Cities of Refuge^(A)

⁴¹ Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan, ⁴² to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if they had unintentionally^(B) killed a neighbor without malice aforethought. They could flee into one of these cities and save their life. ⁴³ The cities were these: Bezer in the wilderness plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth^(C) in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

⁴⁴ This is the law Moses set before the Israelites. ⁴⁵ These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt ⁴⁶ and were in the valley near Beth Peor east of the Jordan, in the land of Sihon^(D) king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. ⁴⁷ They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. ⁴⁸ This land extended from Aroer^(E) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion^[a](F) (that is, Hermon^(G)), ⁴⁹ and included all the Arabah east of the Jordan, as far as the Dead Sea,^[b] below the slopes of Pisgah.

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.^{(A) 33} With great power the apostles continued to testify^(B) to the resurrection^(C) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace^(D) 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,^(E) brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet,^(F) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.^(G)

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

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

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

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

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

The Ten Commandments^(A)

5 Moses summoned all Israel and said:

Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws^(B) I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. ² The Lord our God made a covenant^(C) with us at Horeb.^{(D) 3} It was not with our ancestors^[a] that the Lord made this covenant, but with us,^(E) with all of us who are alive here today.^{(F) 4} The Lord spoke^(G) to you face to face^(H) out of the fire^(I) on the mountain. ⁵ (At that time I stood between^(J) the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid^(K) of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said:

The Apostles Heal Many

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

The Apostles Persecuted

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

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^(O) arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin^(P)—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.^(Q) 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^(R) 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^(S) would stone them.

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

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!^{(W) 30} The God of our ancestors^(X) raised Jesus from the dead^(Y)—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.^{(Z) 31} God exalted him to his own right hand^(AA) as Prince and Savior^(AB) that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.^{(AC) 32} We are witnesses of these things,^(AD) and so is the Holy Spirit,^(AE) whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious^(AF) and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,^(AG) a teacher of the law,^(AH) 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^(AI) 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.^{(AJ) 39} But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”^(AK)

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

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing^(AM) because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.^{(AN) 42} Day after day, in the temple courts^(AO) and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news^(AP) that Jesus is the Messiah.^(AQ)