5:1   But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

5:2   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.

5:3   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?

5:4  "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after you sold it , did it not remain under your control? Why have you conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

5:5  And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.

5:6   The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

5:7   Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

5:8  And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, we sold it for that price."

5:9  Then Peter said to her, "Why have you agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband have come to the door, and they will carry you out as well."

5:10   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.

5:11   And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

5:12   At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders took place among the people; and they dwelled with one accord in Solomon's portico.

5:13   But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.

5:14   And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, constantly added to their number,

5:15   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.

5:16   Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem came together, bringing sick people or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they all received healing.

5:17   But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (namely the sect of the Sadducees), and they all became jealous.

5:18  They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.

5:19   But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,

5:20   "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."

5:21  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 to bring them .

5:22   But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,

5:23  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."

5:24   Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they felt greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.

5:25   But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison stand in the temple and teach the people!"

5:26   Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they feared the people, that they might stone them).

5:27  When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,

5:28   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."

5:29   But Peter and the apostles answered, " We must obey God rather than men.

5:30   " The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

5:31   God exalted Him at His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

5:32   "And we witness these things; and so does the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

5:33   But when they heard this, they felt cut to the quick and intended to kill them.

5:34   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.

5:35   And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.

5:36  "For some time ago Theudas rose up, impressed with himself, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But someone killed him, and all who followed him dispersed and came to nothing.

5:37   "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 scattered.

5:38   "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action comes from men, it will become overthrown;

5:39   but if it comes from God, you will not have the capability of overthrowing them; or else you may even find yourselves fighting against God."

5:40   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.

5:41   So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that Jesus had considered them worthy to suffer shame for His name.

5:42   And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.