Acts 5 (NMV)
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife's knowledge, and brought only a portion of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the land?
4 Wasn't it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn't it still under your control? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God."
5 When he heard these words, Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard about it.
6 The young men got up, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him.
7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for this price?" "Yes," she said, "for that price."
9 Then Peter said to her, "Why did you both agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well."
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.
11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard about these things.
12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all meeting together in Solomon's Colonnade.
13 No one else dared to join them, even though the people spoke well of them.
14 Yet more and more believers in the Lord, large numbers of both men and women, were being added to them.
15 As a result, they carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
16 Crowds also came from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
17 Then the high priest rose up, he and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, and they were filled with jealousy.
18 So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
19 But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail, brought them out, and said,
20 "Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this new life."
21 Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent orders to the jail to have them brought in.
22 But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail. So they returned and reported back,
23 "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
24 As the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these things, they were perplexed and wondered what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and reported to them, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people."
26 Then the captain went with the servants and brought them in without using force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.
27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest asked,
28 "Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree.
31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Leader and Savior, to offer Israel the opportunity to turn from their former ways and to receive forgiveness of sins.
32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be taken outside for a little while.
35 He said to them, "Men of Israel, be careful about what you are about to do to these men.
36 Some time ago, Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered and came to nothing.
37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered.
38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or work is of human origin, it will fall apart;
39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God."
40 They were persuaded by him. After calling in the apostles and having them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.
41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.