English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property.

2and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

2He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

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

3Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.

4While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”

4The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

5As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.

6The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

6Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

7After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

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

8And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”

8Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”

9But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have 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 will carry you out.”

9And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”

10Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

10Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

11Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. The Apostles Heal Many

12Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.

12The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade.

13None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

13But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.

14And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

14Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.

15so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

15As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.

16The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

16Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed. The Apostles Meet Opposition

17But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy

17The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

18they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

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

19But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them,

20“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

20“Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

21And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

21So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council —the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial.

22But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,

22But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported,

23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”

23“The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.

24When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end.

25And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

25Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”

26Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

26The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

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

27Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them.

28saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

28“We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.

30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.

31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

31Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.

32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

32We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

33When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them.

34But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.

34But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while.

35And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.

35Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men!

36For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

36Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing.

37After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

37After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.

38So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;

38“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown.

39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

39But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

40and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

40The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

41Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

41The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.

42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

42And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.