Acts 5 - 6
Ananias and Sapphira
5But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2and 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. 3But 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.” 5And as he heard these words, Ananias afell down and breathed his last; and bgreat fear came over all who heard. 6And the young men rose up and awrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7Now there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you were paid athis much for the land?” And she said, “Yes, that much.” 9Then 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.” 10And 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. 11And agreat fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard these things.
12Now 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. 13But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, athe people were holding them in high esteem. 14And more than ever abelievers in the Lord were badded to their number, multitudes of men and women, 15to 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. 16Also 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
17But the high priest rose up and those with him (that is athe sect of bthe Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18And they laid hands on the apostles and aput them in a public jail. 19But 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.” 21Upon 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. 22But athe officers who came did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back, 23saying, “We found the jailhouse locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors, but we opened it and found no one inside.” 24Now 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. 25But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26Then 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).
27And when they had brought them, they stood them 1before athe Sanhedrin. And the high priest questioned them, 28saying, “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.” 29But 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
33But when they heard this, they became afurious and intended to kill them. 34But 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. 35And 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; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or you may even be found afighting against God.”
40So 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. 41So they went on their way from the presence of the aSanhedrin, brejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame cfor the Name. 42aAnd 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.
Selection of the Seven
6Now in those days, while the adisciples were bmultiplying in number, there was grumbling from the 1,cHellenists against the dHebrews, because their ewidows were being overlooked in fthe daily serving of food. 2So the twelve summoned the 1congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not pleasing to God for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3“Therefore, abrothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this need. 4“But we will adevote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.” 5And this word pleased the whole 1congregation, and they chose aStephen, a man bfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a 2,dproselyte from eAntioch. 6And these they stood before the apostles, and after apraying, they blaid their hands on them.
7aAnd the word of God kept on spreading, and bthe number of the disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a great 1many of the priests were becoming obedient to cthe faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great awonders and 1signs among the people. 9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both aCyrenians and bAlexandrians, and some from cCilicia and 1,dAsia, rose up and were arguing with Stephen. 10But they were unable to oppose the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they acame up to him, dragged him away, and brought him to bthe Sanhedrin. 13And they put forward afalse witnesses who said, “This man never ceases speaking words against this bholy place and the Law; 14for we have heard him say that athis Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and alter bthe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the aSanhedrin saw his face like the face of an angel.