1Pero se dio el caso de un hombre llamado Ananías, esposo de Safira, que vendió cierta propiedad,2pero entregó sólo una parte del dinero a los apóstoles y se quedó con el resto. Su esposa, desde luego, estaba enterada de todo.3―Ananías —lo reprendió Pedro—, ¿por qué has permitido que Satanás te llene el corazón? ¿Por qué dices que este es el importe total de la venta? Le estás mintiendo al Espíritu Santo.4¿Acaso no era tuya esa propiedad antes de venderla? Y una vez vendida, ¿no era tuyo el dinero? ¿Por qué has hecho esto? No nos has mentido a nosotros, sino a Dios.5Al escuchar estas palabras, Ananías cayó al suelo y murió, y un gran temor se apoderó de los que escucharon esto.6Los jóvenes cubrieron entonces el cadáver con una sábana y salieron a enterrarlo.7Como tres horas más tarde, llegó la esposa, sin saber lo ocurrido.8―¿Vendiste el terreno en tal precio? —le preguntó Pedro. ―Sí —respondió.9Le dijo Pedro: —¿Por qué se pusieron de acuerdo para poner a prueba al Espíritu del Señor? Detrás de esa puerta están los jóvenes que acaban de enterrar a tu esposo y ahora te sacarán también a ti.10Instantáneamente cayó al suelo muerta. Los jóvenes entraron y, al verla muerta, la sacaron y la enterraron junto a su esposo.11Un gran terror se apoderó de toda la iglesia y de todas las personas que se enteraron de lo que había pasado.
Los apóstoles sanan a muchas personas
12Los apóstoles siguieron reuniéndose regularmente en el portal de Salomón, y por medio de ellos Dios siguió realizando milagros extraordinarios entre el pueblo.13Aunque ninguno de los otros se atrevía a unírseles, a pesar del alto aprecio que les tenían,14el número de hombres y mujeres que creían en el Señor aumentaba más y más.15La gente colocaba a los enfermos en las calles en colchonetas y camillas para que al menos la sombra de Pedro los tocara.16Grandes multitudes acudían de los suburbios de Jerusalén trayendo enfermos y endemoniados, y todos eran sanados.
Persiguen a los apóstoles
17El sumo sacerdote y sus colegas de la secta de los saduceos reaccionaron con envidia,18y arrestaron a los apóstoles y los metieron en la cárcel.19Pero un ángel del Señor abrió de noche las puertas de la cárcel y los sacó de allí.20―Vayan al templo y prediquen acerca de la Vida —les ordenó el ángel.21Llegaron, pues, al templo al rayar el día, e inmediatamente se pusieron a enseñar. Aquella misma mañana el sumo sacerdote llegó con los que estaban con él y, tras reunir al concilio y a todos los ancianos de Israel, ordenó que trajeran de la cárcel a los apóstoles.22Pero cuando los guardias llegaron a la cárcel no los encontraron allí, y regresaron a notificarlo.23―Las puertas de la cárcel estaban cerradas —dijeron— y los guardias estaban fuera, pero al abrir la puerta no encontramos a nadie.24Después de escuchar esto, el jefe de la guardia y los principales sacerdotes estaban confundidos y se preguntaban a dónde iría a parar todo aquello.25En ese preciso instante, llegó uno con la noticia de que los prisioneros estaban en el templo enseñándole al pueblo.26El jefe de la guardia corrió con los alguaciles a arrestarlos, sin hacer uso de la fuerza, por temor a que el pueblo los apedreara.27Los condujeron ante el concilio, y el sumo sacerdote los reconvino:28―¿No les habíamos prohibido que volvieran a enseñar acerca de Jesús? Ustedes han llenado a Jerusalén de sus enseñanzas y tratan de descargar en nosotros la culpa de la muerte de ese hombre.29―Tenemos que obedecer a Dios antes que a los hombres —respondieron Pedro y los apóstoles—.30El Dios de nuestros antepasados resucitó a Jesús, al que ustedes mataron colgándolo en una cruz.31Luego, con su gran poder, lo exaltó como Príncipe y Salvador, para que el pueblo de Israel se vuelva a Dios y alcance el perdón de sus pecados.32Nosotros somos testigos de esas cosas, y también lo es el Espíritu Santo que Dios ha concedido a los que lo obedecen.33Al oírlos, los miembros del concilio, rabiando de furia, querían matarlos.34Pero uno de ellos, un fariseo llamado Gamaliel, experto en cuestiones de la ley y muy respetado entre el pueblo, pidió la palabra y solicitó que sacaran a los apóstoles del salón.35Entonces se dirigió a ellos con las siguientes palabras: ―Varones de Israel, mediten bien lo que van a hacer con estos hombres.36Hace algún tiempo se levantó con sueños de grandeza un tal Teudas, al que se le unieron unas cuatrocientas personas; pero murió asesinado y los seguidores se dispersaron sin provocar mayores dolores de cabeza.37Después de este, durante los días del censo, surgió Judas de Galilea, quien logró que muchas personas se hicieran discípulos suyos; pero también lo mataron y sus seguidores se dispersaron.38Por lo tanto, recomiendo que dejen tranquilos a estos hombres. Si lo que enseñan y hacen obedece a impulsos personales, pronto se desvanecerá.39Mas si es de Dios, ustedes no podrán detenerlos. ¡No sea que descubran que han estado peleando contra Dios!40El concilio aceptó la recomendación, llamó a los apóstoles y, después de azotarlos, les exigieron que no volvieran a hablar en el nombre de Jesús. Finalmente, los pusieron en libertad.41Al salir del concilio, los discípulos iban gozosos de haber sido tenidos por dignos de sufrir ultrajes por la causa del Nombre.42Y siguieron enseñando y predicando todos los días en el templo y de casa en casa, que Jesús era el Mesías.
1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,2and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Hch 4:35; Hch 4:37; Hch 5:3)3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? (Lc 22:3; Jn 13:2; Jn 13:27; Hch 5:2; Hch 5:4; Hch 5:9)4While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” (Hch 5:3; Hch 5:9)5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. (Ez 11:13; Hch 5:11)6The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. (Ez 29:5; Jn 19:40; Hch 8:2)7After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.8And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you[1] sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”9But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” (Hch 5:3; Hch 15:10; 1 Co 10:9)10Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.11And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (Hch 5:5)
Many Signs and Wonders Done
12Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. (Mr 16:20; Jn 10:23; Hch 1:14; Hch 2:43; Hch 3:11; Hch 4:30; Hch 14:3; Hch 19:11; Ro 15:19; 2 Co 12:12; Heb 2:4)13None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. (Hch 2:47; Hch 4:21; Hch 5:26)14And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (Hch 6:1)15so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. (2 R 4:29; Mt 14:36; Mr 6:55; Hch 19:12)16The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Mr 16:17)
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
17But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy (Mt 22:23; Hch 7:9; Hch 13:45; Hch 17:5; Stg 3:14; Stg 3:16)18they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. (Lc 21:12)19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, (Hch 8:26; Hch 12:10; Hch 16:26)20“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” (Jn 6:63; Jn 6:68; Hch 3:15; Hch 11:18; Hch 13:46; Hch 22:4; Hch 28:28; Flp 2:16)21And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. (Jn 8:2; Hch 5:25; Hch 5:42)22But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”24Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. (Hch 4:1; Hch 5:26)25And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” (Hch 5:21)26Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (Hch 4:21; Hch 5:13; Hch 5:24)27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,28saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (Mt 27:25; Hch 2:23; Hch 2:36; Hch 3:15; Hch 4:10; Hch 4:18; Hch 7:52)29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Hch 4:19)30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. (Lc 24:20; Hch 2:24; Hch 3:13; Hch 10:39; Hch 13:29; Gl 3:13; 1 P 2:24)31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (Lc 2:11; Lc 5:32; Lc 24:47; Hch 2:33; Hch 3:15; Hch 11:18; Ro 2:4; 2 Ti 2:25)32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Lc 24:48; Jn 15:26; Hch 2:4; Hch 15:28; Heb 2:4; 1 Jn 5:7)33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. (Hch 2:37; Hch 7:54)34But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. (Lc 5:17; Hch 22:3)35And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.36For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. (Hch 8:9; Hch 21:38; Gl 2:6; Gl 6:3)37After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. (Lc 2:2)38So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; (Lm 3:37)39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, (2 Cr 13:12; Pr 21:30; Is 8:9; Nah 1:9; Hch 11:17)40and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (Mr 13:9; Lc 23:16; Hch 4:18; Hch 22:19)41Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (Lv 24:11; Lv 24:16; Mt 5:12; Jn 15:21; Hch 9:16; Hch 21:13; Ro 1:5; Flp 2:9; 1 P 4:13; 1 P 4:16; 3 Jn 1:7)42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Hch 2:46; Hch 8:35; Hch 11:20; Hch 17:18; Hch 18:5)