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a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property, 2 With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the proceeds, and brought the rest and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then 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, was it not your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why have you contrived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!”
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. Great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 Then young men came forward and wrapped up his body, and they carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 Then she fell down straight away at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard of these things.
12 Many miraculous signs and wonders were performed among the people through the hands of the apostles. 13 No one else dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 Many more believers were added to the Lord, with large numbers of both men and women converting. 15 As a result, people brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, so that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Crowds also came from the cities surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17 Then the high priest took action. He and all his associates, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles, and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple courts, and tell the people all about this life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been instructed, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they called the Sanhedrin together and the whole assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent instructions to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the temple police got to the prison, they did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “The prison we found securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 Now when the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
25 Then someone came and told them, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid that people might stone them.
27 When they had brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest asked, 28 “Did we not strictly command you not to teaching this name? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our Fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. 31 God exalted Him on His right hand as Prince and Saviour, that He might grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do with these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were scattered, and it all came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. But he was also killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I advise you to stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail. 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it. You may even be found to be fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him.
40 After they had called the apostles in, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for His name. 42 Every day in the temple courts and in various houses they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.