| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. | 1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. |
| 2And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. | 2With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. |
| 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? | 3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? |
| 4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” | 4Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!” |
| 5Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. | 5On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. |
| 6And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. | 6Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. |
| 7Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. | 7About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. |
| 8And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” | 8“Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.” |
| 9Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together 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.” | 9“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” |
| 10Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. | 10At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. |
| 11So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. | 11And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events. |
| 12And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. | 12The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade. |
| 13Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. | 13Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them. |
| 14And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, | 14Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women. |
| 15so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. | 15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. |
| 16Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. | 16Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed. |
| 17Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, | 17Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out |
| 18and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. | 18and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. |
| 19But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, | 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, |
| 20“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” | 20“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.” |
| 21And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. | 21At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. |
| 22But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, | 22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: |
| 23saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” | 23“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” |
| 24Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. | 24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening. |
| 25So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” | 25Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!” |
| 26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. | 26At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them. |
| 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, | 27They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. |
| 28saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” | 28“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” |
| 29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. | 29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. |
| 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. | 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. |
| 31Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. | 31God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. |
| 32And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also 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, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” |
| 33When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. | 33When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death. |
| 34Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. | 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time. |
| 35And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. | 35“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men. |
| 36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. | 36Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. |
| 37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. | 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered. |
| 38And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; | 38So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. |
| 39but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” | 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.” |
| 40And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. | 40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. |
| 41So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. | 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. |
| 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. | 42Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. |
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