Acts 5 - LSB Bible Online

Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and ^akept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s ¹full knowledge. And bringing a portion of it, he ^blaid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^aSatan filled your heart to lie ^bto the Holy Spirit and to ^ckeep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ¹under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ^ato God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias ^afell down and breathed his last; and ^bgreat fear came over all who heard. 6 And the young men rose up and ^awrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you were paid ^athis much for the land?” And she said, “Yes, that much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^aput ^bthe Spirit of the ¹Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she ^afell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And ^agreat fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard these things.
12 Now ¹at the hands of the apostles many ^asigns and wonders were happening among the people, and they were all with one accord in ^bSolomon’s Portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^athe people were holding them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever ^abelievers in the Lord were ^badded to their number, multitudes of men and women, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that when Peter came by ^aat least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the multitude from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ¹or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

The Apostles Jailed and Freed

17 But the high priest rose up and those with him (that is ^athe sect of ^bthe Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 And they laid hands on the apostles and ^aput them in a public jail. 19 But during the night ^aan angel of the ¹Lord opened the doors of the prison, and taking them out, he said, 20 “Go, stand and ¹speak to the people in the temple ²^athe whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple ^aabout daybreak and began to teach.
Now when ^bthe high priest and those with him came, they called ^cthe Sanhedrin together, even all the Council of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the jailhouse for them to be brought. 22 But ^athe officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back, 23 saying, “We found the jailhouse locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors, but we opened it and found no one inside.” 24 Now when ^athe captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ¹would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then ^athe captain went along with ^bthe officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^cthey were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
27 And when they had brought them, they stood them ¹before ^athe Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We ^astrictly commanded you not to continue teaching in this name, and ¹yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^bintend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “^aWe must obey God rather than men. 30 ^aThe God of our fathers ^braised up Jesus, ¹whom you ^cput to death by hanging Him on a tree. 31 ^aThis One God exalted ¹to His right hand as ²a ^bLeader and a ^cSavior, to grant ^drepentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are ^awitnesses ¹of these things, and ^bso is the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

33 But when they heard this, they became ^afurious and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named ^aGamaliel, a ^bteacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^cthe Sanhedrin and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, ^aclaiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ¹But he was killed, and all who ²were following him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^athe census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all those who ¹were following him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I also say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ¹action ^ais of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or you may even be found ^afighting against God.”
40 So they ¹followed his advice. And after calling the apostles in and ^abeating them, they commanded them not to ²speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the ^aSanhedrin, ^brejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^cfor the Name. 42 ^aAnd every day, in the temple and ¹from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^bproclaiming the good news that Jesus is the ²Christ.

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