Ananias and Sapphira
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. Lev 10:1-32Ti 2:20Mat 13:47-48Jhn 6:37Jos 6:1 With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Act 4:372Pe 2:14-152Ki 5:21-25Act 4:34-35Act 5:3Jhn 12:6Jos 7:11-12Mal 1:14
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? Jer 23:24Isa 29:151Pe 5:8Act 5:9Jhn 13:2Jhn 13:27Ecc 5:4Eph 6:11-16 Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!” Act 5:31Ch 29:31Th 4:82Ki 5:25-27Jos 7:25-26Luk 10:16Act 5:9Act 8:21-22
On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. Act 5:10-11Act 2:43Act 5:13Num 16:26-34Rev 11:13Rev 11:51Ch 13:121Ch 15:13 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. Jhn 19:402Sa 18:17Deu 21:23Lev 10:4-6
About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” Act 5:2
“Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”
“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 1Co 10:9Act 5:3-4Psa 95:8-11Psa 78:56Act 15:10Psa 78:18-20Psa 78:40-412Ki 6:32
At that instant 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. Act 5:5 And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events. Act 5:51Co 10:11-12Act 19:17Heb 4:1Php 2:12Heb 12:15Psa 89:7Heb 12:28
The Apostles Heal Many
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade. Act 19:112Co 12:12Heb 2:4Act 14:3Act 2:42-43Rom 15:19Act 3:11Jhn 10:23 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them. Act 2:47Act 4:21Act 19:17Jhn 12:42Jhn 19:381Ki 17:181Sa 16:4-52Pe 2:20-22 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women. Act 2:47Act 4:4Isa 55:11-13Act 2:41Act 6:7Act 9:31Act 9:35Act 9:42
As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Act 19:11-12Mat 14:36Jhn 14:12Mat 9:21 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed. Mrk 16:17-18Mrk 2:3-4Act 4:30Jas 5:16Jhn 14:12Luk 5:17Luk 9:11Mat 15:30-31
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out Act 13:45Act 17:5Act 7:91Pe 2:11Sa 18:12-16Ecc 4:4Jhn 11:47-49Jhn 12:10 and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. Act 4:32Co 11:23Luk 21:12Act 12:5-7Act 16:23-27Act 8:3Heb 11:36Rev 2:10 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, Act 16:26Psa 34:7Act 12:7-11Act 27:23Act 8:26Psa 105:17-20Isa 61:1Mat 1:20 “Go, stand in the temple courts 1and tell the people the full message of this new life.” Jhn 6:63Jhn 6:681Jn 5:11-121Jn 1:1-3Mat 21:23Jhn 12:50Jhn 17:3Act 11:14
At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. Jhn 8:2Act 12:18-19Act 22:15Act 22:2-3Act 4:5-7Act 5:17Act 5:24-25Act 5:27
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin 2—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report: “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Psa 2:4Psa 33:10Act 5:19Dan 3:11-25Dan 6:22-24Jhn 8:59Lam 3:37Lam 3:55-58
The Apostles before the Sanhedrin
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening. 3 Act 4:1Act 5:26Act 2:12Act 4:16-17Act 4:21Dan 2:34-35Dan 2:44-45Isa 53:1-2 Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”
At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them. Act 5:13Act 4:21Act 5:24Luk 20:19Luk 20:6Luk 22:2Mat 14:5Mat 21:26 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. Mat 5:22Act 22:30Act 4:7Act 6:12Luk 22:66 “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 responsible for this man’s blood.” Mat 27:25Act 4:18-21Act 7:52Act 4:10-111Th 2:15-16Jer 26:15Mat 21:441Ki 18:17-18
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. Act 4:191Sa 15:24Mrk 7:7-9Gen 3:17Rev 14:8-12 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. Gal 3:131Pe 2:24Act 10:39Act 13:28-29Act 3:13-15Act 4:10-11Act 2:22-241Ch 12:17 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. Luk 24:47Act 2:33Heb 2:10Act 11:18Luk 2:111Jn 4:14Rev 1:5Heb 12:2 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Jhn 15:26-27Heb 2:3-4Act 1:8Luk 24:47-481Pe 1:12Act 10:39-41Act 13:31Act 5:29
Gamaliel’s Advice
When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved 4to put the apostles to death. Act 7:54Act 2:37Luk 4:28-29Jhn 16:2Mat 24:9Gen 4:5-8Luk 11:50-54Mat 10:21 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 short time. Act 22:3Luk 2:46Luk 5:17Act 23:7-9Jhn 7:50-53Psa 76:10Act 4:15
“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men. Act 19:36Act 22:26Jer 26:19Mat 27:19 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. Act 8:92Pe 2:22Th 2:3-7Act 21:38Gal 2:6Gal 6:3Jud 1:16Mat 24:24 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered. Luk 2:1-2Job 20:5-9Luk 13:1-2Mat 26:52Psa 7:14-15Psa 9:15-16
So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. Mat 15:13Lam 3:37Isa 8:9-10Job 5:12-14Isa 7:5-7Pro 21:30Psa 33:10-111Co 1:26-28 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.” Pro 21:30Isa 46:10Mat 16:181Co 1:25Act 11:17Act 7:51Act 6:10Act 9:5
At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. Mat 10:172Co 11:24Act 4:17-21Act 5:28Jhn 19:1-4Mrk 13:9Pro 12:10Amo 2:12
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Jas 1:21Pe 4:13-16Luk 6:22Php 1:29Jhn 15:21Mat 5:10-122Co 12:10Isa 66:5 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Act 2:46Act 20:20Luk 21:37Act 8:35Act 9:202Ti 4:2Act 17:3Rom 1:15-16