M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

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.

¹² By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were shown among the people. And they were all together with one accord in Solomon’s porch. ¹³ And none of the rest dared join himself to them; nevertheless, the people held them in high regard.

¹⁴ The number of those who believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more, ¹⁵ insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and pallets so that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came by, might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Many people also came from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and those who were vexed with unclean spirits. And they were healed, every one.

¹⁷ Then the chief priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were full of indignation, ¹⁸ and laid hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ Go; step forth, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ²¹ When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught.

The chief priest came, and those who were with him, and called a council together with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles. ²² When the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, ²³ We found the prison shut as securely as was possible, and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened up, we found no one within.

  ²⁴ When the most chief priest and the chief warden of the temple and the high priests heard these things, they were fearful about them, what this might grow into. ²⁵ Then someone came and told them, Behold, the men that you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.

²⁶ Then the chief warden of the temple went with officers, and brought them without violence because they feared to be stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought the apostles, they set them before the council. And the chief priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, Did we not strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought more to obey God than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, hanging him on a tree. ³¹ Him God has lifted up with his right hand, to be a ruler and a saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are his witnesses concerning these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

³³ When they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and thought to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of law greatly respected among all the people, and directed that the apostles be put apart for a little while, ³⁵ and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ Before these days, one Theudas rose up, claiming himself to be somebody, and a number of men joined him – about four hundred. But he was slain, and all the people who believed him were scattered abroad and brought to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee arose, in the time when tribute began, and he drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all, even as many as followed him, are scattered abroad. ³⁸ And now I say to you, restrain yourselves concerning these men. Let them alone. For if the counsel of this work is of men, it will come to nothing. ³⁹ But if it is of God, you cannot destroy it, and you might even be found to be striving against God.

⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and called the apostles, and beat them, and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ And they departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name. ⁴² And daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Christ. The high priests give the soldiers a large sum of money to say that Christ was stolen out of his grave. Christ appears to his disciples, and sends them forth to preach and to baptize.

28 At the close of the Sabbath day, which is in the dawn of the morrow after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulchre. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. ³ His countenance was like lightening and his raiment white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him, the guards were overwhelmed and became as dead men.

⁵ The angel spoke and said to the women, Fear not: I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here. He is risen, as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord was put. ⁷ And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from death. And behold, he will go before you into Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.

⁸ And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word. ⁹ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All Hail! And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. ¹⁰ Then said Jesus to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go into Galilee, and there they will see me.

¹¹ When they had gone, some of the guards went into the city and told to the high priests all the things that had happened. ¹² And they gathered them together with the elders and took counsel, and gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, ¹³ saying, Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while you slept. ¹⁴ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and keep you out of trouble.

¹⁵ And the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is circulated among the Jews to this day.

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to a mountain where Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him. But some of them doubted.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world.

Here ends the gospel
of St. Matthew.