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Ananias and Sapphira

¹ But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,² and ^(C1)kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's ^(F1)full knowledge. And bringing a portion of it, he ^(C2)laid it at the apostles' feet.³ But Peter said, "Ananias, why has ^(C1)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(C2)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(C3)keep back some of the price of the land?⁴ "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^(F1)under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ^(C1)to God."⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(C1)fell down and breathed his last; and ^(C2)great fear came over all who heard.⁶ And the young men rose up and ^(C1)wrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.⁸ And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you were paid ^(C1)this much for the land?" And she said, "Yes, that much."⁹ Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(C1)put ^(C2)the Spirit of the ^(F1)Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."¹⁰ And immediately she ^(C1)fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.¹¹ And ^(C1)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard these things.

¹² Now ^(F1)at the hands of the apostles many ^(C1)signs and wonders were happening among the people, and they were all with one accord in ^(C2)Solomon's Portico.¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(C1)the people were holding them in high esteem.¹⁴ And more than ever ^(C1)believers in the Lord were ^(C2)added to their number, multitudes of men and women,¹⁵ to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that when Peter came by ^(C1)at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.¹⁶ Also the multitude from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ^(F1)or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

The Apostles Jailed and Freed

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up and those with him (that is ^(C1)the sect of ^(C2)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.¹⁸ And they laid hands on the apostles and ^(C1)put them in a public jail.¹⁹ But during the night ^(C1)an angel of the ^(F1)Lord opened the doors of the prison, and taking them out, he said,²⁰ "Go, stand and ^(F1)speak to the people in the temple ^(F2)(C1)the whole message of this Life."

²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple ^(C1)about daybreak and began to teach. Now when ^(C2)the high priest and those with him came, they called ^(C3)the Sanhedrin together, even all the Council of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the jailhouse for them to be brought.²² But ^(C1)the officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back,²³ saying, "We found the jailhouse locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors, but we opened it and found no one inside."²⁴ Now when ^(C1)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^(F1)would come of this.²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"²⁶ Then ^(C1)the captain went along with ^(C2)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(C3)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they stood them ^(F1)before ^(C1)the Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them,²⁸ saying, "We ^(C1)strictly commanded you not to continue teaching in this name, and ^(F1)yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(C2)intend to bring this man's blood upon us."²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "^(C1)We must obey God rather than men.³⁰ "^(C1)The God of our fathers ^(C2)raised up Jesus, ^(F1)whom you ^(C3)put to death by hanging Him on a tree.³¹ "^(C1)This One God exalted ^(F1)to His right hand as ^(F2)a ^(C2)Leader and a ^(C3)Savior, to grant ^(C4)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.³² "And we are ^(C1)witnesses ^(F1)of these things, and ^(C2)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to those who obey Him."

Gamaliel's Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they became ^(C1)furious and intended to kill them.³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(C1)Gamaliel, a ^(C2)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(C3)the Sanhedrin and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.³⁵ And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.³⁶ "For some time ago Theudas rose up, ^(C1)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ^(F1)But he was killed, and all who ^(F2)were following him were dispersed and came to nothing.³⁷ "After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^(C1)the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all those who ^(F1)were following him were scattered.³⁸ "So in the present case, I also say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ^(F1)action ^(C1)is of men, it will be overthrown;³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or you may even be found ^(C1)fighting against God."

⁴⁰ So they ^(F1)followed his advice. And after calling the apostles in and ^(C1)beating them, they commanded them not to ^(F2)speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^(C1)Sanhedrin, ^(C2)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(C3)for the Name.^42 (C1)And every day, in the temple and ^(F1)from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^(C2)proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the ^(F2)Christ.