the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection 3 from the dead: and they laid their hands on them, and put them in prison until the next day: for it was now 4 evening. (However, many of those that had heard the discourse of Peter* believed: and the number of the men was about five thousand.) 5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, 6 and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high-priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the race of the high-priest, were gathered together 7 in Jerusalem. And when they had set the apostles in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, 8 have ye done this?" Then Peter, filled with the holy spi 66 rit, said unto them, "Ye rulers of the people, and elders 9 of Israel, if we be examined this day concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been 10 made well †, be it known to you all, and to all the peo ple of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you restored. 11 This is the stone which was despised by you builders; 12 but which is become the head of the corner. Nor is there healing by any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we can be healed [." 13 Now, when they observed the free speech of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and obscure men, they wondered; and they knew that these men 14 had been with Jesus. And beholding the man that had been restored standing with them, they had nothing to 15 object. But when they had commanded them to withdraw out of the council, they conferred among them16 selves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for 66 ⚫ words of Pei, N. See Symonds. + Gr. saved. N. m. Or, sound, § salvation, N. t. but in the margin "healing." See ver. 9. that indeed a signal miracle hath been wrought by them, is manifest to all those who dwell in Jerusalem, and we 17 cannot deny. But, that it spread no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them that henceforth 18 they speak to no man in this name." And they called the apostles, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor 19 teach, in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John an swered and said unto them, "Whether it be right before God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen 21 and heard." So when they had further threatened them, they released them, not finding how they might punish them, on account of the people for all men glorified 22 God because of that which had been done. For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of curing had been wrought. 23 And having been released, they went to their own com pany, and reported all which the chief-priests and elders 24 had said unto them. And when their own company had * heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with. one consent, and said, "O sovereign Lord, thou art God, who madest heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that is in 25 them who saidst also by the mouth of thy servant David, Why did the gentiles rage, and the peoples † ima26 gine vain things? Why did kings of the earth§ stand 6 up, and why were the rulers gathered together, against 27 the Lord, and against his anointed?' For in truth, against thy holy servant || Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, and the gentiles, and the peo28 ple of Israel, were gathered together in this city; to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel ¶ determined before 29 to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: . Or, The kings of the land stood up, and the rulers were gathered together, &c. land, Wakefield, N. m. son, N. 1 "Thy power and thy counsel: thy powerful counsel." Newcome. and grant unto thy servants, that with all freedom they 30 may speak thy word; by stretching forth thy hand to heal; and by the doing of signs and wonders through the 31 name of thy holy servant* Jesus." And, when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the holy spirit, and spake the word of God with freedom. 32 And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart, and of one soul: nor did any of them say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but 33 they had all things common. And the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great 34 power and there was great favour toward them all. Not that there was any among them who wanted †: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and 35 brought the prices of the things which were sold, and laid them down at the feet of the apostles: and distribution was made to every one according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation‡) 87 a Levite, and a native of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles. CH. V. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his 2 wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, [his] wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain 3 part, and laid it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, "Ananias, why hath Satan § filled thy heart to deceive the holy spirit, and to keep back part of the price 4 of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and, after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? *N. m. son, N. + Or, Nor was any one among them in want. Wakefield. Or, For there was not, &c. "Perhaps so called from this act." Bishop Pearce. N. § Satan, a spirit and temper opposite to that of the gospel. To deceive the holy spirit, i. e. men who were inspired by God. Observe here, both Satan and the holy spirit are personifications of qualities. Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou 5 hast not lied unto men, but unto God*." And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and expired. And great 6 fear came on all those that heard [these things.] And certain young men rose, wound him up, and carried him 7 out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had been 8 done, came in. And Peter said unto her, "Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much." And she said, 9" Yes, for so much." Then Peter said unto her, "How is it that ye have agreed together to try the spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they will carry thee out." 10 Then she immediately fell down at his feet and expired. And the young men came in, and found her dead; and, when they had carried her out, they buried her by her 11 husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things. 12 And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were wrought among the people: (now they were 13 all with one consent in Solomon's porch and of the rest no man durst join himself to them; but the people mag14 nified them: and believers were still more added to the 15 Lord, multitudes both of men and women:) so that they brought forth the sick throughout the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that even the shadow of Peter 16 passing by might overshadow some of them. A multitude likewise out of the cities round about came to Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and those that were vexed by unclean spirits: and they were all cured. 17 Then the high-priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which was the sect † of the Sadducees) and 18 were filled with indignation, and laid [their] hands on "Thou hast not so much lied unto men as unto God." Bishop Pearce. N. 19 the apostles, and put them in the common prison *. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, 20 and brought them out, and said, " Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life†.” 21 And when they had heard this, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. Then the highpriest came, and those that were with him, and called together the council, and all the senate of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison, that the apostles might be 22 brought. But when the officers came, they found them 23 not in the prison: and returned, and told, saying, "The prison indeed we found shut with all safety, and the keepers standing before the doors: but when we had 24 opened them, we found no man within." Now, when the high-priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief-priests heard these words, they doubted concerning 25 them, what this would be. Then one came and told them §, "Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are 26 standing in the temple, and teaching the people." Then the captain went together with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest 27 they should have been stoned. And, when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And 28 the high-priest asked them, saying, "Did not we strictly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, 29 and seek to bring this man's blood upon us." Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to 30 obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up || Jesus; whom ye killed, having hanged him 31 on a cross : him God exalted ** to his right hand, to be a leader†† and a saviour, to give repentance unto Israel, and *Or, in public custody. + Or, "these words of everlasting life." Verss. N. in. standing without, &c. R. T. ** hath exalted, N. § told them, saying. R. T. Gr. a tree. N. m. tt Or, a chief. N. m. |