Acts, 5

1. There was also a man called Ananias. He and his wife, Sapphira, agreed to sell a property;

1. But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra 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 the apostles.

2. and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3. Peter said, 'Ananias, how can Satan have so possessed you that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land?

3. But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?

4. While you still owned the land, wasn't it yours to keep, and after you had sold it wasn't the money yours to 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 your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

5. When he heard this Ananias fell down dead. And a great fear came upon everyone present.

5. When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died. 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 rose and wrapped him up and 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, not knowing what had happened.

8. Peter challenged her, 'Tell me, was this the price you sold the land for?' 'Yes,' she said, 'that was the price.'

8. And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."

9. Peter then said, 'Why did you and your husband agree to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen! At the door are the footsteps of those who have buried your husband; they will carry you out, too.'

9. But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that 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, and they carried her out and buried her by the side of her husband.

10. 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.

11. And a great fear came upon the whole church and on all 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 all used to meet in the Portico of Solomon.

12. Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And 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 rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor.

14. and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. Many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles

14. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,

15. so that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past.

15. so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

16. People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

16. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17. Then the high priest intervened with all his supporters from the party of the Sadducees. Filled with jealousy,

17. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sad'ducees, and filled with jealousy

18. they arrested the apostles and had them put in the public gaol.

18. they arrested the apostles and put 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 at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said,

20. 'Go and take up position in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.'

20. "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."

21. They did as they were told; they went into the Temple at dawn and began to preach. When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin -- this was the full Senate of Israel -- and sent to the gaol for them to be brought.

21. And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the senate of Israel, and 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 officers came, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported,

23. 'We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.'

23. "We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside."

24. When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered what could be happening.

24. Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.

25. Then a man arrived with fresh news. 'Look!' he said, 'the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.'

25. And some one came and told them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."

26. The captain went with his men and fetched them -- though not by force, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

26. Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for 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. And when they had brought them, they set 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? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt for this man's death on us.'

28. saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend 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 answered, "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 fathers raised Jesus whom you 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 and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.

31. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel 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. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom 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 were enraged and wanted to kill them.

34. One member of the Sanhedrin, however, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a teacher of the Law respected by the whole people, stood up and asked to have the men taken outside for a time.

34. But a Pharisee in the council named Gama'li-el, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while.

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, take care what you do with these men.

36. Some time ago there arose Theudas. He claimed to be someone important, and collected about four hundred followers; but when he was killed, all his followers scattered and that was the end of them.

36. For before these days Theu'das arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed 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 killed too, and all his followers dispersed.

37. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

38. What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord;

38. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail;

39. but if it does in fact come from God you will be unable to destroy them. Take care not to find yourselves fighting against God.' His advice was accepted;

39. but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"

40. and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

40. So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.

41. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

42. Every day they went on ceaselessly teaching and proclaiming the good news of Christ Jesus, both in the temple and in private houses.

42. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.