CHAPTER IV.
THE LIBERALITY OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS, ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA, FURTHER PERSECUTION.
1 4:32AND the multitude that believed had one heart and one soul, and none said that anything of his possessions was his; but they had all things common. 4:33And the apostles delivered the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and great favor was towards them all. 4:34For no one among them was needy; for those who possessed lands or houses sold and brought the prices of the things sold, 4:35and laid them at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any one had need. 4:36And Joseph, called Barnabas by the apostles, which is interpreted, A son of consolation, a Levite, a Cyprian by birth, 4:37having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.
2 5:1And one Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 5:2and he kept back a part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and bringing a certain part laid it at the apostles' feet. 5:3But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to the Holy Spirit, and that you should keep back a part of the price of the land? 5:4Continuing unsold was it not yours, and when it was sold was it not at your disposal? Why did you propose this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. 5:5And Ananias hearing these words fell down and expired; and great fear was upon all who heard. 5:6And the young men arose and laid him out, and having carried him out buried him.
3 5:7And after an interval of about three hours, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 5:8And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the field for so much? And she said, Yes; for so much. 5:9And Peter said to her, Why have you agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those that buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out. 5:10And she fell down immediately at his feet, and expired; and the young men coming in found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband. 5:11And great fear was on all the assembly [church], and on all that heard of these things.
4 5:12And many miracles and prodigies were performed among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all of one accord in Solomon's porch; 5:13and no one of the rest dared to join them, but the people magnified them; 5:14and believers were added the more to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women; 5:15so that they brought the sick into the streets and placed them on little beds and couches, that as Peter passed along even his shadow might overshadow some of them. 5:16And the multitude came together from the cities about Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled by impure spirits, all of whom were cured.
5 5:17And the chief priest arose, and all those with him, being the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with wrath, 5:18and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. 5:19But an angel of the Lord opening the prison doors by night led them out and said, 5:20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 5:21And hearing this they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. And the chief priest coming, and those with him, called the Sanhedrim together, and all the eldership of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
6 5:22But the officers going did not find them in the prison; and returning they reported, 5:23saying, The prison found we shut with all safety, and the guards standing before the doors, but opening we found no one within. 5:24And when they heard these words, both the priest and the commander of the temple and the chief priests doubted concerning them, what this could mean. 5:25But some one came and told them, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
7 5:26Then the commander going away with the officers brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned; 5:27and having brought them they placed them before the Sanhedrim. And the chief priest asked them, 5:28saying, We charged you strictly not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and wish to bring this man's blood on us. 5:29And Peter answering, and the apostles, said, It is necessary to obey God rather than man. 5:30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you took and hung on a cross; 5:31him has God exalted, a Prince and Saviour at his right hand, to give a change of mind to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. 5:32And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit which God has given to those that obey him.
8 5:33And when they heard this they were highly offended, and took counsel to kill them. 5:34But a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrim, by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, in honor with all the people, standing up requested them to put the men out a little while; 5:35and he said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you are about to do to these men. 5:36For before these days Theudas arose, saying that he was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered, who was destroyed, and all who obeyed him passed away and came to nothing.
9 5:37After him arose Judas the Galilean, in the days of the census, and drew away people after him; and he was destroyed, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 5:38And now I tell you, abstain from these men, and let them alone; because if this design, or this work, is from men, it will be destroyed; 5:39but if it is from God, you cannot destroy them; lest you be found at some time to be fighting against God. 5:40And they were persuaded by him, and calling the apostles and scourging them, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. 5:41They went therefore from the presence of the Sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of [Christ]; 5:42and every day in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching the good news of Christ Jesus.