Acts 4:23-5:22

New International Version

The Believers Pray

²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.^(A) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.^{(B) 25} You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:^(C)

²⁷ Indeed Herod^(E) and Pontius Pilate^(F) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,^(G) whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.^{(H) 29} Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.^{(I) 30} Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders^(J) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”^(K)

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.^(L) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit^(M) and spoke the word of God^(N) boldly.^(O)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.^{(P) 33} With great power the apostles continued to testify^(Q) to the resurrection^(R) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace^(S) was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,^(T) brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet,^(U) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.^(V)

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas^(W) (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.^(X)

Ananias and Sapphira

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,^(Y) but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.^(Z)

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan^(AA) has so filled your heart^(AB) that you have lied to the Holy Spirit^(AC) and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?^{(AD) 4} Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?^(AE) What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”^(AF)

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.^(AG) And great fear^(AH) seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,^(AI) and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

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

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?^(AK) 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.^(AL) Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.^{(AM) 11} Great fear^(AN) seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders^(AO) among the people. And all the believers used to meet together^(AP) in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(AQ) 13} No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.^{(AR) 14} Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.^{(AS) 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.^{(AT) 16} Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.^(AU)

The Apostles Persecuted

¹⁷ Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party^(AV) of the Sadducees,^(AW) were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.^{(AX) 19} But during the night an angel^(AY) of the Lord opened the doors of the jail^(AZ) and brought them out.^{(BA) 20} “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”^(BB)

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^(BC) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin^(BD)—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.^(BE) So they went back and reported,