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,^(A) but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.^(B)

³ 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) 4} 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)

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.^(I) And great fear^(J) seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,^(K) 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.”^(L)

⁹ 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)

Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders

23 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest^(A) from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man,^{(B) 2} summoned all Israel—their elders,^(C) leaders, judges and officials^(D)—and said to them: “I am very old.^{(E) 3} You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.^{(F) 4} Remember how I have allotted^(G) as an inheritance^(H) for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea^(I) in the west. ⁵ The Lord your God himself will push them out^(J) for your sake. He will drive them out^(K) before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.^(L)

⁶ “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law^(M) of Moses, without turning aside^(N) to the right or to the left.^{(O) 7} Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear^(P) by them. You must not serve them or bow down^(Q) to them. ⁸ But you are to hold fast to the Lord^(R) your God, as you have until now.

⁹ “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations;^(S) to this day no one has been able to withstand you.^{(T) 10} One of you routs a thousand,^(U) because the Lord your God fights for you,^(V) just as he promised. ¹¹ So be very careful^(W) to love the Lord^(X) your God.

¹² “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them^(Y) and associate with them,^{(Z) 13} then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out^(AA) these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares^(AB) and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes,^(AC) until you perish from this good land,^(AD) which the Lord your God has given you.

¹⁴ “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.^(AE) You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise^(AF) has been fulfilled; not one has failed.^{(AG) 15} But just as all the good things^(AH) the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things^(AI) he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you^(AJ) from this good land he has given you.^{(AK) 16} If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.^(AL)”

The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

24 Then Joshua assembled^(AM) all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.^(AN) He summoned^(AO) the elders,^(AP) leaders, judges and officials of Israel,^(AQ) and they presented themselves before God.

² Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor,^(AR) lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.^{(AS) 3} But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan^(AT) and gave him many descendants.^(AU) I gave him Isaac,^{(AV) 4} and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.^(AW) I assigned the hill country of Seir^(AX) to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.^(AY)

⁵ “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron,^(AZ) and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.^{(BA) 6} When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea,^(BB) and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen^[a](BC) as far as the Red Sea.^{[b](BD) 7} But they cried^(BE) to the Lord for help, and he put darkness^(BF) between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them.^(BG) You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians.^(BH) Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.^(BI)

⁸ “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites^(BJ) who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.^{(BK) 9} When Balak son of Zippor,^(BL) the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor^(BM) to put a curse on you.^{(BN) 10} But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you^(BO) again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.

¹¹ “‘Then you crossed the Jordan^(BP) and came to Jericho.^(BQ) The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites,^(BR) Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites,^(BS) but I gave them into your hands.^{(BT) 12} I sent the hornet^(BU) ahead of you, which drove them out^(BV) before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.^{(BW) 13} So I gave you a land^(BX) on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’^(BY)

¹⁴ “Now fear the Lord^(BZ) and serve him with all faithfulness.^(CA) Throw away the gods^(CB) your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt,^(CC) and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,^(CD) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,^(CE) we will serve the Lord.”^(CF)

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake^(CG) the Lord to serve other gods! ¹⁷ It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery,^(CH) and performed those great signs^(CI) before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. ¹⁸ And the Lord drove out^(CJ) before us all the nations,^(CK) including the Amorites, who lived in the land.^(CL) We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.^(CM)”

¹⁹ Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God;^(CN) he is a jealous God.^(CO) He will not forgive^(CP) your rebellion^(CQ) and your sins. ²⁰ If you forsake the Lord^(CR) and serve foreign gods, he will turn^(CS) and bring disaster^(CT) on you and make an end of you,^(CU) after he has been good to you.”

²¹ But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”

²² Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses^(CV) against yourselves that you have chosen^(CW) to serve the Lord.”

“Yes, we are witnesses,^(CX)” they replied.

²³ “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods^(CY) that are among you and yield your hearts^(CZ) to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”^(DA)

²⁵ On that day Joshua made a covenant^(DB) for the people, and there at Shechem^(DC) he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.^{(DD) 26} And Joshua recorded^(DE) these things in the Book of the Law of God.^(DF) Then he took a large stone^(DG) and set it up there under the oak^(DH) near the holy place of the Lord.

²⁷ “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone^(DI) will be a witness^(DJ) against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue^(DK) to your God.”^(DL)

²⁸ Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.^(DM)

Buried in the Promised Land^(DN)

²⁹ After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died^(DO) at the age of a hundred and ten.^{(DP) 30} And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah^[c](DQ) in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.^(DR)

³¹ Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders^(DS) who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

³² And Joseph’s bones,^(DT) which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt,^(DU) were buried at Shechem in the tract of land^(DV) that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver^[d] from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.

³³ And Eleazar son of Aaron^(DW) died and was buried at Gibeah,^(DX) which had been allotted to his son Phinehas^(DY) in the hill country^(DZ) of Ephraim.