Chapter 5

1A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold a piece of property.

2With his wife’s full knowledge, Ananias secretly kept part of the money. He brought the rest and placed it at the apostles’ feet.

3Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and secretly kept part of the money from the property?

4The property belonged to you before you sold it, and after the sale, the money was yours to control. Why did you decide in your heart to do this? You have not lied merely to people, but to God.”

5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. Everyone who heard about it became deeply afraid.

6The younger men came forward, wrapped his body, carried it out, and buried him.

7About three hours later, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened.

8Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you two sell the property for this amount?” She answered, “Yes, that was the amount.”

9Peter said to her, “Why did you agree together to test the Lord’s Spirit? Listen! The men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out too.”

10She immediately fell at Peter’s feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11Great fear spread through the whole community of believers and among everyone else who heard about these events.

12Through the apostles, many miraculous signs and astonishing deeds were taking place among the people. All the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Porch, a covered area of the temple complex.

13None of the outsiders dared to join them there, although the people held them in high regard.

14Even so, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and joined their number.

15As a result, people even carried the sick into the streets and laid them on small beds and sleeping mats. They hoped that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

16Crowds also came from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those tormented by evil spirits. Every one of them was healed.

17Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the Sadducee party, a powerful Jewish religious group, took action. They were filled with jealousy.

18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

19But during the night, an angel from the Lord opened the jail doors, led the apostles out, and said,

20“Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people the whole message about this new life.”

21The apostles obeyed. Around daybreak, they entered the temple courts and began teaching. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Jewish ruling council and the full assembly of Israel’s elders. Then they sent officers to the jail to bring in the apostles.

22But when the officers arrived, they did not find the apostles in the jail. They returned and reported,

23“We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, we found no one inside.”

24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were completely puzzled and wondered where it would lead.

25Then someone arrived and told them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts, teaching the people.”

26The captain went with his officers and brought the apostles back. They did not use force because they were afraid the people might stone them.

27The officers brought the apostles in and made them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,

28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this man’s name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are trying to make us responsible for his death.”

29Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people.

30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—the Jesus you killed by hanging him on a wooden cross.

31God lifted him to the place of honor at his right hand as Leader and Rescuer, so that the people of Israel could turn back to God and have their sins forgiven.

32We are witnesses of these events, and so is God’s Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles.

34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the council. He was a teacher of Jewish law who was highly respected by all the people. He ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while.

35Then Gamaliel addressed the council: “Fellow Israelites, think carefully about what you intend to do to these men.

36Some time ago, Theudas appeared and claimed to be somebody important. About four hundred men rallied around him. But he was killed, and all his followers scattered. His movement came to nothing.

37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared during the census and led people in revolt. He too died, and all his followers were scattered.

38So in the present situation, I tell you: stay away from these men and leave them alone. If this plan or activity comes from human beings, it will collapse.

39But if it comes from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even find yourselves fighting against God.” The council members were persuaded by him.

40They called the apostles back in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in Jesus’ name and released them.

41The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer humiliation for bearing Jesus’ name.

42Every day, both in the temple courts and in private homes, they continued without stopping to teach and announce the good news that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Anointed King.