1En mand ved navn Ananias og hans kone, Safira, solgte et jordstykke, de havde.2Derefter beholdt de selv en del af pengene, og Ananias bragte resten til apostlene under foregivende af, at det var hele salgssummen.3Men Peter sagde: „Ananias, hvorfor har du ladet Satan friste dig til at lyve over for Helligånden og selv beholde nogle af pengene?4Ingen tvang dig til at sælge din jord, og da den først var solgt, havde du stadig ret til at bruge pengene, som du ville. Hvordan kunne du finde på at gøre det her? Det er jo ikke os, du har løjet for, men Gud!”5Da Ananias hørte det, faldt han om og døde. Alle de tilstedeværende var dybt rystede.6Nogle unge mænd rejste sig og svøbte ham ind i et lagen. Så bar de ham udenfor og begravede ham.7Cirka tre timer senere kom Safira ind uden at vide, hvad der var sket.8Peter spurgte hende: „Er det beløb her den fulde pris, I solgte jorden for?” „Ja, det er det,” svarede hun.9„Hvorfor er du og din mand blevet enige om at udfordre Herrens Ånd?” sagde Peter. „Kan du høre skridt uden for døren? Det er dem, som har begravet din mand, der kommer tilbage. De vil også bære dig ud.”10Straks faldt hun om for fødderne af Peter og døde. Da de unge mænd kom ind, fandt de hende død. Så bar de hende ud for at begrave hende ved siden af hendes mand.11Hele menigheden og alle, som ellers hørte om det, blev dybt rystede.
Helbredelser af syge og dæmonbesatte mennesker
12Apostlene holdt sammen og blev ved med at forkynde og undervise i Salomons Søjlegang, og de gjorde mange bemærkelsesværdige undere blandt folket.13Ingen af de øvrige troende[1] turde slutte op om dem der, men apostlene nød stor anseelse hos folket,14og flere og flere kom til tro på Herren, både mænd og kvinder.15Apostlene gjorde så mange mirakler, at folk bar de syge ud på gaderne på senge og måtter, der hvor Peter kom forbi, så i det mindste hans skygge ville falde på dem.16Store skarer af mennesker strømmede ind fra de omkringliggende byer med syge og folk, som var plaget af dæmoner—og de blev alle helbredt!
Apostlene er lige ved at blive slået ihjel
17-18Ypperstepræsten og hans venner, som alle var saddukæere, blev jaloux på apostlene og satte dem i fængsel.19Men en engel kom om natten og åbnede fængselsportene og førte dem udenfor. Derpå sagde englen:20„Gå tilbage til templet og tal til folk om alt det, som hører det evige liv til.”21Derfor gik apostlene allerede næste dag ved daggry op på tempelpladsen og fortsatte med at undervise folk. I mellemtiden sammenkaldte ypperstepræsten og hans venner Rådet, som bestod af alle de jødiske ledere, og de sendte nogle folk fra tempelvagten hen til fængslet for at hente apostlene.22Men de fandt dem ikke i fængslet. Derpå gik de tilbage til Rådet og rapporterede:23„Fængslet var forsvarligt lukket og låst, og vagterne stod på deres poster uden for hver af dørene. Men da vi fik åbnet døren til fangernes celle, var der ingen derinde.”24Da kommandanten for tempelvagten og ypperstepræsterne hørte det, vidste de ikke, om de skulle tage det alvorligt, eller hvad der var på færde.25Så kom der en mand og fortalte, at de mænd, som var blevet fængslet dagen før, nu stod henne i templet og underviste folket.26Kommandanten tog af sted med sit vagtmandskab og fik fat i dem—dog uden at bruge vold, for de var bange for, at folk så ville begynde at kaste sten efter dem.27Apostlene blev nu ført frem for Rådet, hvorefter ypperstepræsten sagde:28„Har vi ikke udtrykkeligt forbudt jer at tale mere om den mand? Nu har I fyldt hele Jerusalem med jeres propaganda! Det er tydeligt, at I er ude på at give os skylden for hans død.”29Peter svarede på apostlenes vegne: „Vi må adlyde Gud mere end mennesker.30Vores forfædres Gud oprejste Jesus fra de døde, efter at I havde fået ham hængt op på et kors og dræbt.31Ham har Gud nu ophøjet og givet pladsen ved sin højre side, og ham har han gjort til leder og Frelser, således at Israels folk kan få anledning til at vende om fra deres synder og blive tilgivet.32Vi kan bevidne alt, hvad der er sket. Og Helligånden, som Gud giver til dem, der vil adlyde ham, bekræfter det.”33Da rådsmedlemmerne hørte det, blev de så rasende, at de ville slå apostlene ihjel med det samme.34Men et medlem af Rådet, en farisæer ved navn Gamaliel, som underviste i Toraen og var højt respekteret af folket, rejste sig og anmodede om, at apostlene blev ført uden for rådssalen et øjeblik.35Så vendte han sig til Rådets øvrige medlemmer og sagde: „Venner! Pas på, at I ikke gør noget overilet mod disse mennesker.36For en del år siden var der en mand ved navn Teudas, som gav sig ud for at være noget stort, og der var ca. 400 mænd, der sluttede sig til ham. Men da han til sidst blev dræbt, opløstes det hele af sig selv, og hans tilhængere blev spredt for alle vinde.37Efter ham dukkede så Judas fra Galilæa op, dengang vi havde den store folketælling.[2] Han fik også samlet en flok oprørere, men da han mistede livet, forsvandt hans tilhængerskare som dug for solen.38Derfor vil jeg råde jer til at lade mændene være i fred. Hvis det her har sit udspring i menneskelige tanker og planer, så vil det hele snart gå i sig selv.39Men hvis Gud står bag det, så kan I ikke standse det, tværtimod risikerer I at komme til at kæmpe mod Gud selv.” Forsamlingen fulgte hans råd.40Apostlene blev kaldt ind igen, blev pisket og endnu en gang advaret imod at tale om Jesus. Så blev de løsladt,41og de gik fra stedet fyldt med glæde over, at Gud havde regnet dem for værdige til at lide for Jesu skyld.42Men de fortsatte med hver dag at forkynde budskabet om, at Jesus er Messias, og undervise folk både på tempelpladsen og rundt omkring i hjemmene.
Apostlenes Gerninger 5
King James Version
1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,2And 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.3But 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?4Whiles 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.5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.9Then 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.10Then 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.11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.12And 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.13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)15Insomuch 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.16There 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.17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.21And 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.22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,23Saying, 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.24Now 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.25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,28Saying, 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.29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.34Then 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;35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.36For 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.37After 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.38And 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:39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.40And 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.41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.