Fate of Ananias and Sapphira
5
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and A Acts 5:3kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s 1 Or collusion full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he B Acts 4:35, 37laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has A Matt 4:10; Luke 22:3; John 13:2, 27Satan filled your heart to lie B Acts 5:4, 9to the Holy Spirit and to C Acts 5:2keep 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 1 Or in your authority under your control? Why is it that you have 2 Lit placed conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but A Acts 5:3, 9to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias A Ezek 11:13; Acts 5:10fell down and breathed his last; and B Acts 2:43; 5:11great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and A John 19:40covered 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 1 Lit for so much A Acts 5:2for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, 1 Lit for so much that was the price.” 9  Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to A Acts 15:10put B Acts 5:3, 4the 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 A Ezek 11:13; Acts 5:5fell 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 A Acts 2:43; 5:5great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
12  1 Lit Through At the hands of the apostles many A John 4:48signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in B John 10:23; Acts 3:11Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, A Acts 2:47; 4:21the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more A 2 Cor 6:15believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly B Acts 2:47; 11:24added 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 A Acts 19:12at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16  Also the 1 Lit multitude people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick 2 Lit and 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 A Acts 15:5the sect of B Matt 3:7; Acts 4:1the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and A Acts 4:3put them in a public jail. 19 But during the night A Matt 1:20, 24; 2:13, 19; 28:2; Luke 1:11; 2:9; Acts 8:26; 10:3; 12:7, 23; 27:23an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 “Go, stand and 1 Or continue to speak speak to the people in the temple 2 Lit all the words A John 6:63, 68the whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple A John 8:2about daybreak and began to teach.
Now when B Acts 4:6the high priest and his associates came, they called C Matt 5:22; Acts 5:27, 34, 41the 1 Or Sanhedrin 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 A Matt 26:58; Acts 5:26the 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 A Acts 4:1; 5:26the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what 1 Lit this would become 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 A Acts 5:24the captain went along with B Acts 5:22the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for C Acts 4:21; 5:13they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
27 When they had brought them, they stood them 1 Lit in before A Matt 5:22; Acts 5:21, 34, 41the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28  saying, “We gave you A Acts 4:18strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and 1 Lit behold yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and B Matt 23:35; 27:25; Acts 2:23, 36; 3:14f; 7:52intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “A Acts 4:19We must obey God rather than men. 30  A Acts 3:13The God of our fathers B Acts 2:24raised up Jesus, 1 Or on whom you had laid violent hands whom you had C Acts 10:39; 13:29; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:24put to death by hanging Him on a 2 Lit wood cross. 31  A Acts 2:33He is the one whom God exalted 1 Or by to His right hand as a 2 Or Leader B Acts 3:15Prince and a C Luke 2:11Savior, to grant D Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are A Luke 24:48witnesses 1 One early ms adds in Him of these things; and B John 15:26; Acts 15:28; Rom 8:16; Heb 2:4so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Counsel
33 But when they heard this, they were A Acts 2:37; 7:54cut 1 Or in their hearts to the quick and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named A Acts 22:3Gamaliel, a B Luke 2:46; 5:17teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in C Acts 5:21the 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, A Acts 8:9; Gal 2:6; 6:3claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. 1 Lit Who was killed But he was killed, and all who 2 Lit were obeying followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37  After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of A Luke 2:2the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who 1 Lit were obeying 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 1 Or work action A Mark 11:30is 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 A Prov 21:30; Acts 11:17fighting against God.”
40 They 1 Lit were persuaded by him took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they A Matt 10:17flogged them and ordered them not to 2 Lit be speaking speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41  So they went on their way from the presence of the 1 Or Sanhedrin A Acts 5:21Council, B 1 Pet 4:14, 16rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame C John 15:21for His name. 42  A Acts 2:46And every day, in the temple and 1 Or in the various private homes from house to house, they 2 Lit were not ceasing to kept right on teaching and 3 Lit telling the good news of B Acts 8:35; 11:20; 17:18; Gal 1:16preaching Jesus as the 4 I.e. MessiahChrist.