Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5

Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property, and kept back part of the price. With his wife’s knowledge, he brought a portion of it 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? Wasn’t it yours when you owned it? And after it was sold, wasn’t spending it your choice? Then why did you put this idea in your heart? You haven’t just lied to humans, but to God.”

When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died, and great fear came on all who heard. The young men came forward, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. Peter asked her, “Tell me, did y’all sell the land for this much?”

She said, “Yes, for that price.”

But Peter said to her, “Why is it that y’all have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”

Immediately, she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear came on the whole church, and on all who heard about these things.

Healings, Signs, and Wonders

Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles, and they were all together in one accord at Solomon’s Colonnade. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high regard. And yet more believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. As a result, people carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

The Apostles Imprisoned and Released

Then the high priest rose up, along with those who were with him from sect of the Sadducees, and they were filled with jealousy. They seized the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison during the night, brought them out, and said, “Y’all go stand in the temple and tell the people all about this life.”

Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began teaching. Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the entire high council of the sons of Israel—and they sent orders to the prison to have them brought. But the officers who went didn’t find them in the prison. So they returned and reported, “We found the prison locked securely, and the guards standing at the doors. But when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple guard, and the chief priests heard this report, they were very bewildered, wondering what would come of this. Then someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, teaching the people.” So the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles, not using any force because they were afraid that the people would stone them.

When they had brought them in, they made them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest questioned them, “We ordered y’all not to teach in this name. But look, y’all have filled Jerusalem with your* teaching, and y’all are determined to bring this man’s blood down on us.”

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than humans. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom y’all killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to ʜɪꜱ right hand as Prince and a Savior, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey ʜɪᴍ.”

Gamaliel’s Wisdom

But when they heard this, they were split open with rage and wanted to murder them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, y’all need carefully consider what you’re about to do with these men. A while back Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, and all those who followed him were dispersed, and it came to nothing. After him, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and he invited people to follow him in revolt. He also died, and all of his followers were scattered. Now I’m telling y’all, y’all should stay away from these humans and leave them alone. If their plan or activity is from humans, it will be overthrown. But if this is from God, y’all won’t be able to overthrow it, and y’all will be found fighting against God!” And he persuaded them.

So they summoned the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.

Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.