Ananias and Sapphira
1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2and with her full knowledge he held back part of the price; he brought the rest and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart, so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and held back part of the price of the land? 4While it was unsold, was it not yours? And once sold, was the money not at your disposal? What made you plot this in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5When Ananias heard these words he fell down and died, and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6The younger men got up, wrapped his body, carried it out and buried it. 7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter said to her, “Tell me, did the two of you sell the land for this much?” “Yes,” she said, “for that much.” 9Peter said to her, “How could you agree together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen — the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10At once she fell at his feet and died. The young men came in, found her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the whole church and over everyone who heard of these things.
Signs among the People
12Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles, and they all met with one mind in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13None of the others dared to attach themselves to them, but the people spoke highly of them. 14More than ever, believers were added to the Lord, crowds of men and women, 15so that people would even 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. 16Crowds also came in from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and every one of them was healed.
Set Free in the Night
17Then the high priest and all his circle — the party of the Sadducees — rose up, filled with jealousy. 18They laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out and said: 20“Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message of this life.” 21At daybreak they did as they were told: they entered the temple and began to teach. Meanwhile the high priest and his circle arrived, called the Sanhedrin together — the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel — and sent to the jail to have the men brought in. 22But when the officers arrived they did not find them in the prison, so they went back and reported: 23“We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside.” 24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this, they were at a loss about them, wondering what would come of it. 25Then someone arrived with the news: “Look, the men you put in prison are standing in the temple, teaching the people.” 26So the captain went off with his officers and brought them in, but without force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27They brought them in and stood them before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest questioned them: 28“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, and here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and mean to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give Israel repentance and the forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
The Advice of Gamaliel
33When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, and ordered the men to be put outside for a moment. 35Then he said, “Men of Israel, think carefully about what you intend to do with these men. 36Some time ago Theudas came forward, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men attached themselves to him. He was killed, all who followed him scattered, and it came to nothing. 37After him, in the days of the census, Judas the Galilean came forward and drew people away after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38So in the present case I tell you: keep away from these men and let them alone. If this plan or this work is of human origin, it will collapse. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to destroy them — and you may find that you are fighting against God.” 40They were persuaded. They called the apostles in, had them flogged, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41So they left the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
