Acts, 5

1. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

1. Another man named Ananias, in agreement with his wife Sapphira, likewise sold a piece of land;

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.

2. with his wife's knowledge he put aside some of the proceeds, and the rest he turned over to the apostles.

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?

3. Then Peter said to him, "Ananias, how is it that you let Satan fill your heart and why do you intend to deceive the Holy Spirit by keeping some of the proceeds of your land for yourself?

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.

4. Who obliged you to sell it? And after it was sold, could you not have kept all the money? How could you think of such a thing? You have not deceived us but 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.

5. Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came upon all who heard of it;

6. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried [him] out, and buried [him].

6. the young men stood up, wrapped his body and carried it out for burial.

7. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

7. About three hours later Ananias's wife came but she was not aware of what had happened.

8. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

8. Peter challenged her, "Tell me whether you sold that piece of land for this price?" She said, "Yes, that was the price."

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.

9. Peter replied, "How could you two agree to put the Holy Spirit to the test? Those who buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out as well."

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.

10. With that, she fell dead at his feet. The young men came in, found her dead and carried her out for burial beside her husband.

11. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

11. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of it.

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.

12. Many miraculous signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles. The believers, of one accord, used to meet in Solomon's Porch.

13. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

13. None of the others dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

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

14. So an ever increasing number of men and women, believed in the Lord.

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.

15. The people carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and on mats, so that when Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on 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.

16. The people gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.

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,

17. The High Priest and all his supporters, that is the party of the Sadducees, became very jealous of the apostles;

18. And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

18. so they arrested them and had them thrown into the public jail.

19. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

19. But an angel of the Lord opened the door of the prison during the night, brought them out, and said to them,

20. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

20. "Go and stand in the Temple court and tell the people the whole of this living message."

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.

21. Accordingly they entered the Temple at dawn and resumed their teaching. When the High Priest and his supporters arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin, that is the full Council of the elders of Israel. They sent word to the jail to have the prisoners brought in.

22. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

22. But when the Temple guards arrived at the jail, they did not find them inside, so they returned with the news,

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.

23. "We found the prison securely locked and the prison guards at their post outside the gate, but when we opened the gate, we found no one inside."

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.

24. Upon hearing these words, the captain of the Temple guard and the high priests were baffled, wondering where all of this would end.

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.

25. Just then someone arrived with the report, "Look, those men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple, 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.

26. Then the captain went off with the guards and brought them back, but without any show of force, for fear of being stoned by the people.

27. And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them,

27. So they brought them in and made them stand before the Council and the High Priest questioned 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.

28. "We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend charging us with the killing of this man."

29. Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

29. To this Peter and the apostles replied, "Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority!

30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

30. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a wooden post.

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.

31. God set him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

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.

32. We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

33. When they heard [that], they were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them.

33. When the Council heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill 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;

34. But one of them, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law highly respected by the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin. He ordered the men to be taken outside for a few minutes

35. And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

35. and then he spoke to the assembly. "Fellow Israelites, consider well what you intend to do to 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.

36. For some time ago Theudas came forward, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed and all his followers were dispersed or disappeared.

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.

37. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared at the time of the census and persuaded many people to follow him. But he too perished and his whole following was scattered.

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:

38. So, in this present case, I advise you to have nothing to do with these men. Leave them alone. If their project or activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.

39. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

39. If, on the other hand, it is from God, you will not be able to destroy it and you may indeed find yourselves fighting against God." The Council let themselves be persuaded.

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.

40. They called in the apostles and had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus Savior. Then they set them free.

41. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

41. The apostles went out from the Council rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name.

42. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

42. Day after day, both in the Temple and in people's homes, they continued to teach and to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah.