Acts 5
Ananias and Sapphira
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge ahe kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and blaid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has aSatan filled your heart to lie bto the Holy Spirit and cto keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but ato God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he afell down and breathed his last. And bgreat fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and awrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together ato test bthe Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And agreat fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Many Signs and Wonders Done
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people aby the hands of the apostles. And they were all btogether in cSolomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but athe people held them in high esteem. 14 And amore than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 aso that they even bcarried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by cat least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, abringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of athe Sadducees), and filled with bjealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and aput them in the public prison. 19 But during the night aan angel of the Lord bopened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all athe words of bthis cLife.” 21 And when they heard this, athey entered the temple bat daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when athe captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison aare standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then athe captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for bthey were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, a“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you bintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, a“We must obey God rather than men. 30 aThe God of our fathers braised Jesus, cwhom you killed by hanging him on da tree. 31 God exalted ahim at his right hand as bLeader and cSavior, dto give erepentance to Israel and dforgiveness of sins. 32 And awe are witnesses to these things, and bso is the Holy Spirit, cwhom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they awere enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named aGamaliel, ba teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For abefore these days Theudas rose up, bclaiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of athe census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for aif this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but aif it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You bmight even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and awhen they had called in the apostles, bthey beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, arejoicing that they were counted worthy bto suffer dishonor for cthe name. 42 And every day, ain the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and bpreaching cthat the Christ is Jesus.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.