The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

And a certain man, Ananias by name, with his wife Sapphira, sold a possession,

and kept back of the price—his wife also knowing—and having brought a certain part, he laid [it] at the feet of the apostles.

And Peter said, “Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart, for you to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back of the price of the place?

While it remained, did it not remain yours? And having been sold, was it not in your authority? Why [is] it that you put this thing in your heart? You did not lie to men, but to God”;

and Ananias hearing these words, having fallen down, expired, and great fear came on all who heard these things,

and having risen, the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth, they buried [him].

And it came to pass, about three hours after, that his wife, not knowing what has happened, came in,

and Peter answered her, “Tell me if for so much you sold the place”; and she said, “Yes, for so much.”

And Peter said to her, “How was it agreed by you to tempt the Spirit of the LORD? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband [are] at the door, and they will carry you forth”;

and immediately she fell down at his feet, and expired, and the young men having come in, found her dead, and having carried forth, they buried [her] by her husband;

and great fear came on all the Assembly, and on all who heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

And through the hands of the apostles came many signs and wonders among the people, and they were all with one accord in the porch of Solomon;

and of the rest no one was daring to join himself to them, but the people were magnifying them,

(and the more were believers added to the LORD, multitudes of both men and women),

so as to bring forth the ailing into the broad places, and to lay [them] on beds and pallets, that at the coming of Peter, even [his] shadow might overshadow someone of them;

and there were also coming together the people of the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, carrying ailing persons, and those harassed by unclean spirits—who were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

And having risen, the chief priest, and all those with him—being the sect of the Sadducees—were filled with zeal,

and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in a public prison;

but through the night a messenger of the LORD opened the doors of the prison, having also brought them forth, he said,

“Go on, and standing, speak in the temple to the people all the sayings of this life”;

and having heard, they entered into the temple at the dawn, and were teaching. And the chief priest having come, and those with him, they called together the Sanhedrin and all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have them brought,

and the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told,

saying, “We indeed found the prison shut in all safety, and the keepers standing outside before the doors, and having opened—we found no one within.”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

And as the priest, and the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these words, they were doubting concerning them to what this would come;

and coming near, a certain one told them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people”;

then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

and having brought them, they set [them] in the Sanhedrin, and the chief priest questioned them,

saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this Name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring on us the blood of this Man.”

And Peter and the apostles answering, said, “It is required to obey God, rather than men;

and the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, having hanged on a tree;

this One, God, a Prince and a Savior, has exalted with His right hand, to give conversion to Israel, and forgiveness of sins;

and we are His witnesses of these sayings, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God gave to those obeying Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

And they having heard, were cut [to the heart], and were intending to slay them,

but a certain one, having risen up in the Sanhedrin—a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a teacher of law honored by all the people—commanded to put the apostles forth a little,

and said to them, “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what you are about to do,

for before these days Theudas rose up, saying that he was someone, to whom a number of men joined themselves, as it were four hundred, who was slain, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered, and came to nothing.

After this one, Judas the Galilean rose up, in the days of the census, and drew away people after him, and that one perished, and all, as many as were obeying him, were scattered;

and now I say to you, refrain from these men, and leave them alone, because if this counsel or this work may be of men, it will be overthrown,

and if it be of God, you are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps you are also found fighting against God.”

And to him they agreed, and having called near the apostles, having beaten [them], they commanded [them] not to speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go;

they, indeed, then, departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that for His Name they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor,

also every day in the temple, and in every house, they were not ceasing teaching and proclaiming good news—Jesus the Christ.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?

While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy

and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.

But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,

“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,

“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.

One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,

saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.

But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.

After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.