Book of Common Prayer

³² And the whole number of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul. Also, none of them said that any of the things that he possessed was his own, but had all things in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was with them all. ³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as possessed lands or houses sold them, and brought the money from the things that were sold, ³⁵ and laid it down at the apostles’ feet. And distribution was made to every person according to his need. ³⁶ And Joses, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which means, son of consolation), who was a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ had land and sold it, and laid the money down at the apostles’ feet.

The dissembling of Ananias and Sapphira is punished. Miracles are done by the apostles, who are seized, but the angel of God brings them out of prison. They are brought before the council. The advice of Gamaliel. The apostles are beaten. They rejoice in trouble.

5 A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold some property, ² and kept back part of the money (his wife also knowing of it), and brought a certain part and laid it down at the apostles’ feet. ³ Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and keep away part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ Did it not belong to you alone? And after it was sold, was the money not at your own disposal? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and gave up the spirit. And great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶ And the young men rose up, and put Ananias apart, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ And then, about the space of three hours after, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. ⁹ Then Peter said to her, Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and will carry you out.

¹⁰ Then she fell down straightaway at his feet and yielded up the spirit. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carried her out and buried her by her husband.

¹¹ And great fear came on all the congregation, and on as many as heard these things.

¹³ And the Jews’ Passover was near at hand. And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and found sitting in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers. ¹⁵ And he made a scourge of small cords and drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and oxen, and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables, ¹⁶ and said to those who sold doves, Take these things away from here, and do not make my Father’s house a house of merchandise! ¹⁷ And his disciples remembered that it was written: The zeal of your house has consumed me.

¹⁸ Then the Jews said to him, What sign can you show to us, seeing that you do these things? ¹⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will rear it up again.

²⁰ Then the Jews said, This temple was forty-six years in building, and will you rear it up in three days?

²¹ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. ²² As soon therefore as he was risen up again from death, his disciples remembered that he had said this. And they believed the scripture, and the words that Jesus had spoken.

²³ When he was at Jerusalem, at Passover in the feast, many believed on his name when they saw the miracles that he did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not put himself in their hands, ²⁵ because he knew all men, and needed not that anyone should testify of man. For he knew what was in man.