Acts of the Apostles 5

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 There was also a man cal ed Ananias. He and his wife, Sapphira, agreed to sel a property;	1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 but with his wife's connivance he kept back part of the price and brought the rest and presented it to theapostles.	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.
3 Peter said, 'Ananias, how can Satan have so possessed you that you should lie to the Holy Spirit andkeep back part of the price of the land?	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?
4 While you stil owned the land, wasn't it yours to keep, and after you had sold it wasn't the money yoursto do with as you liked? What put this scheme into your mind? You have been lying not to men, but to God.'	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.
5 When he heard this Ananias fel down dead. And a great fear came upon everyone present.	5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 The younger men got up, wrapped up the body, carried it out and buried it.	6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had taken place.	7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 Peter chal enged her, 'Tel me, was this the price you sold the land for?' 'Yes,' she said, 'that was theprice.'	8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Peter then said, 'Why did you and your husband agree to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen! Atthe door are the footsteps of those who have buried your husband; they wil carry you out, too.'	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.
10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in they found she was dead, andthey carried her out and buried her by the side of her husband.	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.
11 And a great fear came upon the whole church and on al who heard it.	11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 The apostles worked many signs and miracles among the people. One in heart, they al used to meetin the Portico of Solomon.	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.
13 No one else dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise	13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. Many signsand wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles	14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 so that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hopethat at least the shadow of Peter might fal across some of them as he went past.	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.
16 People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sickand those tormented by unclean spirits, and al of them were cured.	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.
17 Then the high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Fil ed withjealousy,	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,
18 they arrested the apostles and had them put in the public gaol.	18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out,	19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 'Go and take up position in the Temple, and tel the people all about this new Life.'	20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach. When the highpriest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin -- this was the ful Senate of Israel -- and sent tothe gaol for them to be brought.	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.
22 But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported,	22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23 'We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked thedoor we found no one inside.'	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.
24 When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what could behappening.	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.
25 Then a man arrived with fresh news. 'Look!' he said, 'the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. Theyare standing there preaching to the people.'	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.
26 The captain went with his men and fetched them -- though not by force, for they were afraid that thepeople might stone them.	26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 When they had brought them in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation.	27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 'We gave you a strong warning', he said, 'not to preach in this name, and what have you done? Youhave fil ed Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt for this man's death on us.'	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.
29 In reply Peter and the apostles said, 'Obedience to God comes before obedience to men;	29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, whom you executed by hanging on a tree.	30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and Saviour, to give repentance andforgiveness of sins through him to Israel.	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.
32 We are witnesses to this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.'	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.
33 This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.	33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34 One member of the Sanhedrin, however, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a teacher of the Lawrespected by the whole people, stood up and asked to have the men taken outside for a time.	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;
35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, 'Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people.	35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 Some time ago there arose Theudas. He claimed to be someone important, and col ected about fourhundred fol owers; but when he was kil ed, al his fol owers scattered and that was the end of them.	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.
37 And then there was Judas the Galilean, at the time of the census, who attracted crowds of supporters;but he was kil ed too, and al his fol owers dispersed.	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.
38 What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, thismovement of theirs, is of human origin it wil break up of its own accord;	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:
39 but if it does in fact come from God you wil be unable to destroy them. Take care not to find yourselvesfighting against God.' His advice was accepted;	39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak inthe name of Jesus and released them.	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.
41 And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation forthe sake of the name.	41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 Every day they went on ceaselessly teaching and proclaiming the good news of Christ Jesus, both inthe temple and in private houses.	42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.