The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

But a certaine man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, solde a possession,

And kept away part of the price, his wife also being of counsell, and brought a certaine part, and layde it downe at the Apostles feete.

Then saide Peter, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart, that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy Ghost, and keepe away part of the price of this possession?

Whiles it remained, appertained it not vnto thee? and after it was solde, was it not in thine owne power? howe is it that thou hast conceiued this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto God.

Now when Ananias heard these wordes, he fell downe, and gaue vp the ghost. Then great feare came on all them that heard these things.

And the yong men rose vp, and tooke him vp, and caried him out, and buried him.

And it came to passe about the space of three houres after, that his wife came in, ignorant of that which was done.

And Peter sayd vnto her, Tell me, solde ye the land for so much? And she sayd, Yea, for so much.

Then Peter sayde vnto her, Why haue ye agreed together, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? beholde, the feete of them which haue buried thine husband, are at the doore, and shall carie thee out.

Then she fell downe straightway at his feete, and yeelded vp the ghost: and the yong men came in, and found her dead, and caried her out, and buried her by her husband.

And great feare came on all the Church, and on as many as heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

Thus by the hands of the Apostles were many signes and wonders shewed among the people (and they were all with one accorde in Salomons porche.

And of the other durst no man ioyne him selfe to them: neuerthelesse the people magnified them.

Also the number of them that beleeued in the Lord, both of men and women, grewe more and more)

In so much that they brought the sicke into the streetes, and layd them on beds and couches, that at the least way the shadowe of Peter, when he came by, might shadow some of them.

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about vnto Hierusalem, bringing sicke folkes, and them which were vexed with vncleane spirits, who were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

Then the chiefe Priest rose vp, and all they that were with him (which was the sect of the Sadduces) and were full of indignation,

And laide hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common prison.

But the Angel of the Lord, by night opened the prison doores, and brought them forth, and sayd,

Go your way, and stand in the Temple, and speake to the people, all the wordes of this life.

So when they heard it, they entred into the Temple early in the morning, and taught. And the chiefe Priest came, and they that were with him, and called the Councill together, and all the Elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison, to cause them to be brought.

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and tolde it,

Saying, Certainely we founde the prison shut as sure as was possible, and the keepers standing without, before the doores: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

Then when the chiefe Priest, and the captaine of the Temple, and the hie Priestes heard these things, they doubted of them, whereunto this would growe.

Then came one and shewed them, saying, Beholde, the men that ye put in prison, are standing in the Temple, and teach the people.

Then went the captaine with the officers, and brought them without violence (for they feared the people, lest they should haue bene stoned)

And when they had brought them, they set them before the Councill, and the chiefe Priest asked them,

Saying, Did not we straightly commaund you, that ye should not teach in this Name? and behold, ye haue filled Hierusale with your doctrine, and ye would bring this mans blood vpon vs.

Then Peter and the Apostles answered, and sayd, We ought rather to obey God then men.

The God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus, whom ye slewe, and hanged on a tree.

Him hath God lift vp with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Sauiour, to giue repentance to Israel, and forgiuenes of sinnes.

And we are his witnesses concerning these things which we say: yea, and the holy Ghost, whome God hath giuen to them that obey him.

Gamaliel’s Advice

Now when they heard it, they brast for anger, and consulted to slay them.

Then stoode there vp in the Councill a certaine Pharise named Gamaliel, a doctour of the Lawe, honoured of all the people, and commanded to put the Apostles forth a litle space,

And sayd vnto them, Men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye intende to doe touching these men.

For before these times, rose vp Theudas boasting himselfe, to whom resorted a number of men, about a foure hundreth, who was slaine: and they all which obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

After this man, arose vp Iudas of Galile, in the dayes of the tribute, and drewe away much people after him: hee also perished, and all that obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

And nowe I say vnto you, Refraine your selues from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsell, or this worke be of men, it will come to nought:

But if it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest ye be found euen fighters against God.

And to him they agreed, and called the Apostles: and when they had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speake in the Name of Iesus, and let them goe.

So they departed from the Councill, reioycing, that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his Name.

And dayly in the Temple, and from house to house they ceased not to teach, and preach Iesus Christ.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part 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?

While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy

and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.

But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,

“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,

“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.

One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,

saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.

But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.

After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.