1Ein Mann aber mit Namen Ananias verkaufte ein Grundstück zusammen mit seiner Frau Saphira, (2Tim 2,20)2und schaffte etwas von dem Erlös für sich beiseite mit Wissen seiner Frau; und er brachte einen Teil davon und legte ihn den Aposteln zu Füßen. (Ps 78,36; Jer 17,9; Apg 4,34)3Petrus aber sprach: Ananias, warum hat der Satan dein Herz erfüllt, sodass du den Heiligen Geist belogen hast und von dem Erlös des Gutes etwas für dich auf die Seite geschafft hast? (5Mo 23,21; Pred 5,4; Mt 12,31; Lk 22,3; 2Kor 9,7; Eph 4,30)4Hättest du es nicht als dein Eigentum behalten können? Und als du es verkauft hattest, war es nicht in deiner Gewalt? Warum hast du denn in deinem Herzen diese Tat beschlossen? Du hast nicht Menschen belogen, sondern Gott! (Ps 139,4; 1Thess 4,6)5Als aber Ananias diese Worte hörte, fiel er nieder und verschied. Und es kam große Furcht über alle, die dies hörten. (Ps 64,10; Apg 5,11; 1Kor 11,30; Gal 6,7)6Und die jungen Männer standen auf, hüllten ihn ein, trugen ihn hinaus und begruben ihn. (3Mo 10,4)7Und es geschah, dass nach ungefähr drei Stunden auch seine Frau hereinkam, ohne zu wissen, was sich ereignet hatte.8Da richtete Petrus das Wort an sie: Sage mir, habt ihr das Gut um so und so viel verkauft? Sie sprach: Ja, um so viel! (Apg 5,2)9Petrus aber sprach zu ihr: Warum seid ihr übereingekommen, den Geist des Herrn zu versuchen? Siehe, die Füße derer, die deinen Mann begraben haben, sind vor der Tür, und sie werden auch dich hinaustragen! (Ps 50,19; Pred 7,26; Mal 3,8; Mt 4,7)10Da fiel sie sogleich zu seinen Füßen nieder und verschied; und als die jungen Männer hereinkamen, fanden sie sie tot und trugen sie hinaus und begruben sie bei ihrem Mann. (Apg 5,2)11Und es kam große Furcht über die ganze Gemeinde und über alle, die dies hörten. (Ps 52,7; Apg 5,5; Apg 19,7)
Zeichen und Wunder geschehen durch die Apostel
12Durch die Hände der Apostel aber geschahen viele Zeichen und Wunder unter dem Volk; und sie waren alle einmütig beisammen in der Halle Salomos[1]. (Mk 16,20; Joh 10,23; Apg 3,11; Apg 4,30)13Von den Übrigen aber wagte keiner sich ihnen anzuschließen; doch das Volk schätzte sie hoch; (Apg 4,21; 1Petr 2,12)14und immer mehr wurden hinzugetan, die an den Herrn glaubten, eine Menge von Männern und Frauen, (Apg 4,4; Apg 6,7)15sodass man die Kranken auf die Gassen hinaustrug und sie auf Betten und Bahren legte, damit, wenn Petrus käme, auch nur sein Schatten auf einen von ihnen fiele. (Mt 14,36)16Es kamen aber auch viele aus den umliegenden Städten in Jerusalem zusammen und brachten Kranke und von unreinen Geistern Geplagte, die alle geheilt wurden. (Mk 16,18; Apg 4,30; Apg 8,7)
Die Festnahme der Apostel und ihre wunderbare Befreiung
17Es erhob sich aber der Hohepriester und sein ganzer Anhang, nämlich die Richtung der Sadduzäer; sie waren voll Eifersucht (Joh 12,19; Apg 4,1; Apg 13,45)18und legten ihre Hände an die Apostel und brachten sie in öffentlichen Gewahrsam. (Lk 21,12; Apg 4,3; Apg 16,23)19Aber ein Engel des Herrn öffnete in der Nacht die Türen des Gefängnisses, führte sie hinaus und sprach: (Apg 12,7; Hebr 1,14)20Geht hin, tretet auf und redet im Tempel zum Volk alle Worte dieses Lebens! (Apg 11,14; Röm 1,16; 1Joh 5,11)21Als sie das hörten, gingen sie frühmorgens in den Tempel und lehrten. Es kam aber der Hohepriester und sein Anhang, und sie riefen den Hohen Rat und alle Ältesten der Kinder Israels zusammen und sandten in das Gefängnis, um sie herbringen zu lassen. (Joh 8,2)22Als aber die Diener hinkamen, fanden sie jene nicht im Gefängnis. Da kehrten sie zurück, meldeten es23und sprachen: Das Gefängnis fanden wir zwar mit aller Sorgfalt verschlossen und die Wächter außen vor den Türen stehen; als wir aber öffneten, fanden wir niemand darin! (Ps 44,8)24Als aber der [Hohe]priester und der Tempelhauptmann und die obersten Priester diese Worte hörten, gerieten sie ihretwegen in Verlegenheit, was daraus werden sollte. (Apg 4,1)25Da kam jemand und meldete ihnen und sprach: Siehe, die Männer, die ihr ins Gefängnis gebracht habt, stehen im Tempel und lehren das Volk! (Apg 5,18)
Erneutes Zeugnis vor dem Hohen Rat
26Da ging der Hauptmann mit den Dienern hin und führte sie herbei, doch nicht gewaltsam, damit sie nicht gesteinigt würden; denn sie fürchteten das Volk. (Lk 20,6)27Und sie brachten sie und stellten sie vor den Hohen Rat; und der Hohepriester fragte sie (Apg 5,21; Apg 5,34; Apg 5,41; Apg 6,12; Apg 22,30; Apg 23,1; Apg 23,15)28und sprach: Haben wir euch nicht streng verboten, in diesem Namen zu lehren? Und siehe, ihr habt Jerusalem erfüllt mit eurer Lehre und wollt das Blut dieses Menschen auf uns bringen! (Mt 23,35; Mt 27,25; Apg 2,23; Apg 3,15; Apg 4,18; Apg 7,52)29Aber Petrus und die Apostel antworteten und sprachen: Man muss Gott mehr gehorchen als den Menschen! (Apg 4,19; Hebr 11,23)30Der Gott unserer Väter hat Jesus auferweckt, den ihr umgebracht habt, indem ihr ihn ans Holz gehängt habt. (Apg 2,24; Gal 3,13; 1Petr 2,24)31Diesen hat Gott zum Fürsten und Retter zu seiner Rechten erhöht, um Israel Buße und Vergebung der Sünden zu gewähren. (Jes 9,5; Lk 24,47; Apg 2,33; Apg 2,36; Apg 4,12; Eph 1,22)32Und wir sind seine Zeugen, was diese Tatsachen betrifft, und auch der Heilige Geist, welchen Gott denen gegeben hat, die ihm gehorchen. (Joh 15,26; Apg 1,8)
Gamaliels Rat
33Als sie aber das hörten, wurden sie tief getroffen und fassten den Beschluss, sie umzubringen. (Lk 6,11; Apg 7,54)34Es stand aber im Hohen Rat ein Pharisäer namens Gamaliel auf, ein beim ganzen Volk angesehener Gesetzeslehrer, und befahl, die Apostel für kurze Zeit nach draußen zu bringen; (Apg 22,3)35dann sprach er zu ihnen: Ihr Männer von Israel, nehmt euch in acht, was ihr mit diesen Menschen tun wollt! (Jer 26,19; Mt 27,19)36Denn vor diesen Tagen trat Theudas auf und gab vor, er wäre etwas; ihm hing eine Anzahl Männer an, etwa 400: Er wurde erschlagen, und alle, die ihm folgten, zerstreuten sich und wurden zunichte. (Spr 24,21; Gal 6,3)37Nach diesem trat Judas der Galiläer auf in den Tagen der Volkszählung und brachte unter seiner Führung viele aus dem Volk zum Abfall: Auch er kam um, und alle, die ihm folgten, wurden zerstreut.38Und jetzt sage ich euch: Lasst von diesen Menschen ab und lasst sie gewähren! Denn wenn dieses Vorhaben oder dieses Werk von Menschen ist, so wird es zunichtewerden; (Mt 15,13)39ist es aber von Gott, so könnt ihr es nicht vernichten. Dass ihr nicht etwa als solche erfunden werdet, die gegen Gott kämpfen! (Spr 21,30; Jes 43,13; Lk 11,20; Apg 9,5; 1Kor 1,25)40Und sie fügten sich ihm und riefen die Apostel herbei und gaben ihnen Schläge und verboten ihnen, in dem Namen Jesu zu reden, und entließen sie. (Mk 13,9; Apg 4,18)41Sie nun gingen voll Freude vom Hohen Rat hinweg, weil sie gewürdigt worden waren, Schmach zu leiden um Seines Namens willen; (Apg 16,25; Apg 21,13; Phil 1,28; 2Thess 1,12; 1Petr 4,14)42und sie hörten nicht auf, jeden Tag im Tempel und in den Häusern zu lehren und das Evangelium von Jesus, dem Christus, zu verkündigen. (Apg 8,35; Apg 17,3; Apg 20,20; 2Tim 4,2; Offb 3,8)
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. (Apg 4,35; Apg 4,37; Apg 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? (Lk 22,3; Joh 13,2; Joh 13,27; Apg 5,2; Apg 5,4; Apg 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.” (Apg 5,3; Apg 5,9)5When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. (Hes 11,13; Apg 5,11)6The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. (Hes 29,5; Joh 19,40; Apg 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.” (Apg 5,3; Apg 15,10; 1Kor 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. (Apg 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. (Mk 16,20; Joh 10,23; Apg 1,14; Apg 2,43; Apg 3,11; Apg 4,30; Apg 14,3; Apg 19,11; Röm 15,19; 2Kor 12,12; Hebr 2,4)13None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. (Apg 2,47; Apg 4,21; Apg 5,26)14And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (Apg 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. (2Kön 4,29; Mt 14,36; Mk 6,55; Apg 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. (Mk 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; Apg 7,9; Apg 13,45; Apg 17,5; Jak 3,14; Jak 3,16)18they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. (Lk 21,12)19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, (Apg 8,26; Apg 12,10; Apg 16,26)20“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” (Joh 6,63; Joh 6,68; Apg 3,15; Apg 11,18; Apg 13,46; Apg 22,4; Apg 28,28; Phil 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. (Joh 8,2; Apg 5,25; Apg 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. (Apg 4,1; Apg 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.” (Apg 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. (Apg 4,21; Apg 5,13; Apg 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; Apg 2,23; Apg 2,36; Apg 3,15; Apg 4,10; Apg 4,18; Apg 7,52)29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Apg 4,19)30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. (Lk 24,20; Apg 2,24; Apg 3,13; Apg 10,39; Apg 13,29; Gal 3,13; 1Petr 2,24)31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (Lk 2,11; Lk 5,32; Lk 24,47; Apg 2,33; Apg 3,15; Apg 11,18; Röm 2,4; 2Tim 2,25)32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Lk 24,48; Joh 15,26; Apg 2,4; Apg 15,28; Hebr 2,4; 1Joh 5,7)33When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. (Apg 2,37; Apg 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. (Lk 5,17; Apg 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. (Apg 8,9; Apg 21,38; Gal 2,6; Gal 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. (Lk 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; (Kla 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, (2Chr 13,12; Spr 21,30; Jes 8,9; Nah 1,9; Apg 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. (Mk 13,9; Lk 23,16; Apg 4,18; Apg 22,19)41Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (3Mo 24,11; 3Mo 24,16; Mt 5,12; Joh 15,21; Apg 9,16; Apg 21,13; Röm 1,5; Phil 2,9; 1Petr 4,13; 1Petr 4,16; 3Joh 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. (Apg 2,46; Apg 8,35; Apg 11,20; Apg 17,18; Apg 18,5)
1A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also sold some land.2He kept part of the money for himself. Sapphira knew he had kept it. He brought the rest of it and put it down at the apostles’ feet.3Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your heart? He made you lie to the Holy Spirit. You have kept some of the money you received for the land.4Didn’t the land belong to you before it was sold? After it was sold, you could have used the money as you wished. What made you think of doing such a thing? You haven’t lied just to people. You’ve also lied to God.’5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. All who heard what had happened were filled with fear.6Some young men came and wrapped up his body. They carried him out and buried him.7About three hours later, the wife of Ananias came in. She didn’t know what had happened.8Peter asked her, ‘Tell me. Is this the price you and Ananias sold the land for?’ ‘Yes’, she said. ‘That’s the price.’9Peter asked her, ‘How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! You can hear the steps of the men who buried your husband. They are at the door. They will carry you out also.’10At that moment she fell down at Peter’s feet and died. Then the young men came in. They saw that Sapphira was dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.11The whole church and all who heard about these things were filled with fear.
The apostles heal many people
12The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers used to meet together at Solomon’s Porch.13No outsider dared to join them. But the people thought highly of them.14More and more men and women believed in the Lord. They joined the other believers.15So people brought those who were ill into the streets. They placed them on beds and mats. They hoped that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he walked by.16Crowds even gathered from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought their ill people. They also brought those who were suffering because of evil spirits. All of them were healed.
The apostles are treated badly
17The high priest and all his companions were Sadducees. They were very jealous of the apostles.18So they arrested them and put them in the public jail.19But during the night an angel of the Lord came. He opened the doors of the jail and brought the apostles out.20‘Go! Stand in the temple courtyard,’ the angel said. ‘Tell the people all about this new life.’21Early the next day they did as they had been told. They entered the temple courtyard. There they began to teach the people. The high priest and his companions arrived. They called the Sanhedrin together. The Sanhedrin was a gathering of all the elders of Israel. They sent for the apostles who were in jail.22The officers arrived at the jail. But they didn’t find the apostles there. So they went back and reported it.23‘We found the jail locked up tight,’ they said. ‘The guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened the doors, we didn’t find anyone inside.’24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were bewildered. They wondered what would happen next.25Then someone came and said, ‘Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courtyard. They are teaching the people.’26So the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles back. But they didn’t use force. They were afraid the people would kill them by throwing stones at them.27They brought the apostles to the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them.28‘We gave you clear orders not to teach in Jesus’ name,’ he said. ‘But you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You want to make us guilty of this man’s death.’29Peter and the other apostles replied, ‘We must obey God instead of people!30You had Jesus killed by nailing him to a cross. But the God of our people raised Jesus from the dead.31Now Jesus is Prince and Saviour. God has proved this by giving Jesus a place of honour with him. He did it to turn Israel away from their sins and forgive them.32We are telling people about these things. And so is the Holy Spirit. God has given the Spirit to those who obey him.’33When the leaders heard this, they became very angry. They wanted to put the apostles to death.34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin. He was a teacher of the law. He was honoured by all the people. He ordered the apostles to be taken outside for a little while.35Then Gamaliel spoke to the Sanhedrin. ‘Men of Israel,’ he said, ‘think carefully about what you plan to do to these men.36Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed he was really somebody. About 400 people followed him. But he was killed. All his followers were scattered. So they accomplished nothing.37After this, Judas from Galilee came along. This was in the days when the Romans made a list of all the people. Judas led a gang of men against the Romans. He too was killed. All his followers were scattered.38So let me give you some advice. Leave these men alone! Let them go! If their plans and actions only come from people, they will fail.39But if their plans come from God, you won’t be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God.’40His speech won the leaders over. They called the apostles in and had them whipped. The leaders ordered them not to speak in Jesus’ name. Then they let the apostles go.41The apostles were full of joy as they left the Sanhedrin. They considered it an honour to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.42Every day they taught in the temple courtyards and from house to house. They never stopped telling people the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.