1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property.
2He kept back part of the money for himself, and his wife knew about it and agreed. Then he brought the rest and placed it at the apostles’ feet.
3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the money from the land?
4Didn’t the land belong to you before you sold it? And after you sold it, wasn’t the money yours to do with as you pleased? How could you think of doing such a thing? You have lied not to people, but to God.”
5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. Great fear came over everyone who heard what had happened.
6The young men came and wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.
7About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” She answered, “Yes, for that amount.”
9Then Peter said to her, “How could you two agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out, too.”
10She immediately fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in, found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.
11Everyone in the church and all who heard about these events were filled with great fear.
12The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. They all met together regularly in Solomon's Porch.
13None of the other people dared to join them, even though the people held them in high regard.
14More and more believers were added to the Lord, large numbers of both men and women.
15People even carried the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, hoping that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
16Crowds also came from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those troubled by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
17But the high priest and all those with him (who belonged to the Sadducee group) rose up, filled with jealousy.
18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
19But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out, and said,
20“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people everything about this new life.”
21When they heard this, they went into the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and all the elders of Israel. Then they sent orders to the prison to have the apostles brought before them.
22But when the officers went, they didn’t find the apostles 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, there was no one inside!”
24When the high priest, the captain of the temple guard, and the chief priests heard this, they were very confused and wondered what would happen next.
25Then someone came and told them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”
26So the captain and his officers went and brought the apostles back. They did this without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.
27When they brought the apostles, they made them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,
28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name! Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying to blame us for this man’s death.”
29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
30The God our ancestors worshiped raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
31God honored him by placing him at his own right side as the Leader and Savior. This was to give Israel a chance to change their ways and have their sins forgiven.
32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to kill the apostles.
34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the law, stood up in the council. He ordered the apostles to be taken outside for a little while.
35He told them, "Men of Israel, be careful about what you are going to do to these men."
36Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be an important person. About 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing.
37After him, during the time of the census, Judas of Galilee appeared and gathered a following. He also died, and all his followers were scattered.
38So now I tell you, leave these men alone and let them go. Because if their plan or their work is from human origin, it will fail.
39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even find yourselves fighting against God!”
40They agreed with him. So they called the apostles back in, beat them, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them.
41The apostles left the council, happy that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.
42And every day, in the Temple and in their homes, they never stopped teaching and telling the good news that Jesus was the Christ.