| Chapter 5
|
| 1 | But a certain
man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | And Ananias
hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on
all them that heard these things. |
|
6 | And the young men arose, wound him up, and 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. |
| 8 | And Peter
answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said,
Yea, for so much. |
| 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 | 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 great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard
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. |
| 13 | And of the rest durst no man join
himself to them: but the people magnified them. |
|
14 | And believers were the more added to the Lord,
multitudes both of men and women.) |
|
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
| 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 rose up, and all they that were with him,
(which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, |
| 18 | And laid their hands on
the apostles, and put them in the common prison. |
|
19 | But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison
doors, and brought them forth, and said, |
| 20 | Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the
words of 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. |
|
22 | But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison,
they returned and told, |
| 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 | 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 came one and told them, saying,
Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and 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. |
| 27 | And when they had brought them, they
set them before the council: and the high priest asked 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. |
| 29 | Then Peter and the other
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. |
| 30 | The God of our fathers raised up
Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged 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. |
| 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 | When
they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. |
| 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 | And
said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do
as touching 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. |
| 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 | 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 be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to
fight against God. |
| 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 they departed
from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to
suffer shame for his name. |
| 42
| And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach
and preach Jesus Christ. |
