Act 5 | NASB2020 | STEP | But a man named Ananias , with his wife Sapphira , sold a piece of property ,

Acts 5

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and ^akept back some of the ^{▼▼Lit price}proceeds for himself, with his wife’s ^{▼▼Or collusion}full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^dlaid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^eSatan filled your heart to lie ^fto the Holy Spirit and to ^gkeep back some of the ^{▼▼Lit price}proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^{▼▼Or in your authority}under your control? Why is it that you have ^{▼▼Lit placed}conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but ^kto God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias ^lcollapsed and ^{▼▼Lit expired}died; and ⁿgreat fear came over all who heard about it. 6 The young men got up and ^ocovered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now an interval of about three hours elapsed, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^pfor ^{▼▼Lit so much}this price?” And she said, “Yes, for ^{▼▼Lit so much}that price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^sput ^tthe Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she ^ucollapsed at his feet and ^{▼▼Lit expired}died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And ^wgreat fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard about these things.

12 ^{▼▼Lit Through}At the hands of the apostles many ^{▼▼I.e., confirming miracles
,} ^zsigns and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all ^{▼▼Or of one mind}together in ^abSolomon’s ^{▼▼Or colonnade}portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^adthe people held them in high esteem. 14 And increasingly ^aebelievers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being ^afadded to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by ^agat least his shadow might fall on any of them. 16 The ^{▼▼Lit multitude}people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick ^{▼▼Lit and}or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

17 But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is ^ajthe sect of ^akthe Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and ^alput them in a public prison. 19 But during the night ^aman angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said, 20 “Go, stand and ^{▼▼Or continue to speak}speak to the people in the temple area ^{▼▼Lit all the words
,} ^apthe whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area ^aqabout daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^arthe high priest and his associates came, they called ^asthe ^{▼▼Or Sanhedrin}Council together, that is, all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison for them to be brought. 22 But ^authe officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported, 23 saying, “We found the prison locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 Now when ^avthe captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^{▼▼Lit this would become}would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people!” 26 Then ^axthe captain went along with ^aythe officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^azthey were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand ^{▼▼Lit among}before ^bbthe Council. The high priest interrogated them, 28 saying, “We gave you ^bcstrict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^{▼▼Lit behold}yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^beintend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “ ^bfWe must obey God rather than men. 30 ^bgThe God of our fathers ^bhraised up Jesus, whom you ^biput to death by hanging Him on ^{▼▼Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
,} ^bka cross. 31 ^blHe is the one whom God exalted ^{▼▼Or by}to His right hand as a ^{▼▼Or Leader
,} ^boPrince and a ^bpSavior, to grant ^bqrepentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are ^brwitnesses ^{▼▼One early ms adds in Him}of these things; and ^btso is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

33 But when they heard this, they became ^buinfuriated and nearly decided to execute them. 34 But a Pharisee named ^bvGamaliel, a ^bwteacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^bxthe Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men. 36 For, some time ago Theudas appeared, ^byclaiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. ^{▼▼Lit Who was killed}But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee appeared in the days of ^cathe census and drew away some people after him; he also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38 And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or ^{▼▼Lit work}movement ^ccis men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^cdfighting against God.”

40 They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^ceflogged them and ordered them not to ^{▼▼Lit be speaking}speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the ^{▼▼Or Sanhedrin
,} ^chCouncil, ^cirejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^cjfor His name. 42 ^ckAnd every day, in the temple and ^{▼▼Or in the various private homes}from house to house, they did not stop teaching and ^cmpreaching the good news of Jesus as the ^{▼▼I.e., Messiah}Christ.