Bible: Acts 5:12-5:42
The Apostles Perform Miraculous Signs and Wonders
5:12 Now many miraculous signs 1 and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By 2 common consent 3 they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico. 4 5:13 None of the rest dared to join them, 5 but the people held them in high honor. 6 5:14 More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, 7 crowds of both men and women. 5:15 Thus 8 they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. 5:16 A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem 9 also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. 10 They 11 were all 12 being healed.
Further Trouble for the Apostles
5:17 Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees 13 ), 14 and they were filled with jealousy. 15 5:18 They 16 laid hands on 17 the apostles and put them in a public jail. 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord 18 opened 19 the doors of the prison, 20 led them out, 21 and said, 5:20 “Go and stand in the temple courts 22 and proclaim 23 to the people all the words of this life.” 5:21 When they heard this, they entered the temple courts 24 at daybreak and began teaching. 25
Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin 26 – that is, the whole high council 27 of the Israelites 28 – and sent to the jail to have the apostles 29 brought before them. 30 5:22 But the officers 31 who came for them 32 did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 33 5:23 “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, 34 we found no one inside.” 5:24 Now when the commander 35 of the temple guard 36 and the chief priests heard this report, 37 they were greatly puzzled concerning it, 38 wondering what this could 39 be. 5:25 But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts 40 and teaching 41 the people!” 5:26 Then the commander 42 of the temple guard 43 went with the officers 44 and brought the apostles 45 without the use of force 46 (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people). 47
5:27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, 48 and the high priest questioned 49 them, 5:28 saying, “We gave 50 you strict orders 51 not to teach in this name. 52 Look, 53 you have filled Jerusalem 54 with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood 55 on us!” 5:29 But Peter and the apostles replied, 56 “We must obey 57 God rather than people. 58 5:30 The God of our forefathers 59 raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. 60 5:31 God exalted him 61 to his right hand as Leader 62 and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 63 5:32 And we are witnesses of these events, 64 and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey 65 him.”
5:33 Now when they heard this, they became furious 66 and wanted to execute them. 67 5:34 But a Pharisee 68 whose name was Gamaliel, 69 a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up 70 in the council 71 and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 5:35 Then he said to the council, 72 “Men of Israel, 73 pay close attention to 74 what you are about to do to these men. 5:36 For some time ago 75 Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He 76 was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it. 77 5:37 After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census, 78 and incited people to follow him in revolt. 79 He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered. 5:38 So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, 80 it will come to nothing, 81 5:39 but if 82 it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found 83 fighting against God.” He convinced them, 84 5:40 and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. 85 Then 86 they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 5:41 So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy 87 to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. 88 5:42 And every day both in the temple courts 89 and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news 90 that Jesus was the Christ. 91
The Judgment on Ananias and Sapphira
5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 5:2 He 92 kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought 93 only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled 94 your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of 95 the land? 5:4 Before it was sold, 96 did it not 97 belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money 98 not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? 99 You have not lied to people 100 but to God!”
5:5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped 101 all who heard about it. 5:6 So the young men came, 102 wrapped him up, 103 carried him out, and buried 104 him. 5:7 After an interval of about three hours, 105 his wife came in, but she did not know 106 what had happened. 5:8 Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of you 107 paid this amount 108 for the land?” Sapphira 109 said, “Yes, that much.” 5:9 Peter then told her, “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” 5:10 At once 110 she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 5:11 Great 111 fear gripped 112 the whole church 113 and all who heard about these things.