Acts 5:1-23 ▼

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.

2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?

4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.”

5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.

6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.

7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price? ” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.

11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them.

14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women.

15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17 Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

18 So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

19 But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said,

20 “Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.”

21 Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full council of the Israelites—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.

22 But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported,

23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”