Acts
A man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of land.
He
kept back part of the money for himself, and his wife was fully aware of it.
He brought part of the money and laid it at the Apostles’ feet.
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the holy spirit and to keep
back part of the price of the land?
Before you sold it, was it not your own?
And after it was sold, was the money not still under your control? Why have
you conceived this plan in your heart? You have not lied to people but to
God!”
As he heard these words, Ananias collapsed and died. Great fear
seized all who heard about it.
The young men got up, covered him up, and
carried him out to bury him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had
happened.
Peter asked her, “Did the two of you sell the land for such and
such a price?” She answered, “Yes, that was the price.”
Then Peter asked her,
“Why have you both agreed to test the Lord’s spirit? Look, the feet of those
who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out
too!”
She collapsed immediately at his feet and died. The young men came
in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her next to her
husband.
Great fear seized the whole church, as well as everyone who heard
about it.
Through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were
performed among the people. With one mind they were meeting together in
Solomon’s porch.
None of the rest dared to join them, yet the people
thought highly of them.
And more believers were being added to the lord,
multitudes of both men and women.
They even carried out the sick into the
streets and laid them on beds and mats, so that as Peter came by at least his
shadow might fall on any of them.
A crowd also came together from the
towns around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those tormented by
evil spirits, and every one of them was healed.
But the high priest took a stand and all those with him (the sect of the
Sadducees) as they were filled with jealousy.
They arrested the Apostles
and put them into the public jail.
But during the night an angel of the Lord
opened the prison doors and brought them out and said,
“Go and stand and
speak to the people in the Temple the whole message of this Life.”
When they heard this, they entered the Temple about daybreak and were
teaching. But the high priest and his associates called together the Sanhedrin, the whole council of
the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have the Apostles brought in.
But the officers did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported,
“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at
the doors. But when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
Now when
the captain of the temple guards and the chief priests heard this, they were
deeply perplexed about what was going on.
Then someone came and told them, “The men you put in prison
are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”
Then the
captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, because
they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
When they had brought them in, they stood them before the Sanhedrin. The high priest demanded,
“We strictly commanded you not to continue
teaching on the basis of this name, but you have filled Jerusalem with your
teaching, and you intend to bring the guilt of this man’s death on us.”
But Peter
and the Apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people.
The
God of our ancestors resurrected Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him
on a cross.
He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as leader and
savior,
to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
We are his
witnesses of these things, and so is the holy spirit, which God has given to
those who obey
Him.”
Hearing this, they became infuriated and were determined to kill them.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the council, a teacher of the Law
respected by all the people, and he commanded the men to be put outside
for a little while.
Gamaliel then spoke to the council: “Men of Israel, be careful
about what you do with these men.
For some time ago Theudas rose up, making
himself out to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined up with him.
But he was killed and all those who were persuaded by him dispersed and came to
nothing.
After him Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and
led away some people to revolt. He also was killed, and all who were persuaded by him
were scattered.
So I tell you in this case, stay away from these men and
leave them alone. If this plan or work originates with people it will not succeed.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and
you might even be found fighting against God.”
They were persuaded by him. Summoning the Apostles, they beat them and
ordered them not to speak in the name and authority of Jesus, and let them go.
So
they left the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer shame for the name.
And every day in the Temple and from house to
house, they never stopped teaching and evangelizing that the Messiah is Jesus.
Acts