and grant unto thy servants, that with all freedom they 30 may speak thy word; by stretching forth thy hand to heal; and by the doing of signs and wonders through the 31 name of thy holy servant* Jesus." And, when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the holy spirit, and spake the word of God with freedom. 32 And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart, and of one soul: nor did any of them say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but 33 they had all things common. And the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, with great 34 power and there was great favour toward them all. Not that there was any among them who wantedt: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and 35 brought the prices of the things which were sold, and laid them down at the feet of the apostles and distribution was made to every one, according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation‡) 37 a Levite, and a native of Cyprus, having land, sold it; and brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles. CH. V. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his 2 wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, [his] wife also being privy to it; and brought a certain 3 part, and laid it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to deceive the holy spirit, and to keep back part of the price 4 of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and, after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? * N. m. son, N. Or, Nor was any one among them in want. Wakefield. Or, For there was not, etc. Satan. a spirit and temper opposite to that of the gospel. To deceive the holy spirit, i. e. men who were inspired by God. Observe here, both Satan and the holy spirit are personifications of qualities. Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou 5 hast not lied unto men, but unto God*." And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and expired. And great 6 fear came on all those that heard [these things.] And certain young men rose, wound him up, and carried him 7 out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had been 8 done, came in. And Peter said unto her, "Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much." And she said, 9"Yes, for so much." Then Peter said unto her, "How is it that ye have agreed together to try the spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they will carry thee out." 10 Then she immediately fell down at his feet and expired. And the young men came in, and found her dead; and, when they had carried her out, they buried her by her 11 husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things. 12 And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were wrought among the people: (now they were 13 all with one consent in Solomon's porch and of the rest no man durst join himself to them; but the people mag14 nified them and believers were still more added to the 15 Lord, multitudes both of men and women :) so that they brought forth the sick throughout the streets, and laid them on beds and couches; that even the shadow of Peter 16 passing by might overshadow some of them. A multitude likewise out of the cities round about came to Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and those that were vexed by unclean spirits: and they were all cured. 17 Then the high-priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which was the sect† of the Sadducees) and 18 were filled with indignation; and laid [their] hands on Thou hast not so much lied unto men as unto God." Bishop Pearce. N. 19 the apostles, and put them in the common prison *. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison-doors by night, 20 and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life t." 21 And when they had heard this, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. Then the highpriest came, and those that were with him, and called together the council, and all the senate of the sons of Israel; and sent to the prison, that the apostles might be 22 brought. But when the officers came, they found them 23 not in the prison and returned, and told, saying, "The prison indeed we found shut with all safety, and the keepers standing before the doors: but when we had 24 opened them, we found no man within." Now, when the high-priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief-priests heard these words, they doubted concerning 25 them, what this would be. Then one came and told them, "Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are 26 standing in the temple, and teaching the people." Then the captain went together with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest 27 they should have been stoned. And, when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And 28 the high-priest asked them, saying, " Did not we strictly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, 29 and seek to bring this man's blood upon us." Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to 30 obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up¶ Jesus; whom ye killed, having hanged him 31 on a cross t†: him God exalted|||| to his right hand; to be a leader¶¶ and a saviour, to give repentance unto Israel, and Or, in public custody. † Or, "these words of everlasting life." Verss. N. m. told them, saying. R. T. Gr. a tree. N. m. ¶¶ Or, a chief. N. m. 32 forgiveness of sins. And we are [his] witnesses of these things; and so is the holy spirit also, which God hath given to those that obey him." 33 And when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, 34 and took counsel to kill them. Then there stood up in the council a certain Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, had in honour among all the people, and commanded to send the apostles out for a short time; 35 and said unto them, "Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves concerning these men, what ye intend to do. 36 For, before these days, Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be some great one; to whom a number of about four hundred men joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered and came to 37 nought. After this man Judas of Galilee rose up, in the days of the enrolment, and drew away many people after him and he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed 38 him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them go on for if this counsel 39 or this work be of men, it will be overthrown: but if it : be of God, ye cannot overthrow.it: beware also lest ye be 40 found even to contend against God." And they were persuaded by him: and when they had called the apostles, they beat them, and commanded that they should not 41 speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. So they departed from the presence of the council; rejoicing that they were thought worthy to be shamefully treated for 42 the name of Jesus. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and to preach the glad tidings, that Jesus is the Christ. CH. VI. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were * was, N. + "Proselytes to the Jewish religion. Or, rather, foreign Grecizing Jews. See John vii. 35. ch. ix. 29. Syr, and ch. xi. 20." Newcome.. 2 overlooked in the daily ministration of alms. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, "It is not reasonable* that we should leave the 3 word of God, and attend on tablest. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out from among you seven men of good report, full of the [holy] spirit and of wisdom, whom we 4 will appoint over this business. But we will stedfastly continue in prayer, and in the ministry of the word." 5 And the words pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch ; 6 whom they set before the apostles and when these had 7, prayed, they put their hands on them. And the word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem and a great multitude of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of God's favour and of power‡, 9 did great wonders and signs among the people. But there arose some of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and some of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, 10 disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist 11 the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God." 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes; and these came suddenly upon him, and seized 13 him, and brought him to the council; and set up false witnesses, who said, "This man ceaseth not to speak 14 words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which 15 Moses delivered to us." And all who sat in the council + minister to the tables of the poor. N. t. *Or, It is not pleasing to us. N. m. |
