Acts of the Apostles 5

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 his wife Sapphira, sold a field,
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 he was deceitful about the price of the field, with his wife’s consent. And bringing only part of it, he placed 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 tempted your heart, so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and be deceitful about 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 Did it not belong to you while you retained it? And having sold it, was it not in your power? Why have you set this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”
5 When he heard this Ananias fel down dead. And a great fear came upon everyone present.	5 Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired. And a great fear overwhelmed all who heard of it.
6 The younger men got up, wrapped up the body, carried it out and buried it.	6 And the young men rose up and removed him; and carrying him out, they buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had taken place.	7 Then about the space of three hours passed, and his wife entered, not knowing 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 And Peter said to her, “Tell me, woman, if you sold the field for this amount?” And she said, “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 And Peter said to her: “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall 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 Immediately, she fell down before his feet and expired. Then the young men entered and found her dead. And they carried her out and buried her next to her husband.
11 And a great fear came upon the whole church and on al who heard it.	11 And a great fear came over the entire Church and over all who 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 through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were accomplished among the people. And they all met with one accord at Solomon’s portico.
13 No one else dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise	13 And among the others, no one dared to 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 Now the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was ever increasing,
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 so much so that they laid the infirm in the streets, placing them on beds and stretchers, so that, as Peter arrived, at least his shadow might fall upon any one of them, and they would be freed from their infirmities.
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 But a multitude also hurried to Jerusalem from the neighboring cities, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, who were all healed.
17 Then the high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Fil ed withjealousy,	17 Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy.
18 they arrested the apostles and had them put in the public gaol.	18 And they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed 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 in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,
20 'Go and take up position in the Temple, and tel the people all about this new Life.'	20 “Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of 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 had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they 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 attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them,
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: “We found the prison certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within.”
24 When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what could behappening.	24 Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen.
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 But someone arrived and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you placed in prison are in the temple, standing 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 the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be 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 stood them before the council. And 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 and said: “We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.”
29 In reply Peter and the apostles said, 'Obedience to God comes before obedience to men;	29 But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so 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 has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death 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 It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.
32 We are witnesses to this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.'	32 And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.”
33 This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.	33 When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning 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 someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly.
35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, 'Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people.	35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about 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, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced 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 this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with 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 therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken.
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 Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God.” And they agreed with 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 And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they 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 And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus.
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 every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus.