Acts 5

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

2His wife knew about it. Ananias kept back part of the money for himself, but he brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

3Then Peter said: Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

4Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was the money not yours to use? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

6Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

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

8Peter asked her: Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land? Yes, she said, that is the price.

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

10At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11Great fear came over the whole church and everyone who heard about these events.

12The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers used to meet together at Solomon's Porch.

13No one else dared to join them, even though the people thought very highly of them.

14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

15Because of this, people brought the sick into the streets. They laid them on beds and mats, hoping that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he walked by.

16Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought their sick people and those who were troubled by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

17Then the high priest and all his companions, who belonged to the group called the Sadducees, became very jealous.

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 jail and brought them out. He said:

20Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about this new life.

21At daybreak they went into the temple courts, just as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they called together the council — the full group of the elders of Israel — and sent men to the jail to bring the apostles.

22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported:

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

24When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were confused. They wondered what this would lead to.

25Then someone came and said: Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.

26At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

27The apostles were brought in and made to stand before the council, to be questioned by the high priest.

28He said: We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. But you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to make us guilty of this man's blood.

29Peter and the other apostles replied: We must obey God rather than human beings!

30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead — whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross.

31God lifted Jesus up to His own right hand, to be our Leader and Savior. God did this so that Israel could turn away from sin and be forgiven.

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 put them to death.

34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered that the apostles be put outside for a little while.

35Then he spoke to the council: My fellow Israelites, think carefully about what you plan to do to these men.

36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody important, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were scattered, and it all came to nothing.

37After him, Judas from Galilee appeared at the time when everyone had to be counted. He led a group of people to rebel. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.

38So here is my advice for this case: Leave these men alone. Let them go. If what they are doing comes only from people, it will fail on its own.

39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.

40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41The apostles left the council full of joy, because they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

42Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.