Acts 5

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

1A man named Ananias sold a piece of land. He and his wife Sapphira sold it together.

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

2He secretly kept back part of the money. His wife knew about it. He brought the rest and laid it at the feet of the apostles. The apostles were the men Jesus chose to lead.

3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

3Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit. You kept back part of the money from the land."

4Whiles 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 God.

4"Before you sold it, the land was yours. After you sold it, the money was yours too. Why did you plan this in your heart? You did not lie to people. You lied to God."

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

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Everyone who heard about it was very afraid.

NoteThe old wording says Ananias "gave up the ghost." That is an old way of saying he died.

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

6The young men got up and wrapped his body. They carried him out and buried him.

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

7About three hours later his wife came in. She did not know what had happened.

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

8Peter asked her, "Tell me. Did you sell the land for this much money?" She said, "Yes, for that much."

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

9Peter said, "Why did you two agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too."

Note"Tempt" in the old wording means to test or to try, not to talk someone into doing wrong.

10Then 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.

10Right away she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

11Great fear came over the whole church. Everyone who heard about this was afraid. The church was the group of people who followed Jesus.

12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

12The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers met together in Solomon's Porch. That was a covered walkway at the temple.

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

13No one else was brave enough to join them. But the people spoke well of them.

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

14More and more people believed in the Lord. Many men and many women joined them.

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

15People carried the sick out into the streets. They laid them on beds and mats. They hoped Peter's shadow would fall on some as he walked past.

16There 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 healed every one.

16Crowds came from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought sick people and people troubled by evil spirits. Every one of them was healed.

17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

17Then the high priest stood up, and his friends stood with him. He was the chief leader at the temple. They belonged to a group called the Sadducees. They were full of jealousy.

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

18They grabbed the apostles and put them in the public jail.

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

19But at night an angel of the Lord opened the jail doors. He brought them out and said,

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

20"Go and stand in the temple. Tell the people the whole message about this new life."

21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But 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.

21Early in the morning they went into the temple and taught the people. Meanwhile the high priest and his friends called the council together. All the leaders of Israel came to that meeting. They sent to the jail for the apostles.

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

22But the officers got there and did not find them. They went back and reported,

23Saying, The 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.

23"We found the jail locked up tight. The guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened it, no one was inside."

24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

24The high priest, the captain of the temple guards, and the chief priests heard this. They were puzzled and wondered what would happen next.

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

25Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are in the temple teaching the people."

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

26So the captain went with his officers and brought them back. They did not use force. They were afraid the people would throw stones at them.

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

27They brought the apostles in and stood them before the council. The high priest asked them questions.

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

28He said, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. But you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You want to blame us for this man's death."

29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

29Peter and the other apostles answered, "We must obey God instead of people."

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

30"The God of our fathers raised Jesus back to life. You killed him by hanging him on a tree."

Note"Hanged on a tree" is an old way of talking about being put to death on a wooden cross.

31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

31"God lifted Jesus to the place of honor at his right hand. God made him Prince and Savior. Now Israel can turn away from sin and be forgiven."

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

32"We saw these things, and we tell people about them. The Holy Spirit tells about them too. God gives the Spirit to those who obey him."

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

33When the leaders heard this, they were very angry. They talked about putting the apostles to death.

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

34Then Gamaliel stood up in the council. He was a Pharisee, part of a group that carefully kept God's rules. He was a teacher of God's law, and everyone respected him. He asked that the apostles be taken outside for a short time.

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

35He said, "Men of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men."

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

36"Some time ago Theudas came along. He said he was someone important. About four hundred men followed him. He was killed. His followers scattered, and nothing came of it."

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

37"After him came Judas from Galilee, back when people were being counted. He led many people away with him. He died too, and all his followers scattered."

Note"The days of the taxing" means the time when the rulers counted all the people and wrote down their names.

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

38"So here is what I say. Stay away from these men. Leave them alone. If their plan comes from people, it will fail."

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

39"But if it comes from God, you cannot stop them. You might even end up fighting against God."

40And to him they agreed: and 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.

40The council agreed with him. They called the apostles in and beat them. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.

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

41The apostles left the council full of joy. God had counted them worthy to be shamed for Jesus' name.

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

42Every day they taught in the temple and in homes. They never stopped telling the good news about Jesus Christ.