1 Um certo homem chamado Ananias, de comum acordo com sua mulher Safira, vendeu um campo
2 e, combinando com ela, reteve uma parte da quantia da venda. Levando apenas a outra parte, depositou-a aos pés dos apóstolos.
3 Pedro, porém, disse: Ananias, por que tomou conta Satanás do teu coração, para que mentisses ao Espírito Santo e enganasses acerca do valor do campo?
4 Acaso não o podias conservar sem vendê-lo? E depois de vendido, não podias livremente dispor dessa quantia? Por que imaginaste isso em teu coração? Não foi aos homens que mentiste, mas a Deus.
5 Ao ouvir estas palavras, Ananias caiu morto. Apoderou-se grande terror de todos os que o ouviram.
6 Uns moços retiraram-no dali, levaram-no para fora e o enterraram.
7 Depois de umas três horas, entrou também sua mulher, nada sabendo do ocorrido.
8 Pedro perguntou-lhe: Dize-me, mulher. Foi por tanto que vendestes o vosso campo? Respondeu ela: Sim, por esse preço.
9 Replicou Pedro: Por que combinastes para pôr à prova o Espírito do Senhor? Estão ali à porta os pés daqueles que sepultaram teu marido. Hão de levar-te também a ti.
10 Imediatamente caiu aos seus pés e expirou. Entrando aqueles moços, acharam-na morta. Levaram-na para fora e a enterraram junto do seu marido.
11 Sobreveio grande pavor a toda a comunidade e a todos os que ouviram falar desse acontecimento.
12 Enquanto isso, realizavam-se entre o povo pelas mãos dos apóstolos muitos milagres e prodígios. Reuniam-se eles todos unânimes no pórtico de Salomão.
13 Dos outros ninguém ousava juntar-se a eles, mas o povo lhes tributava grandes louvores.
14 Cada vez mais aumentava a multidão dos homens e mulheres que acreditavam no Senhor.
15 De maneira que traziam os doentes para as ruas e punham-nos em leitos e macas, a fim de que, quando Pedro passasse, ao menos a sua sombra cobrisse alguns deles.
16 Também das cidades vizinhas de Jerusalém afluía muita gente, trazendo os enfermos e os atormentados por espíritos imundos, e todos eles eram curados.
17 Levantaram-se então os sumos sacerdotes e seus partidários {isto é, a seita dos saduceus} cheios de inveja,
18 e deitaram as mãos nos apóstolos e meteram-nos na cadeia pública.
19 Mas um anjo do Senhor abriu de noite as portas do cárcere e, conduzindo-os para fora, disse-lhes:
20 Ide e apresentai-vos no templo e pregai ao povo as palavras desta vida.
21 Obedecendo a essa ordem, eles entraram ao amanhecer, no templo, e puseram-se a ensinar. Enquanto isso, o sumo sacerdote e os seus partidários reuniram-se e convocaram o Grande Conselho e todos os anciãos de Israel, e mandaram trazer os apóstolos do cárcere.
22 Dirigiram-se para lá os guardas, mas ao abrirem o cárcere, não os encontraram, e voltaram a informar:
23 Achamos o cárcere fechado com toda segurança e os guardas de pé diante das portas, e, no entanto, abrindo-as, não achamos ninguém lá dentro.
24 A essa notícia, os sumos sacerdotes e o chefe do templo ficaram perplexos e indagaram entre si sobre o que significava isso.
25 Mas, nesse momento, alguém transmitiu-lhes esta notícia: Aqueles homens que metestes no cárcere estão no templo ensinando o povo!
26 Foi então o comandante do templo com seus guardas e trouxe-os sem violência, porque temiam ser apedrejados pelo povo.
27 Trouxeram-nos e os introduziram no Grande Conselho, onde o sumo sacerdote os interrogou, dizendo:
28 Expressamente vos ordenamos que não ensinásseis nesse nome. Não obstante isso, tendes enchido Jerusalém de vossa doutrina! Quereis fazer recair sobre nós o sangue deste homem!
29 Pedro e os apóstolos replicaram: Importa obedecer antes a Deus do que aos homens.
30 O Deus de nossos pais ressuscitou Jesus, que vós matastes, suspendendo-o num madeiro.
31 Deus elevou-o pela mão direita como Príncipe e Salvador, a fim de dar a Israel o arrependimento e a remissão dos pecados.
32 Deste fato nós somos testemunhas, nós e o Espírito Santo, que Deus deu a todos aqueles que lhe obedecem.
33 Ao ouvirem essas palavras, enfureceram-se e resolveram matá-los.
34 Levantou-se, porém, um membro do Grande Conselho. Era Gamaliel, um fariseu, doutor da lei, respeitado por todo o povo.
35 Mandou que se retirassem aqueles homens por um momento, e então lhes disse: Homens de Israel, considerai bem o que ides fazer com estes homens.
36 Faz algum tempo apareceu um certo Teudas, que se considerava um grande homem. A ele se associaram cerca de quatrocentos homens: foi morto e todos os seus partidários foram dispersados e reduzidos a nada.
37 Depois deste, levantou-se Judas, o galileu, nos dias do recenseamento, e arrastou o povo consigo, mas também ele pereceu e todos quantos o seguiam foram dispersados.
38 Agora, pois, eu vos aconselho: não vos metais com estes homens. Deixai-os! Se o seu projeto ou a sua obra provém de homens, por si mesma se destruirá;
39 mas se provier de Deus, não podereis desfazê-la. Vós vos arriscaríeis a entrar em luta contra o próprio Deus. Aceitaram o seu conselho.
40 Chamaram os apóstolos e mandaram açoitá-los. Ordenaram-lhes então que não pregassem mais em nome de Jesus, e os soltaram.
41 Eles saíram da sala do Grande Conselho, cheios de alegria, por terem sido achados dignos de sofrer afrontas pelo nome de Jesus.
42 E todos os dias não cessavam de ensinar e de pregar o Evangelho de Jesus Cristo no templo e pelas casas.
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 thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine 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 on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and 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 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as 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 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they 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 common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, 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 to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up 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 nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 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 come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.