Acts 5

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

2 And^b kept back¹ part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.²

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why ^chath Satan filled thine heart to lie³ to the Holy Ghost, and to ^dkeep back part of the price of the land?Cited in WSC 6 · WLC 11, 105, 145 · HC 53

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto ^eGod.⁴Cited in WSC 6 · WLC 11, 151 · WCF 26.3 · HC 53

5 And Ananias, hearing these words, ^gfell down, and gave up the ghost: and ^hgreat fear came on all them that heard these things.

6 And the young men arose, ⁱwound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.Cited in WLC 145

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have ^jagreed together to ^ktempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.Cited in WLC 145

10 Then^l fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

11 And ⁿgreat fear⁵ came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12 ¶ And^o by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and ^pthey were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

13 And^q of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And^r believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets,⁶ and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least ^sthe shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.⁷

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were ^thealed every one.

17 ¶ Then^u the high-priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the ^vSadducees,) and were filled with indignation,⁸

18 And^w laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

19 But^x the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison-doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people ^yall the words of this life.⁹

21 And when they heard that, ^zthey entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. ^aBut the high-priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,

23 Saying, ^bThe prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

24 Now when the high-priest¹ and ^cthe captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they ^ddoubted of them whereunto this would grow.

25 Then^e came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence:² for ^gthey feared the people,³ lest they should have been stoned.

27 And when they had brought them, ^hthey set them before the council: and the high-priest asked them,

28 Saying, ⁱDid not we straitly command you, that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and ^jintend to bring this man's blood upon us.⁴

29 ¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, ^kWe ought to obey God rather than men.Cited in WCF 20.2 · HC 94

30 The^l God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31 Himⁿ hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.Cited in WLC 45

32 And ^owe are his witnesses of these things; and so is also ^pthe Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.⁵

33 ¶ When they heard that, they ^qwere cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named ^rGamaliel,⁶ a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, ^stake heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36 For ^tbefore these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom ^ua number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed⁷ him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

37 After^v this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: ^xhe also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

38 And now I say unto you, ^yRefrain from these men, and let them alone: ^zfor if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought.

39 But ^aif it be of God, ye cannot ⁸overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40 And to him they agreed: ^band when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 ¶ And they departed from the presence of the council, ^crejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

42 And^d daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.