Ananias and Sapphira
1Now a
man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of
property. 2With
his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but
brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3Then
Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that satan has so filled your heart that you
have lied to The HOLY SPIRIT and have kept for yourself some of the money you
received for the land? 4Didn’t
it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at
your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing?
You have not lied
just to human beings but to GOD.”
5When
Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard
what had happened. 6Then
some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and
buried him.
7About
three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter
asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the
price.”
9Peter
said to her, “How could you conspire to test The SPIRIT of The LORD? Listen!
The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will
carry you out also.”
10At that
moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and,
finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11Great
fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
The Apostles Heal Many
12The
apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people.
And all the
believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13No one
else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14Nevertheless,
more and more men and women believed in The Lord and were added to their
number. 15As a
result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats
so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds
gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those
tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
The Apostles Persecuted
17Then
the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the
Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18They
arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19But
during the night an angel of The Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought
them out.
20 “Go, stand in the Temple courts,” he said, “and tell the
people all about this new life.”
When the high priest and his
associates arrived, they called together the —the full
assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.
22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24On hearing this report, the captain of the Temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25Then
someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple
courts teaching the people.” 26At
that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not
use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
27The
apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be
questioned by the high priest. 28“We
gave you strict orders not to teach in This Name,” he said. “Yet you have
filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of This Man’s Blood.”
29Peter
and the other apostles replied:
“We must obey GOD rather than human beings! 30The GOD of our ancestors Raised JESUS from the dead—Whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. 31GOD Exalted Him to His Own Right Hand As Prince and SAVIOR that HE Might Bring Israel to repentance and Forgive their sins. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is The HOLY SPIIT, Whom GOD Has Given to those who obey Him.”
“We must obey GOD rather than human beings! 30The GOD of our ancestors Raised JESUS from the dead—Whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. 31GOD Exalted Him to His Own Right Hand As Prince and SAVIOR that HE Might Bring Israel to repentance and Forgive their sins. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is The HOLY SPIIT, Whom GOD Has Given to those who obey Him.”
33When
they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But a
Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, who was honored by all the
people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a
little while.
35Then he
addressed the Sanhedrin:
“Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But If It Is From GOD, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against GOD.”
“Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But If It Is From GOD, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against GOD.”
40His
speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them
not to speak in The Name of JESUS, and let them go.
41The
apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of
suffering disgrace for The Name.
42Day
after day, in the Temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped
teaching and proclaiming
The Good News That JESUS Is The MESSIAH.
The Good News That JESUS Is The MESSIAH.
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