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Fate of 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 control? Why is it that you have ^(F2)conceived 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 of it.⁶ The young men got up and ^(C1)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now there elapsed 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 sold the land ^(F1)(C1)for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, ^(F1)that was the price."⁹ Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(C1)put ^(C2)the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have 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 of these things.

^12 (F1)At the hands of the apostles many ^(C1)signs and wonders were taking place 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 held them in high esteem.¹⁴ And all the more ^(C1)believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly ^(C2)added to their number,¹⁵ to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by ^(C1)at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.¹⁶ Also the ^(F1)people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ^(F2)or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is ^(C1)the sect of ^(C2)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.¹⁸ They laid hands on the apostles and ^(C1)put them in a public jail.¹⁹ But during the night ^(C1)an angel of the Lord opened the gates 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 his associates came, they called ^(C3)the ^(F1)Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house 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 prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we 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 When they had brought them, they stood them ^(F1)before ^(C1)the Council. The high priest questioned them,²⁸ saying, "We gave you ^(C1)strict orders 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, "^(C1)We must obey God rather than men.³⁰ "^(C1)The God of our fathers ^(C2)raised up Jesus, ^(F1)whom you had ^(C3)put to death by hanging Him on a ^(F2)cross.³¹ "^(C1)He is the one whom God exalted ^(F1)to His right hand as a ^(F2)(C2)Prince 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 has given to those who obey Him."

Gamaliel's Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they were ^(C1)cut ^(F1)to the quick 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 Council 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)followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.³⁷ "After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of ^(C1)the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who ^(F1)followed him were scattered.³⁸ "So in the present case, I 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 else you may even be found ^(C1)fighting against God."

⁴⁰ They ^(F1)took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(C1)flogged them and ordered 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 ^(F1)(C1)Council, ^(C2)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(C3)for His name.^42 (C1)And every day, in the temple and ^(F1)from house to house, they ^(F2)kept right on teaching and ^(F3)(C2)preaching Jesus as the ^(F4)Christ.