Acts 5
They Kept Back Part of the Price
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Ananias and Sapphira
5:1A man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a property.
5:2He secretly kept back part of the price, with his wife also knowing about it, and brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
5:3Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart, so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and secretly kept back part of the price of the land?
5:4While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why have you put this deed in your heart? You have not lied to human beings but to God.”
5:5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. Great fear came upon all who heard.
5:6The younger men rose, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
5:7About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
5:8Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” She said, “Yes, for that amount.”
5:9Peter said to her, “Why did you agree together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
5:10At once she fell at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in, they found her dead; they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
5:11Great fear came upon the whole Church and upon all who heard these things.
Signs and Wonders Among the People
5:12Many signs and wonders were taking place among the people through the apostles’ hands. They were all together with one accord in Solomon’s Portico.
5:13None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
5:14More and more believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
5:15so that they even carried the sick into the streets and laid them on small beds and mats, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall upon one of them.
5:16The crowd also came together from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
The Apostles Imprisoned and Freed
5:17The high priest and all who were with him—the party of the Sadducees—rose up, filled with jealousy.
5:18They laid hands on the apostles and placed them in the public prison.
5:19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out, and said,
5:20“Go, stand in the temple, and speak to the people all the words of this life.”
Teaching Again in the Temple
5:21When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began teaching. The high priest and those with him arrived, called together the council and the whole assembly of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
5:22But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
5:23“We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened it, we found no one inside.”
5:24When the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
5:25Then someone came and reported to them, “Look, the men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
5:26The captain then went with the officers and brought them, without force, for they feared the people might stone them.
We Must Obey God Rather Than Men
5:27They brought them and made them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,
5:28saying, “We strictly commanded you not to teach in this name, yet look—you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
5:29Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than human beings.
5:30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree.
5:31God exalted Him to His right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
5:32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
5:33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
The Counsel of Gamaliel
5:34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, stood in the council and ordered the men to be taken outside briefly.
5:35He said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do to these men.
5:36For before these days Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
5:37After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the registration and drew people away after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
5:38And now I tell you, keep away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will be overthrown;
5:39but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
They Summoned the Apostles and Beat Them
5:40They summoned the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
5:41So they left the council rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
5:42Every day, in the temple and in their homes, they never ceased teaching and proclaiming the good news of Jesus the Christ.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.