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Acts Chapter 5 (NIV)

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undefined Ananias and SapphiraNow a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
undefined With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
undefined Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
undefined Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
undefined When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
undefined Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
undefined About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
undefined Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
undefined Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
undefined At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
undefined Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
undefined The Apostles Heal ManyThe apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
undefined No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
undefined Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
undefined As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
undefined Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
undefined The Apostles PersecutedThen the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
undefined They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
undefined But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.
undefined “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
undefined At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.
undefined But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,
undefined “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
undefined On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.
undefined Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”
undefined At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
undefined Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.
undefined “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
undefined Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
undefined The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
undefined God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
undefined We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
undefined When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
undefined But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
undefined Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
undefined Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
undefined After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
undefined Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
undefined But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
undefined His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
undefined The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
undefined Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

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