Deceit Before the Father
5 1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and he kept back part of the proceeds for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and brought only a portion and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your own disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to our Father." a a v4 When Peter says lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to our Father, he shows the Spirit is fully God — not a force, but a divine Person.
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 Then the young men rose, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for this much." And she said, "Yes, for that much."
9 Then Peter said to her, "Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of our Father? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."
10 Instantly she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Signs and Wonders Through the Apostles
12 Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. 14 Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, hoping that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Arrested, Freed, and Returned
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of our Father opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, 20 "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
21 When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council—all the senate of the people of Israel—and sent to the jail to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed, wondering where this would lead. 25 Then someone came and told them, "Look, the men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them, but without force, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to make us responsible for this man's blood."
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey our Father rather than men. 30 The Father of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 Our Father exalted him to his right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom our Father has given to those who obey him.
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted 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 ordered the men to be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew people away after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So now I tell you, keep away from these men and leave them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail. 39 but if it is from our Father, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even find yourselves fighting against our Father." So they were persuaded by him.
40 They took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they left the council chamber, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Christ is Jesus.