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1But when a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold their land,
2they decided to keep part of the money for themselves. Ananias brought the rest of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how has Satan so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit? You’ve kept some of the money you received for your land.
4Didn’t the land belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, you could have used the money any way you wanted. How could you do such a thing? You haven’t just lied to people, you’ve lied to God.”
5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Everyone who heard what had happened became very afraid.
6Some young men came and wrapped up his body, and then they carried him out and buried him.
7About three hours later, Sapphira came in. She didn’t know what had happened.
8Peter asked her, “Did you and Ananias sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “that’s the price.”
9Peter asked her, “How could the two of you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! Those footsteps you hear are of the men coming back from burying your husband. They’re going to carry you out too.”
10At that moment she fell down at Peter’s feet and died. When the young men came in, they saw that Sapphira was dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11This frightened the whole church and everyone who heard about these things.
12The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers met together at Solomon’s Porch.
13No one else dared to join them, but everyone thought very highly of them.
14More and more men and women believed in the Lord and became part of the community.
15People brought those who were sick into the streets on beds and mats. They were hoping that Peter’s shadow might at least touch some of them as he walked by.
16Crowds even gathered from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought those who were sick and those who were suffering because of evil spirits, and they were all healed.
17The high priest and his friends, who were all Sadducees, were jealous of the apostles.
18They arrested them and put them in the public jail.
19But during the night an angel of the Lord came and opened the doors of the jail and let the apostles out.
20“Go and stand in the temple courtyard,” the angel said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21The apostles went into the temple courtyard early the next day, as they had been told, and they began to teach the people.
The high priest and his friends arrived at the temple and called together the assembly of all the elders of Israel, the Sanhedrin. They sent their officers to the jail to get the apostles,
22but when they arrived, they didn’t find them there. So they went back and told their leaders,
23“We found the jail locked up tight, with guards standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, we didn’t find anyone inside.”
24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they couldn’t understand how it could be true. They wondered what would happen next.
25Just then someone came in and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courtyard, teaching the people!”
26So the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles back. But they didn’t use force, because they were afraid that if they did, the people would stone them.
27They brought the apostles in to the Sanhedrin, and the high priest questioned them.
28“We gave you clear orders not to teach in Jesus’ name,” he said. “But you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You want to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29Peter and the other apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than people!
30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead, even though you killed him by nailing him to a cross.
31God has lifted Jesus up and given him a place of honor at his right hand, making him Prince and Savior so he can turn Israel away from their sins and forgive them.
32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33When the leaders heard this, they became very angry, and they wanted to put the apostles to death.
34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin. He was a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people. He ordered the apostles to be taken outside
35before he spoke to the Sanhedrin. “Men of Israel,” he said, “think carefully about what you’re planning to do.
36Some time ago a man named Theudas appeared and made great claims about himself. He got about 400 people to support him, but he was killed, his followers were scattered, and it all came to nothing.
37After that, Judas from Galilee came along, in the days when the Romans made everyone register to pay taxes. Judas started a revolt, but he too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
38So let me give you some advice. Leave these men alone! Let them go! If their plans and actions come only from people, they will fail.
39But if their plans come from God, you won’t be able to stop them. You’ll only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40Gamaliel convinced the leaders. They called in the apostles and had them whipped. They ordered them not to speak in Jesus’ name, and then they let them go.
41The apostles were full of joy as they left the Sanhedrin. They considered it an honor to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.
42Every day they continued to teach, both standing in the temple courtyards and going from house to house. They never stopped telling people the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.