Acts Chapter 5

Ananias and Sapphira

            ¹ A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira also sold a piece of land. ² He kept part of the price and took the rest to the apostles. (She was in on it.)

³ Peter said, “Ananias, why did Satan prompt you to lie to the Holy Spirit, when you kept part of the price of the field? ⁴ While you had it, wasn’t it yours? When you sold it, didn’t you control it? Why decide to do this? You didn’t just lie to people, but to God.” ⁵ When Ananias heard that, he collapsed and died. Great respect came on everybody that heard about it. ⁶ The young men got up, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.                           

            ⁷ Some three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Did you^pl sell the field for such and such?”

            “Yes.”

            ⁹ Peter said, “Why’d you^pl agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? The ones that buried your husband are at the door, and they’ll carry you out.”

¹⁰ She collapsed right there and died. The young men carried her out to bury her beside her husband. ¹¹ People that heard about what happened came to greatly respect the church.                                                                                                                           

Acts 5:1-11

Miracles Among the People

¹² The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people, and they were getting together in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ People hesitated to join them, but they held them in high regard. ¹⁴ Believers kept coming to the Lord, large numbers of men and women. ¹⁵ As a result, they were bringing sick people out into the streets and putting them on cots and stretchers so when Peter came, even his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Crowds even came from towns around Jerusalem, carrying sick people and people harassed by unclean spirits. They were all healed.                                                                                                                                                                        

Acts 5:12-16

The Apostles Persecuted

¹⁷ The high priest and his associates—Sadducees—were jealous. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in public custody. ¹⁹ During the night an angel of the LORD opened the gates of the jail and let them out, ²⁰ “Go into the Temple and speak to the people the message about this life.” ²¹ They went in about daylight and started teaching. The high priest and his associates convened Israel’s Sanhedrin, the senate, and sent to the jail to bring the apostles. ²² But the officers didn’t find them. They came back and reported, ²³“We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we didn’t find anybody inside.” ²⁴ The captain of the Temple and the chief priests were dumbfounded about what this might lead to. ²⁵ A fellow came and told them, “They’re standing in the Temple, teaching the people.” ²⁶ The captain went with the officers and brought them without force because they were afraid the people would stone them.

Acts 5:17-26

            ²⁷ They took them into the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked them, ²⁸ “Didn’t we strictly charge you not to teach in this name? You’ve filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

            ²⁹ Peter and the apostles said,

“We have to obey God instead of you. ³⁰ Our ancestors’ God raised up Jesus that you did murder on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him as Leader and Savior to his right hand to offer repentance and forgiveness to Israel. ³² We speak to that fact and so does the Holy Spirit God has given to ones that obey him.”

Acts 5:27-32

Gamaliel’s Advice

            ³³ They were furious and wanted to execute them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the Law, stood up and told them to put the men out of the council chamber for a while,

³⁵ “Israelites, be careful what you do to them. ³⁶ Before now, Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. About 400 men joined him. He was killed, and everybody that obeyed him scattered and didn’t amount to anything.

³⁷ “After that, Judas the Galilean rose up during the census, and drew people to him. He perished too, and the ones that obeyed him scattered. ³⁸ Now I tell you, leave these men alone. If this effort is coming from men, it’ll be overthrown. ³⁹ If it’s from God, you won’t overthrow them, and you can be fighting against God.”

They agreed. ⁴⁰ They called the apostles, beat them, charged them not to speak in Jesus’ name, and released them. ⁴¹ They left the Sanhedrin, elated over being considered worthy of suffering for The Name. ⁴² Every day in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to preach that Jesus was the Messiah.                                                                                                              

Acts 5:33-42