Now a man named Ananias , together with his - wife Sapphira , (also) sold a piece of property.
(With) ... (his) wife’s full knowledge , he kept back (some) of the proceeds (for himself) , (but) brought a portion (and) laid (it) at the vvv apostles’ feet.
Then - Peter - said , “ Ananias , how is it that ... - Satan has filled your - heart vvv to lie to the - Holy Spirit and withhold (some) of the proceeds from the land ?
vvv Did 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 ? vvv You have not lied to men , but - to God ! ”
- On hearing these - words , - Ananias fell down (and) died. And great fear came over all who heard (what had happened).
Then the young (men) stepped forward , wrapped up his (body) , and carried (him) out (and) buried (him).
- - About three hours later his - wife also came in , vvv unaware of what had happened.
- “ Tell me , ” said Peter - - - , “ (is this) the price you (and your husband ) got for the land ? ” “ Yes , ” - - she answered , “ that is the price. ”
“ 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) .... ”
- At 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.
And great fear came over the whole church and - all who heard about these (events).
- The apostles vvv vvv vvv performed many signs and wonders among the people , and with one accord (the believers gathered together) ... in Solomon’s - Colonnade.
- Although the people regarded them highly ... , no one - else dared to join them.
Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord — large Numbers - of both men and women.
As 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.
- - Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem , bringing (the) sick and (those) tormented by unclean spirits , (and) all (of them) were healed.
Then the high priest and all his associates ... ... , who belonged to the party of the Sadducees , were filled with jealousy. They went out
and arrested ... ... ... the apostles and put them in (the) public jail.
But during the night an angel of (the) Lord opened the doors of the jail vvv (and) brought them out , - saying ,
“ Go , - stand in the temple (courts) (and) tell the people the full message of this (new) life. ”
- At - 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 vvv elders of Israel — and sent to the jail (for) (the apostles).
But on arriving at the jail , the officers vvv did not find them (there). (So) they returned with the report :
- - “ We found the jail vvv vvv securely locked , (with) the guards posted at the doors ; but when we opened (them) , we found no one inside. ”
- When - the captain of the temple (guard) and the chief priests heard this - account , they were perplexed as to ... what ... - was happening.
Then someone came in (and) announced - , - “ Look , the men - you put in - jail are standing in the temple (courts) - teaching the people ! ”
At that point , the captain went with the officers (and) brought (the apostles) — (but) not by force , for fear the people - would stone (them).
- They brought them in ... (and) made (them) stand before the Sanhedrin , (where) the high priest interrogated them.
“ We gave you strict orders ... ... vvv 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. ”
But Peter - and the other apostles replied ... , vvv “ We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus , whom you had killed by hanging (Him) on a tree.
- God exalted Him to His right hand (as) Prince and Savior , - ( in order ) to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins - to Israel.
- We are witnesses of these things , and so (is) the - Holy Spirit , whom - God has given to those who obey Him. ”
- - When (the Council members) heard this , they were enraged , and they resolved to put (the apostles) to death ....
But 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.
“ Men of Israel , ” - he said - - , “ consider carefully ... what you are about to do to these - men.
- Some 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.
After (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.
So - 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.
But if it is from God , vvv you will not be able to stop them. vvv vvv vvv You may even find yourselves fighting against God. ”
At 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).
- - (The apostles) left ... ... the Sanhedrin , rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
- Every day , in the temple (courts) and from house (to house) , vvv they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus (is) the Christ.