Acts

Ananias and Sapphira

Another man, named Ananias, in agreement with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of land;

with his wife’s knowledge, he kept some of the proceeds aside, and the rest he handed over to the apostles.

Then, Peter said to him: “Ananias, how is it that you let Satan fill your heart? Why do you plan to deceive the Holy Spirit by withholding some of the proceeds from your land? Who compelled you to sell it?

After it was sold, could you not have kept all the money? How could you even think of such a thing? You haven’t deceived us but God.”

Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell and died. Great fear came over everyone who heard about it;

the young men stood up, wrapped his body, and carried it out for burial.

About three hours later, Ananias’s wife came, but she was not aware of what had happened.

Peter challenged her: “Tell me whether you sold that piece of land for this price?” She said: “Yes, that was the price.”

Peter replied:

“How could you two agree to put the Holy Spirit to the test? Those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”

With that, she collapsed and died at his feet. The young men entered, found her dead, and carried her out for burial beside her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole church and everyone who heard about it.

Third Report: Miracles

Many miraculous signs and wonders were performed among the people through the hands of the apostles. The believers, united in purpose, used to gather in Solomon’s Porch.

None of the others dared to join them, but the people held them in high regard.

As a result, an increasing number of men and women believed in the Lord.

The people brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that when Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

The crowds from the surrounding towns came, bringing their sick and those troubled by unclean spirits; and everyone was healed.

Persecution

The High Priest and all his supporters, that is the party of the Sadducees, became very jealous of the apostles;

so they arrested them and threw them into the public jail.

But an angel of the Lord opened the prison door during the night, freed them, and told them:

“Go and stand in the temple court and tell the people the whole message of this life.”

So, they entered the temple at dawn and resumed their teaching. When the High Priest and his supporters arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, which is the full Council of Israel’s elders. They sent a message to the jail to bring the prisoners.

When the temple guards reached the jail, they did not find anyone inside; so they returned with the report:

“We found the prison securely locked and the guards posted outside the gate; but when we opened the gate, we found no one inside.”

Upon hearing these words, the captain of the temple guard and the high priests were confused, wondering where all of this would lead.

Just then, someone arrived with a report:

“Look, those men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, teaching the people.”

Then the captain went with the guards and brought them back, but without using force for fear of being stoned by the people.

So they brought them in and made them stand before the Council, and the high priest questioned them:

“We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior, but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching; and you are planning to charge us with the killing of this man.”

To this, Peter and the apostles replied:

“It is better for us to obey God rather than any human authority!

The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a wooden cross.

God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When the Council heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill them.

But one of them, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law highly respected by the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin. He ordered the men to be taken outside for a few minutes

and then he spoke to the assembly:“Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you plan to do to these men.

For some time ago, Theudas appeared claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him. However, he was killed, and all his followers were scattered or disappeared.

After him, Judas the Galilean appeared during the census and convinced many to follow him. But he also perished, and his entire group was broken up.

So, in this case, I advise you not to interfere with these men. Leave them alone. If their movement is human-made, it will fall apart on its own.

But if it is from God, you cannot stop it, and you may even find yourselves fighting against God.

”The Council was persuaded by him.

They summoned the apostles, had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus, the Savior. Then they released them.

The apostles left the Council rejoicing because they were deemed worthy to suffer shame for the sake of the Name.

Day after day, both in the temple and in people’s homes, they kept teaching and proclaiming that Jesus was the Messiah.