Acts 5

¹But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a field,

²and he was deceitful about the price of the field, with his wife’s consent. And bringing only part of it, he placed it at the feet of the Apostles.

³But Peter said: “Ananias, why has Satan tempted your heart, so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and be deceitful about the price of the land?

⁴Did it not belong to you while you retained it? And having sold it, was it not in your power? Why have you set this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

⁵Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired. And a great fear overwhelmed all who heard of it.

⁶And the young men rose up and removed him; and carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷Then about the space of three hours passed, and his wife entered, not knowing what had happened.

⁸And Peter said to her, “Tell me, woman, if you sold the field for this amount?” And she said, “Yes, for that amount.”

⁹And Peter said to her: “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out!”

¹⁰Immediately, she fell down before his feet and expired. Then the young men entered and found her dead. And they carried her out and buried her next to her husband.

¹¹And a great fear came over the entire Church and over all who heard these things.

¹²And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were accomplished among the people. And they all met with one accord at Solomon’s portico.

¹³And among the others, no one dared to join himself to them. But the people magnified them.

¹⁴Now the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was ever increasing,

¹⁵so much so that they laid the infirm in the streets, placing them on beds and stretchers, so that, as Peter arrived, at least his shadow might fall upon any one of them, and they would be freed from their infirmities.

¹⁶But a multitude also hurried to Jerusalem from the neighboring cities, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

¹⁷Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy.

¹⁸And they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed them in the common prison.

¹⁹But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,

²⁰“Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of life.”

²¹And when they had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the prison to have them brought.

²²But when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them,

²³saying: “We found the prison certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within.”

²⁴Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen.

²⁵But someone arrived and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you placed in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

²⁶Then the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.

²⁷And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,

²⁸and said: “We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.”

²⁹But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.

³⁰The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree.

³¹It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.

³²And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.”

³³When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death.

³⁴But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly.

³⁵And he said to them: “Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men.

³⁶For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced to nothing.

³⁷After this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed.

³⁸And now therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken.

³⁹Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God.” And they agreed with him.

⁴⁰And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.

⁴¹And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus.

⁴²And every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus.

Acts 5

¹But a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of land,

²And by fraud kept back part of the price of the land, his wife being privy thereunto: and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles.

³But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost and by fraud keep part of the price of the land?

⁴Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? And after it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.

⁵And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it.

⁶And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him.

⁷And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

⁸And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much.

⁹And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door: and they shall carry thee out,

¹⁰Immediately, she fell down before his feet and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in found her dead: and carried her out and buried her by her husband.

¹¹And there came great fear upon the whole church and upon all that heard these things.

¹²And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

¹³But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them: but the people magnified them.

¹⁴And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was more increased:

¹⁵Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities.

¹⁶And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighbouring cities, bringing sick persons and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed.

¹⁷Then the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him (which is the heresy of the Sadducees) were filled with envy.

¹⁸And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

¹⁹But an angel of the Lord by night, opening the doors of the prison and leading them out, said:

²⁰Go, and standing speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

²¹Who having heard this, early in the morning, entered into the temple and taught. And the high priest coming, and they that were with him, called together the council and all the ancients of the children of Israel: and they sent to the prison to have them brought.

²²But when the ministers came and opening the prison found them not there, they returned and told,

²³Saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the door: but opening it, we found no man within.

²⁴Now when the officer of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what would come to pass.

²⁵But one came and told them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.

²⁶Then went the officer with the ministers and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

²⁷And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

²⁸Saying: Commanding, we commanded you that you should not teach in this name. And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine: and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us.

²⁹But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God rather than men.

³⁰The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.

³¹Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour. to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.

³²And we are witnesses of these things: and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey him.

³³When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart: and they thought to put them to death.

³⁴But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.

³⁵And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.

³⁶For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. Who was slain: and all that believed him were scattered and brought to nothing.

³⁷After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him. He also perished: and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed.

³⁸And now, therefore, I say to you: Refrain from these men and let them alone. For if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

³⁹But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.

⁴⁰And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.

⁴¹And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.

⁴²And every day they ceased not, in the temple and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.