Acts

The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 5, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 5 New English Translation

The Judgment on Ananias and Sapphira

   1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 2 He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife's knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? 4 Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!"
   5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. 6 So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, "Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?" Sapphira said, "Yes, that much." 9 Peter then told her, "Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the LORD? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!" 10 At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.

The Apostles Perform Miraculous Signs and Wonders

   12 Now many miraculous signs and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. 14 More and more believers in the LORD were added to their number, crowds of both men and women. 15 Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. 16 A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed.

Further Trouble for the Apostles

   17 Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the LORD opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, 20 "Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life." 21 When they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began teaching. Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin - that is, the whole high council of the Israelites - and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought before them. 22 But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 "We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside." 24 Now when the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be. 25 But someone came and reported to them, "Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!" 26 Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).
   27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
   33 Now when they heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute them. 34 But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to the council, "Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you are about to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it. 37 After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census, and incited people to follow him in revolt. He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing, 39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God." He convinced them, 40 and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. 42 And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Christ.

King James Version

   1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
   2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
   3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
   4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
   5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
   6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
   7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
   8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
   9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
   10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
   11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
   12 ¶ And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
   13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
   14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
   15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
   16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
   17 ¶ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
   18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
   19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
   20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
   21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
   22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
   23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
   24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
   25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
   26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
   27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
   28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
   29 ¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
   30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
   31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
   32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
   33 ¶ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
   34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
   35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
   36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
   37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
   38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
   39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
   40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
   41 ¶ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
   42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.