King James New American Standard Bible
  • 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
  • 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
  • 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
  • 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
  • 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
  • 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
  • 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
  • 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
  • 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
  • 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
  • 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
  • 12 And 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.
  • 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
  • 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
  • 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
  • 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
  • 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
  • 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
  • 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
  • 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
  • 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
  • 22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
  • 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
  • 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
  • 25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
  • 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
  • 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
  • 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
  • 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
  • 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
  • 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
  • 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
  • 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
  • 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
  • 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
  • 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
  • 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
  • 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
  • 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
  • 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
  • 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
  • 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
  • 1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
  • 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.
  • 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
  • 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
  • 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
  • 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
  • 7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
  • 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
  • 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out 'as well.'”
  • 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
  • 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
  • 12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.
  • 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.
  • 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,
  • 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.
  • 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
  • 17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.
  • 18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.
  • 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,
  • 20 “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”
  • 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.
  • 22 But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,
  • 23 saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.”
  • 24 Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.
  • 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
  • 26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
  • 27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,
  • 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.”
  • 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
  • 30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
  • 31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
  • 32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and {so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
  • 33 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.
  • 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.
  • 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.
  • 36 “For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
  • 37 “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.
  • 38 “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;
  • 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
  • 40 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.
  • 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
  • 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission.