The Acts of the Apostles

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- Chapter 5 -

But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a field,

and he was deceitful about the price of the field, with his wife’s consent. And bringing only part of it, he placed it at the feet of the Apostles.

But Peter said: “Ananias, why has Satan tempted your heart, so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and be deceitful about the price of the land?

Did it not belong to you while you retained it? And having sold it, was it not in your power? Why have you set this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

Then Ananias, upon hearing these words, fell down and expired. And a great fear overwhelmed all who heard of it.

And the young men rose up and removed him; and carrying him out, they buried him.

Then about the space of three hours passed, and his wife entered, not knowing what had happened.

And Peter said to her, “Tell me, woman, if you sold the field for this amount?” And she said, “Yes, for that amount.”

And Peter said to her: “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out!”

Immediately, she fell down before his feet and expired. Then the young men entered and found her dead. And they carried her out and buried her next to her husband.

And a great fear came over the entire Church and over all who heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were accomplished among the people. And they all met with one accord at Solomon’s portico.

And among the others, no one dared to join himself to them. But the people magnified them.

Now the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord was ever increasing,

so much so that they laid the infirm in the streets, placing them on beds and stretchers, so that, as Peter arrived, at least his shadow might fall upon any one of them, and they would be freed from their infirmities.

But a multitude also hurried to Jerusalem from the neighboring cities, carrying the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

Then the high priest and all those who were with him, that is, the heretical sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with jealousy.(a)

And they laid hands on the Apostles, and they placed them in the common prison.

But in the night, an Angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, saying,

“Go and stand in the temple, speaking to the people all these words of life.”

And when they had heard this, they entered the temple at first light, and they were teaching. Then the high priest, and those who were with him, approached, and they called together the council and all the elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the attendants had arrived, and, upon opening the prison, had not found them, they returned and reported to them,

saying: “We found the prison certainly locked up with all diligence, and the guards standing before the door. But upon opening it, we found no one within.”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

Then, when the magistrate of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were uncertain about them, as to what should happen.

But someone arrived and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you placed in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

Then the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.

And when they had brought them, they stood them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,

and said: “We strongly order you not to teach in this name. For behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you wish to bring the blood of this man upon us.”(b)

But Peter and the Apostles responded by saying: “It is necessary to obey God, more so than men.

The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging him on a tree.

It is he whom God has exalted at his right hand as Ruler and Savior, so as to offer repentance and the remission of sins to Israel.

And we are witnesses of these things, with the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who are obedient to him.”(c)

Gamaliel’s Advice

When they had heard these things, they were deeply wounded, and they were planning to put them to death.

But someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law honored by all the people, rose up and ordered the men to be put outside briefly.

And he said to them: “Men of Israel, you should be careful in your intentions about these men.

For before these days, Theudas stepped forward, asserting himself to be someone, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined with him. But he was killed, and all who believed in him were scattered, and they were reduced to nothing.

After this one, Judas the Galilean stepped forward, in the days of the enrollment, and he turned the people toward himself. But he also perished, and all of them, as many as had joined with him, were dispersed.

And now therefore, I say to you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or work is of men, it will be broken.

Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God.” And they agreed with him.

And calling in the Apostles, having beaten them, they warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.

And indeed, they went forth from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer insult on behalf of the name of Jesus.

And every day, in the temple and among the houses, they did not cease to teach and to evangelize Christ Jesus.

Footnotes

(a)5:17 Notice that the Pharisees have now lost power, and the Sadducees are the ones who are associated with the high priest and are influential with him. The Sadducees were heretical because they did not believe in Angels, nor in fallen angels, nor in the Resurrection. The Pharisees probably lost power due to their actions against Jesus, whereby they pressured Pilate to allow him to be put to death, even though he was innocent.(Conte)

(b)5:28 The repetition of the verb intensifies its meaning.(Conte)

(c)5:32 The Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace are not given only to those who are formally baptized, but those who are obedient to the will of God can also receive sanctifying grace in a non-formal baptism.(Conte)

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?

While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy

and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.

But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,

“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,

“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.

One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,

saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.

But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.

After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.