Acts of the Apostles 5

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 There was also a man cal ed Ananias. He and his wife, Sapphira, agreed to sel a property;	1 A man named Ananias, however, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
2 but with his wife's connivance he kept back part of the price and brought the rest and presented it to theapostles.	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 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 has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the holy Spirit and retained 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 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 When he heard this Ananias fel down dead. And a great fear came upon everyone present.	5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it.
6 The younger men got up, wrapped up the body, carried it out and buried it.	6 The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had taken place.	7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened.
8 Peter chal enged her, 'Tel me, was this the price you sold the land for?' 'Yes,' she said, 'that was theprice.'	8 Peter said to her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?" She answered, "Yes, for that amount."
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 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 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 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 a great fear came upon the whole church and on al who heard it.	11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of 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 Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's portico.
13 No one else dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise	13 None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed 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 Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.
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 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 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 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 intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Fil ed withjealousy,	17 Then the high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy,
18 they arrested the apostles and had them put in the public gaol.	18 laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail.
19 But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out,	19 But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,
20 'Go and take up position in the Temple, and tel the people all about this new Life.'	20 "Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about 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 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 officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported,	22 But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported,
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 "We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
24 When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what could behappening.	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 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 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 The captain went with his men and fetched them -- though not by force, for they were afraid that thepeople might stone them.	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 When they had brought them in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation.	27 When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned 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 "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 In reply Peter and the apostles said, 'Obedience to God comes before obedience to men;	29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, "We must 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 ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him 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 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance 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 We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him."
33 This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.	33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
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 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 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, 'Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people.	35 and said to them, "Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
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 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 Every day they went on ceaselessly teaching and proclaiming the good news of Christ Jesus, both inthe temple and in private houses.	42 And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.