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亞拿尼亞和撒非喇欺哄聖靈而死

有一個人名叫亞拿尼亞,同他的妻子撒非喇賣了田產, 把價銀私自留下幾份,他的妻子也知道,其餘的幾份拿來放在使徒腳前。 彼得說:「亞拿尼亞,為什麼撒旦充滿了你的心,叫你欺哄聖靈,把田地的價銀私自留下幾份呢? 田地還沒有賣,不是你自己的嗎?既賣了,價銀不是你做主嗎?你怎麼心裡起這意念呢?你不是欺哄人,是欺哄神了!」 亞拿尼亞聽見這話,就仆倒,斷了氣。聽見的人都甚懼怕。 有些少年人起來,把他包裹,抬出去埋葬了。

約過了三小時,他的妻子進來,還不知道這事。 彼得對她說:「你告訴我,你們賣田地的價銀就是這些嗎?」她說:「就是這些。」 彼得說:「你們為什麼同心試探主的靈呢?埋葬你丈夫之人的腳已到門口,他們也要把你抬出去。」 10 婦人立刻仆倒在彼得腳前,斷了氣。那些少年人進來,見她已經死了,就抬出去,埋在她丈夫旁邊。 11 全教會和聽見這事的人都甚懼怕。

信者越發增添

12 主藉使徒的手在民間行了許多神蹟奇事。他們[a]都同心合意地在所羅門的廊下。 13 其餘的人沒有一個敢貼近他們,百姓卻尊重他們。 14 信而歸主的人越發增添,連男帶女很多。 15 甚至有人將病人抬到街上,放在床上或褥子上,指望彼得過來的時候,或者得他的影兒照在什麼人身上。 16 還有許多人帶著病人和被汙鬼纏磨的,從耶路撒冷四圍的城邑來,全都得了醫治。

使徒二次被囚

17 大祭司和他的一切同人,就是撒都該教門的人,都起來,滿心忌恨, 18 就下手拿住使徒,收在外監。

使徒出監仍然講道

19 但主的使者夜間開了監門,領他們出來, 20 說:「你們去站在殿裡,把這生命的道都講給百姓聽。」 21 使徒聽了這話,天將亮的時候就進殿裡去教訓人。大祭司和他的同人來了,叫齊公會的人和以色列族的眾長老,就差人到監裡去,要把使徒提出來。 22 但差役到了,不見他們在監裡,就回來稟報說: 23 「我們看見監牢關得極妥當,看守的人也站在門外,及至開了門,裡面一個人都不見。」 24 守殿官和祭司長聽見這話,心裡犯難,不知這事將來如何。 25 有一個人來稟報說:「你們收在監裡的人,現在站在殿裡教訓百姓!」 26 於是守殿官和差役去帶使徒來,並沒有用強暴,因為怕百姓用石頭打他們。

再到公會前被審

27 帶到了,便叫使徒站在公會前。大祭司問他們說: 28 「我們不是嚴嚴地禁止你們,不可奉這名教訓人嗎?你們倒把你們的道理充滿了耶路撒冷,想要叫這人的血歸到我們身上!」

彼得向官長分訴

29 彼得和眾使徒回答說:「順從神不順從人,是應當的。 30 你們掛在木頭上殺害的耶穌,我們祖宗的神已經叫他復活。 31 神且用右手將他高舉[b],叫他做君王、做救主,將悔改的心和赦罪的恩賜給以色列人。 32 我們為這事作見證,神賜給順從之人的聖靈也為這事作見證。」

迦瑪列的勸誡

33 公會的人聽見就極其惱怒,想要殺他們。 34 但有一個法利賽人名叫迦瑪列,是眾百姓所敬重的教法師,在公會中站起來,吩咐人把使徒暫且帶到外面去, 35 就對眾人說:「以色列人哪,論到這些人,你們應當小心怎樣辦理。 36 從前丟大起來,自誇為大,附從他的人約有四百。他被殺後,附從他的全都散了,歸於無有。 37 此後,報名上冊的時候,又有加利利猶大起來,引誘些百姓跟從他。他也滅亡,附從他的人也都四散了。 38 現在我勸你們不要管這些人,任憑他們吧!他們所謀的、所行的,若是出於人,必要敗壞; 39 若是出於神,你們就不能敗壞他們,恐怕你們倒是攻擊神了!」 40 公會的人聽從了他,便叫使徒來,把他們打了,又吩咐他們不可奉耶穌的名講道,就把他們釋放了。

歡喜配受辱

41 他們離開公會,心裡歡喜,因被算是配為這名受辱。 42 他們就每日在殿裡、在家裡不住地教訓人,傳耶穌是基督。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行傳 5:12 或作:信的人。
  2. 使徒行傳 5:31 或作:他就是神高舉在自己的右邊。

Chapter 5

The Fraud of Ananias and Sapphira.[a] There was a man named Ananias who with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. 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.

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? 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.”

When Ananias heard these words, he collapsed and died, and a great sense of fear seized all who heard about it. The young men came forward and wrapped up his body. Then they carried him out and buried him.

After about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for this much.” She replied, “Yes, that was the price.” 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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).

Ananias and Sapphira

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,(A) but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.(B)

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan(C) has so filled your heart(D) that you have lied to the Holy Spirit(E) and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?(F) Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?(G) What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”(H)

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.(I) And great fear(J) seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,(K) and carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”(L)

Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?(M) Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.(N) Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.(O) 11 Great fear(P) seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders(Q) among the people. And all the believers used to meet together(R) in Solomon’s Colonnade.(S) 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.(T) 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.(U) 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.(V) 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.(W)

The Apostles Persecuted

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party(X) of the Sadducees,(Y) were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.(Z) 19 But during the night an angel(AA) of the Lord opened the doors of the jail(AB) and brought them out.(AC) 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”(AD)

21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates(AE) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin(AF)—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.(AG) So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests(AH) were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people(AI) would stone them.

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin(AJ) to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”(AK) he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”(AL)

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!(AM) 30 The God of our ancestors(AN) raised Jesus from the dead(AO)—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.(AP) 31 God exalted him to his own right hand(AQ) as Prince and Savior(AR) that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.(AS) 32 We are witnesses of these things,(AT) and so is the Holy Spirit,(AU) whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were furious(AV) and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,(AW) a teacher of the law,(AX) who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census(AY) and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.(AZ) 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”(BA)

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged.(BB) Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing(BC) because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.(BD) 42 Day after day, in the temple courts(BE) and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news(BF) that Jesus is the Messiah.(BG)