Acts 5

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

2With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back some of the money for himself, and he brought only part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back some of the money from the land?

4While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How could you have planned such a thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”

5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard of it.

6The young men got up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.

7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8Peter said to her, “Tell me, is this the price you sold the land for?” She said, “Yes, that was the price.”

9Then Peter said to her, “How could you agree together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

10At once she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11Great fear came over the whole church and over all who heard about these things.

12Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles. And they were all together with one mind in Solomon’s Colonnade.

13None of the others dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

14More and more believers in the Lord were added, crowds of both men and women,

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

16Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17Then the high priest and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, rose up, filled with jealousy.

18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

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

20“Go, stand in the temple, and tell the people all the words of this life.”

21When they heard this, they went into the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council, the full assembly of the elders of the people of Israel, and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought.

22But when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison. So they went back and reported,

23“We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were baffled about the apostles, wondering what would come of this.

25Then someone came and told them, “Look, the men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them, but not by force, because they were afraid the people would stone them.

27They brought them in and had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,

28saying, “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people.

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

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

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

33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to kill them.

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

35Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men.

36Some 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 scattered and came to nothing.

37After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and got people to follow him. He also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

38So in the present case I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail.

39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even find yourselves fighting against God.”

40They were persuaded by him. They called the apostles in, had them flogged, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41So the apostles left the council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name.

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