The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

But a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of land,

And by fraud kept back part of the price of the land, his wife being privy thereunto: and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles.

But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and by fraud keep part of the price of the land?

Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God.

And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it.

And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him.

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

And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much.

And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.

Immediately she fell down before his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in, found her dead: and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.

And there came great fear upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

And 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.

But of the rest no man durst join himself unto them; but the people magnified them.

And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord, was more increased:

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.

And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighboring cities, bringing sick persons, and such as were troubled with unclean spirits; who were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

Then the high priest rising up, and all they that were with him, (which is the heresy of the Sadducees,) were filled with envy.

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

But an angel of the Lord by night opening the doors of the prison, and leading them out, said:

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

Who having heard this, early in the morning, entered into the temple, and taught. And the high priest coming, and they that were with him, called together the council, and all the ancients of the children of Israel; and they sent to the prison to have them brought.

But when the ministers came, and opening the prison, found them not there, they returned and told,

Saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing before the doors; but opening it, we found no man within.

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

Now when the officer of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what would come to pass.

But one came and told them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple standing, and teaching the people.

Then went the officer with the ministers, and brought them without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

Saying: Commanding we commanded you, that you should not teach in this name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you have a mind to bring the blood of this man upon us.

But Peter and the apostles answering, said: We ought to obey God, rather than men.

The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom you put to death, hanging him upon a tree.

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

And we are witnesses of these things and the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to all that obey him.

Gamaliel’s Advice

When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they thought to put them to death.

But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.

And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.

For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all that believed him were scattered, and brought to nothing.

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

And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought;

But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.

And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus; and they dismissed them.

And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.

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

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

and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?

While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

The Apostles Heal Many

By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them.

The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy

and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody.

But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,

“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,

“We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

The Apostles before the Sanhedrin

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.

One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”

Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,

saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.

But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.

After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.