Book of Common Prayer

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. Not one of them said, `This is mine.' But everything they had was for the use of all.

³³ With much power the apostles told how the Lord Jesus was raised from death. And God blessed them all very much.

^34-35 one of them was in need of anything. Those who owned fields and houses sold them. They brought the money to the apostles. Then the apostles gave each one what he needed.

³⁶ There was a man named Joseph, a Levite. He was born in the country of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. That means "one who helps."

³⁷ He had a field and sold it. He brought the money to the apostles and gave it to them.

^1-2 man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold a field. He brought some of the money to the apostles. But he kept the rest of it. His wife knew what he had done.

³ Peter said, `Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? Why do you lie to the Holy Spirit? You have kept some of the money which you got for the field.

⁴ As long as you had the field, it belonged to you. When you had the money, you could do what you wanted to do with it. Why then did you plan to do a thing like this? You have not lied to men, but to God.'

⁵ As Ananias heard Peter's words, he fell down and died. All who heard these things were very much afraid.

⁶ The young men came and wrapped him up. They carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later, his wife came in. She did not know what had happened.

⁸ Peter asked her, `Tell me, did you sell the field for so much money?' and she answered, `Yes, that is how much it was.'

⁹ Then Peter said to her, `Why did you two agree together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, I hear the footsteps of the men who buried your husband. They are at the door. They will carry you out too.'

¹⁰ And she fell down at Peter's feet and died. The young men came in and saw that she was dead. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

¹¹ Then all the church people, and all the people who heard about this were very much afraid.

²⁰ `When you see soldiers all around Jerusalem, then you will know that it will soon be broken down.

²¹ Then the people in Judea must go quickly to the hills. Those who are in the city must leave it. Those who are in the country must not come into the city.

²² Those will be days of punishment. All that has been written in the holy writings must happen.

²³ In those days it will be very hard for women who are to have a child. It will be very hard for mothers who have babies. There will be big trouble on the earth. God will show his anger to these people.

²⁴ They will be killed by swords or long knives. They will be taken away as prisoners to every country. Jerusalem will be broken down by people who are not Jews. They will walk over it until the end of their allowed time.'

²⁵ `There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And there will be much trouble for the people on earth. They will not know what to do. It will be like the sound of big waves of the sea.

²⁶ Men will be weak with fear. They will be afraid of the things that will be happening to the world. The powers in the sky will be shaken.

²⁷ Then people will see the sign of the Son of Man in a cloud. He will have much power and will be very great.

²⁸ When these things begin to happen, look up. Lift up your heads. You will soon be free.'