1 Mas um certo homem chamado Ananias, com Safira, sua mulher, vendeu uma propriedade,

2 e reteve parte do preço, sabendo-o também sua mulher; e levando a outra parte, a depositou aos pés dos apóstolos.

3 Disse então Pedro: Ananias, por que encheu Satanás o teu coração, para que mentisses ao Espírito Santo e retivesses parte do preço do terreno?

4 Enquanto o possuías, não era teu? e vendido, não estava o preço em teu poder? Como, pois, formaste este desígnio em teu coração? Não mentiste aos homens, mas a Deus.

5 E Ananias, ouvindo estas palavras, caiu e expirou. E grande temor veio sobre todos os que souberam disto.

6 Levantando-se os moços, cobriram-no e, transportando-o para fora, o sepultaram.

7 Depois de um intervalo de cerca de três horas, entrou também sua mulher, não sabendo o que havia acontecido.

8 E perguntou-lhe Pedro: Dize-me: Vendestes por tanto aquele terreno? E ela respondeu: Sim, por tanto.

9 Então Pedro lhe disse: Por que é que combinastes entre vós provar o Espírito do Senhor? Eis aí à porta os pés dos que sepultaram o teu marido, e te levarão também a ti.

10 Imediatamente ela caiu aos pés dele e expirou. E entrando os moços, acharam-na morta e, levando-a para fora, sepultaram-na ao lado do marido.

11 Sobreveio grande temor a toda a igreja e a todos os que ouviram estas coisas.

12 E muitos sinais e prodígios eram feitos entre o povo pelas mãos dos apóstolos. E estavam todos de comum acordo no pórtico de Salomão.

13 Dos outros, porém, nenhum ousava ajuntar-se a eles; mas o povo os tinha em grande estima;

14 e cada vez mais se agregavam crentes ao Senhor em grande número tanto de homens como de mulheres,

15 a ponto de transportarem os enfermos para as ruas, e os porem em leitos e macas, para que ao passar Pedro, ao menos sua sombra cobrisse alguns deles.

16 Também das cidades circunvizinhas afluía muita gente a Jerusalém, conduzindo enfermos e atormentados de espíritos imundos, os quais eram todos curados.

17 Levantando-se o sumo sacerdote e todos os que estavam com ele {isto é, a seita dos saduceus}, encheram-se de inveja,

18 deitaram mão nos apóstolos, e os puseram na prisão pública.

19 Mas de noite um anjo do Senhor abriu as portas do cárcere e, tirando-os para fora, disse:

20 Ide, apresentai-vos no templo, e falai ao povo todas as palavras desta vida.

21 Ora, tendo eles ouvido isto, entraram de manhã cedo no templo e ensinavam. Chegando, porém o sumo sacerdote e os que estavam com ele, convocaram o sinédrio, com todos os anciãos dos filhos de Israel, e enviaram guardas ao cárcere para trazê-los.

22 Mas os guardas, tendo lá ido, não os acharam na prisão; e voltando, lho anunciaram,

23 dizendo: Achamos realmente o cárcere fechado com toda a segurança, e as sentinelas em pé às portas; mas, abrindo-as, a ninguém achamos dentro.

24 E quando o capitão do templo e os principais sacerdotes ouviram estas palavras ficaram perplexos acerca deles e do que viria a ser isso.

25 Então chegou alguém e lhes anunciou: Eis que os homens que encerrastes na prisão estão no templo, em pé, a ensinar o povo.

26 Nisso foi o capitão com os guardas e os trouxe, não com violência, porque temiam ser apedrejados pelo povo.

27 E tendo-os trazido, os apresentaram ao sinédrio. E o sumo sacerdote os interrogou, dizendo:

28 Não vos admoestamos expressamente que não ensinásseis nesse nome? e eis que enchestes Jerusalém dessa vossa doutrina e quereis lançar sobre nós o sangue desse homem.

29 Respondendo Pedro e os apóstolos, disseram: Importa antes obedecer a Deus que aos homens.

30 O Deus de nossos pais ressuscitou a Jesus, ao qual vós matastes, suspendendo-o no madeiro;

31 sim, Deus, com a sua destra, o elevou a Príncipe e Salvador, para dar a Israel o arrependimento e remissão de pecados.

32 E nós somos testemunhas destas coisas, e bem assim o Espírito Santo, que Deus deu àqueles que lhe obedecem.

33 Ora, ouvindo eles isto, se enfureceram e queriam matá-los.

34 Mas, levantando-se no sinédrio certo fariseu chamado Gamaliel, doutor da lei, acatado por todo o povo, mandou que por um pouco saíssem aqueles homens;

35 e prosseguiu: Varões israelitas, acautelai-vos a respeito do que estais para fazer a estes homens.

36 Porque, há algum tempo, levantou-se Teudas, dizendo ser alguém; ao qual se ajuntaram uns quatrocentos homens; mas ele foi morto, e todos quantos lhe obedeciam foram dispersos e reduzidos a nada.

37 Depois dele levantou-se Judas, o galileu, nos dias do recenseamento, e levou muitos após si; mas também este pereceu, e todos quantos lhe obedeciam foram dispersos.

38 Agora vos digo: Dai de mão a estes homens, e deixai-os, porque este conselho ou esta obra, caso seja dos homens, se desfará;

39 mas, se é de Deus, não podereis derrotá-los; para que não sejais, porventura, achados até combatendo contra Deus.

40 Concordaram, pois, com ele, e tendo chamado os apóstolos, açoitaram-nos e mandaram que não falassem em nome de Jesus, e os soltaram.

41 Retiraram-se pois da presença do sinédrio, regozijando-se de terem sido julgados dignos de sofrer afronta pelo nome de Jesus.

42 E todos os dias, no templo e de casa em casa, não cessavam de ensinar, e de anunciar a Jesus, o Cristo.

1 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 privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole 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 durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them; 14 and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women: 15 insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them. 16 And there also came together the multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

17 But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, 18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward. 19 But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, 20 Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life. 21 And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought. 22 But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, 23 saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow. 25 And there came one and told them, 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, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, We strictly charged 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 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. 31 Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them. 34 But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while. 35 And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out 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 dispersed, and came to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away some of the people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: 39 but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. 42 And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.