Ananias and Sapphira
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But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
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and with his wife's knowledge 1he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and 2laid it at the apostles' feet.
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But Peter said, "Ananias, why has 3Satan filled your heart to lie 4to the Holy Spirit and 5to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
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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 men but 6to God."
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When Ananias heard these words, he 7fell down and breathed his last. And 8great fear came upon all who heard of it.
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The young men rose and 9wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
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After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
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And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether youa sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."
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But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together 10to test 11the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
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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.
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And 12great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Many Signs and Wonders Done
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Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people 13by the hands of the apostles. And they were all 14together in 15Solomon's Portico.
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None of the rest dared join them, but 16the people held them in high esteem.
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And 17more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
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18so that they even 19carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by 20at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
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The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, 21bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
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But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of 22the Sadducees), and filled with 23jealousy
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they arrested the apostles and 24put them in the public prison.
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But during the night 25an angel of the Lord 26opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
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And when they heard this, 30they entered the temple 31at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.
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But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,
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"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside."
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Now when 32the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
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And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison 33are standing in the temple and teaching the people."
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Then 34the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for 35they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
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And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,
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saying, 36"We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you 37intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
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But Peter and the apostles answered, 38"We must obey God rather than men.
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God exalted 43him at his right hand as 44Leader and 45Savior, 46to give 47repentance to Israel and 48forgiveness of sins.
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And 49we are witnesses to these things, and 50so is the Holy Spirit, 51whom God has given to those who obey him."
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When they heard this, they 52were enraged and wanted to kill them.
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But a Pharisee in the council named 53Gamaliel, 54a 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.
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And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.
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For 55before these days Theudas rose up, 56claiming 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.
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After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of 57the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
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So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for 58if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
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but 59if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You 60might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice,
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and 61when they had called in the apostles, 62they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)