Acts of the Apostles 5

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,	1 A man named Ananias, however, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.	2 He retained for himself, with his wife's knowledge, some of the purchase price, took the remainder, and put it at the feet of the apostles.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?	3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.	4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God."
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.	5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.	6 The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.	7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.	8 Peter said to her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?" She answered, "Yes, for that amount."
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.	9 Then Peter said to her, "Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.	10 At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.	11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.	12 Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's portico.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.	13 None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)	14 Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.	15 Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.	16 A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,	17 Then the high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.	18 laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,	19 But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.	20 "Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life."
21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.	21 When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,	22 But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.	23 "We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.	24 When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to.
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.	25 Then someone came in and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people."
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.	26 Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,	27 When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.	28 "We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon us."
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.	29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.	30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.	31 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.	32 We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him."
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.	33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;	34 But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time,
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.	35 and said to them, "Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.	36 Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.	37 After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:	38 So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.	39 But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God." They were persuaded by him.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.	40 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.	41 So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.	42 And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.