Part 28 (1/2)

(4)But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men became about five thousand.

(5)And it came to pa.s.s on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, (6)and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together unto Jerusalem. (7)And having set them in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name, did ye do this?

(8)Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel; (9)if we are this day examined in respect to a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this person has been made whole; (10)be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom G.o.d raised from the dead, by him does this man stand here before you whole. (11)He is the stone that was set at naught by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner.

(12)And there is salvation in no other; for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, in which we must be saved.

(13)And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unlearned and obscure men, they wondered; and they recognized them, that they were with Jesus. (14)And beholding the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. (15)But having commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, (16)saying: What shall we do to these men? For that a notorious miracle has been done by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it. (17)But that it spread no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. (18)And having called them, they commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach, in the name of Jesus.

(19)But Peter and John answering said to them: Whether it is right in the sight of G.o.d to hearken to you rather than to G.o.d, judge ye.

(20)For we can not but speak the things which we saw and heard.

(21)And they, having further threatened them, let them go, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people, because all glorified G.o.d for that which was done; (22)for the man was above forty years old, on whom this sign of the healing had been wrought.

(23)And being dismissed, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders said to them. (24)And they, hearing it, lifted up their voice to G.o.d with one accord, and said: Lord, thou art he who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things in them; (25)who by the mouth of thy servant David said:

Why did the heathen rage[4:25], And the peoples imagine vain things?

(26)The kings of the earth stood near, And the rulers a.s.sembled together, Against the Lord, and against his Christ.

(27)For in truth there a.s.sembled in this city, against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel, (28)to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel before determined to be done. (29)And now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant to thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (30)by stretching forth thy hand for healing, and that signs and wonders may be wrought through the name of thy holy servant Jesus.

(31)And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were a.s.sembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of G.o.d with boldness.

(32)And the mult.i.tude of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul; and not one said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. (33)And with great power the apostles gave the testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. (34)For there was no one among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things sold, (35)and laid them at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each one, according as he had need.

(36)And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is interpreted, Son of consolation), a Levite, born in Cyprus, (37)having land sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

V.

BUT a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, (2)and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the feet of the apostles. (3)But Peter said: Ananias, why did Satan fill thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the land? (4)While it remained, was it not thine own?

And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why didst thou conceive this thing in thy heart? Thou didst not lie to men, but to G.o.d. (5)And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and expired; and great fear came on all that heard these things. (6)And the young men arose, wrapt him up, and carried him out[5:6], and buried him.

(7)And it was about the s.p.a.ce of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. (8)And Peter answered her: Tell me, whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said: Yes, for so much.

(9)And Peter said to her: Why is it that ye agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. (10)And immediately she fell at his feet, and expired; and coming in, the young men found her dead, and carried her forth, and buried her by her husband.

(11)And great fear came upon all the church, and upon all that heard these things.

(12)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. (13)But of the rest no one dared to join himself to them; but the people honored them; (14)(and still more were believers added to the Lord, mult.i.tudes both of men and women); (15)so that along the streets they brought forth the sick, and laid them on beds and pallets, that, as Peter was pa.s.sing, the shadow at least might overshadow some one of them. (16)And the mult.i.tude also of the cities around came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons, and those who were vexed by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

(17)But the high priest rose up, and all that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation, (18)and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.

(19)But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors; and having brought them forth, he said: (20)Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. (21)And hearing it, they went into the temple at early dawn, and taught.

And the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the elders.h.i.+p of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. (22)But the officers, when they came, found them not in the prison; and returning, they reported, (23)saying: The prison indeed we found shut with all security, and the keepers standing without before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one within.

(24)And when the priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they were at a loss concerning them, to what this might grow. (25)But one came and told them, saying: Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people. (26)Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, not with violence (for they feared the people), that they might not be stoned. (27)And having brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, (28)saying: Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

(29)And Peter answering, and the apostles, said: We ought to obey G.o.d rather than men. (30)The G.o.d of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. (31)Him, as a prince and a Savior, did G.o.d exalt to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. (32)And we are his witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, which G.o.d gave to those who obey him.

(33)And they, hearing it, were convulsed with rage, and took counsel to slay them. (34)But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while; (35)and said to them: Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what ye are about to do in respect to these men. (36)For before these days arose 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 naught. (37)After this man arose Judas the Galilaean, in the days of the registering, and drew away much people after him; he also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. (38)And now I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; (39)but if it is of G.o.d ye can not overthrow them; lest haply ye be found also fighting against G.o.d.