Acts 5:1-23 ▼

1 Now a man named Ananias (YHWH is gracious), together with his wife Sapphira (sapphire), also sold a piece of property.

2 With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ (sent ones) feet.

3 Then Peter (rock) said, “Ananias (YHWH is gracious), how is it that Satan (the adversary) has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit {Hagion Pneuma} and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

4 Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God {Theō}!

5 On hearing these words, Ananias (YHWH is gracious) fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.

6 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.

8 “Tell me, said Peter (rock), “is this the price you⁺ and your⁺ husband got for the land? “Yes, she answered, “that is the price.

9 “How could you⁺ agree to test the Spirit {Pneuma} of the Lord {Kyriou}? Peter replied. “Look (Behold), the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.

10 At that instant 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.

11 And great fear came over the whole church {ekklēsian} and all who heard about these events.

12 The apostles (sent ones) performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s (peace) Colonnade.

13 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.

14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord {Kyriō}—large numbers of both men and women.

15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem (city of peace), bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean (impure) spirits {pneumatōn}, and all of them were healed.

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out

18 and arrested the apostles (sent ones) and put them in the public jail.

19 But during the night an angel (messenger) of the Lord {Kyriou} opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

20 “Go, stand in the temple courts \the temple/ and tell the people the full message {rhēmata} of this new life.

21 At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin (the Council) the full assembly of the elders of Israel (He wrestles with God)—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:

23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.