Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
