Acts 5

¹But a certain man, named Ananias, with Saphira, his wife, sold a field, ²And by fraud kept back part of the price of the field, his wife being privy thereto, and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles. ³But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and by fraud keep part of the price of the field? ⁴Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? and when it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God. ⁵And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost. And great fear came upon all that heard it. ⁶And the young men, rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him. ⁷And it came to pass, about the space of three hours after, that his wife also not knowing what had happened, came in. ⁸And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the field for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much. ⁹And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of those, who have buried thy husband, are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. ¹⁰Immediately she fell down before his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in, found her dead; and carried her out, and buried her by her husband. ¹¹And there came great fear upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things. ¹²And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were wrought among the people. And they were all, with one accord, in Solomon's porch. ¹³But of the rest, no one durst join himself to them: but the people magnified them. ¹⁴And the multitude of men and women, that believed in the Lord, was more increased, ¹⁵Insomuch, that they brought out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow, at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities. ¹⁶And there came also together, to Jerusalem, a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed. ¹⁷Then the high priest, rising up, and all that were with him, (which is the heresy of the Sadducees) were filled with indignation. ¹⁸And they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹But an Angel of the Lord, by night opening the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said: ²⁰Go, and, standing, speak in the temple, to the people, all the words of this life. ²¹They having heard this, entered early in the morning into the temple, and taught. Now the high priest coming, and they that were with him, called together the council, and all the ancients of the children of Israel; and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²²But when the officers came, and having opened the prison, found them not, returning back, they told, ²³Saying; The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the doors: but opening it, we found no man within. ²⁴Now, when the magistrate of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them what this would come to. ²⁵But a man coming, told them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison, are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. ²⁶Then went the magistrate with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸Saying; Commanding, we commanded you, that you should not teach in this name: and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us. ²⁹But Peter answering, and the apostles, said: We ought to obey God rather than men. ³⁰The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree. ³¹Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. ³²And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey him. ³³When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they thought to put them to death. ³⁴But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, by name Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while. ³⁵And he said to them; Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what you are about with these men. ³⁶For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be some body, whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined; who was slain: and all who believed him, were dispersed, and brought to nothing. ³⁷After this man rose up Judas, of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him: he also perished: and all who adhered to him, were dispersed. ³⁸And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel, or this work be of men, it will come to nothing: ³⁹But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they agreed with him. ⁴⁰And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus, and they dismissed them. ⁴¹And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus. ⁴²And they ceased not every day in the temple, and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.