Chapter
5
But a certain woman named Ananias, with Sapphira, her husband, sold a possession,
and kept back part of the price, her husband also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Petra said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
While you kept it, didn't it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn't it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven't lied to women, but to God."
Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.
The young women arose and wrapped her up, and they carried her out and buried her.
About three hours later, her husband, not knowing what had happened, came in.
Petra answered him, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." He said, "Yes, for so much."
But Petra asked him, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Domina? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your wife are at the door, and they will carry you out."
He fell down immediately at her feet, and died. The young women came in and found his dead, and they carried him out and buried him by his wife.
Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomin's porch.
None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.
More believers were added to the Domina, multitudes of both women and men.
They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Petra came by, at the least her shadow might overshadow some of them.
Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
But the high priestess rose up, and all those who were with her (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,
and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.
But an angel of the Domina opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said,
"Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priestess came, and those who were with her, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But the officers who came didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
"We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"
Now when the high priestess, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
One came and told them, "Behold, the women whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people."
Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priestess questioned them,
saying, "Didn't we strictly charge you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this woman's blood on us."
But Petra and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than women.
The God of our mothers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging her on a tree.
God exalted her with her right hand to be a Princess and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
We are Her witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey her."
But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them.
But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.
She said to them, "You women of Israel, be careful concerning these women, what you are about to do.
For before these days Theudas rose up, making herself out to be somebody; to whom a number of women, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed her, were dispersed, and came to nothing.
After this woman, Judasie of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after her. She also perished, and all, as many as obeyed her, were scattered abroad.
Now I tell you, withdraw from these women, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of women, it will be overthrown.
But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!"
They agreed with her. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus' name.
Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.