Acts 5

¹Now a certain man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property.

²and kept back for himself some of the proceeds, with his wife also being aware of it, and having brought a certain portion, he laid it at the feet of the apostles.

³But Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back some of the proceeds of the land?

⁴While it remained, was it not yours? And when it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have purposed this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.

⁵And hearing these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard these things.

⁶And the younger men arose and wrapped him up, and carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷Now after an interval of about three hours his wife also came in, not knowing what had happened.

⁸And Peter answered her: Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. And she said: Yes, for so much.

⁹But Peter said to her: Why is it that you have agreed together to test 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.

¹⁰And she fell down immediately at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, they buried her beside her husband.

¹¹And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard these things.

¹²Now through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were happening among the people. And they were all together with one accord in Solomon's Portico.

¹³And of the rest no one was daring to join them, but the people were magnifying them.

¹⁴And more and more believers were being added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,

¹⁵so that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

¹⁶And the multitude from the surrounding cities also gathered into Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

¹⁷But the high priest rose up, and all those with him — that is, the sect of the Sadducees — and they were filled with jealousy,

¹⁸and they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the public jail.

¹⁹But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the doors of the prison and led them out and said:

²⁰Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.

²¹And having heard, they entered the temple at dawn and began to teach. Now the high priest and those with him arrived and called together the Council and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

²²But the officers who arrived did not find them in the prison, and having returned, they reported,

²³saying: We found the prison shut with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.

²⁴Now when the priest and the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them as to what this might be.

²⁵And someone arrived and reported to them, saying: Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.

²⁶Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought them, but not with force, for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned.

²⁷And having brought them, they set them before the Council. And the high priest questioned them,

²⁸saying: We strictly commanded you not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered and said: It is necessary to obey God rather than men.

³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

³¹Him God exalted to his right hand as Pioneer and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

³²And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

³³And when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and wanted to execute them.

³⁴But a certain Pharisee in the Council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a little while.

³⁵And he said to them: Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do concerning these men.

³⁶For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves to him. He was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing.

³⁷After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away a considerable number of people after him. That man also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

³⁸And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them go, for if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown;

³⁹but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them — lest you even be found fighting against God. And he convinced them.

⁴⁰Then calling in the apostles, they had them beaten and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

⁴¹So they departed from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.

⁴²And every day in the temple and from house to house they did not cease teaching and proclaiming the good news that Christ is Jesus.