MODERN LITERAL VERSION

5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a property,
5:2 and pilfered part of the price, his wife also being conscious of it and brought a certain part, laid it by the apostles' feet.
5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has the Adversary filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to pilfer part of the price of the parcel of ground?
5:4 While it was remaining unsold, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold*, was* it not still in your authority? How is it that you have put this matter in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.
5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and expired and there became great fear upon all those who heard these things.
5:6 And when the young-men had stood up, they enshrouded him and carried him out and buried him.

5:7 And it happened after an interval of approximately three hours, his wife also came in, not knowing what had happened.
5:8 And Peter answered her, Tell me if you* were given so-much for the parcel of ground?
And she said, Yes, for so much.

5:9 But 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.
5:10 And she fell down instantly by his feet and expired and the young-men came in and found her dead and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
5:11 And there became great fear upon the whole congregation* and upon all who heard these things.

5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders happened among the people, and they were all united in Solomon's porch.
5:13 But no one of the rest dared to join himself to them, but the people extolled them;
5:14 and more believers were added to the Lord, crowds of both men and women;
5:15 so-that they even carried out the sick in the streets and laid them upon cots and pallets, that*, when Peter came by, if-only his shadow might overshadow some of them.
5:16 And the crowds also came together from the cities in and around to Jerusalem, bringing sick ones and those who were troubled by unclean spirits and who were all healed.

5:17 But the high-priest stood up and all those who were with him (which is a sect of the Sadducees) and they were filled with jealousy,
5:18 and they put their hands upon the apostles and placed them in the public jail.
5:19 But a messenger of the Lord through the night, opened the prison doors and led them out and said,
5:20 Go and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
5:21 And when they heard this, they entered into the temple under the light of daybreak and taught. But the high-priest came and those who were with him and called the council together and the Sanhedrin of the sons of Israel and sent to the prison to have them led out.
5:22 But the attendants who came, did not find them in the prison. And having turned back, they reported,
5:23 saying, We indeed found the prison locked with all the security intact and the guards standing outside before the doors, but when we had opened it, we found no one inside.
5:24 And as both the captain of the temple and the priest heard these words and with the high-priests, they were perplexed concerning them and whatever had happened.

5:25 But a certain one having come, reported to them, Behold, the men whom you* placed in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.
5:26 Then the captain went with the attendants and led them, but without violence; for* they feared the people (that* they might not be stoned).
5:27 And when they had led them, they stood them before the council. And the high-priest asked them,
5:28 saying, Did we command you* with a strict command to not teach in this name? And behold, you* have filled Jerusalem with your* teaching and are intending to bring this man's blood upon us.

5:29 But answering, Peter and the apostles said, It is essential for us to obey God rather than men.
5:30 The God of our fathers lifted up Jesus, whom you* slew, hanging him upon a tree.
5:31 Jesus is the Author and Savior who God exalted to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
5:32 And we are witnesses of these words, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

5:33 But hearing this, they were infuriated and counseled to assassinate them.
5:34 But one in the council stood up there, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people and he commanded them to make* the apostles wait outside for a little bit.
5:35 And he said to them, Men, Israelites! Take-heed to yourselves in regard to these men and what you* are about to do.
5:36 For* before these days rose* up Theudas, giving himself out to be someone, who was assassinated; to whom a number of men, approximately four hundred, joined themselves; and all, as many as obeyed him were disbanded and came* to nothing.
5:37 After this man rose* up Judas, a Galilean, in the days of the census and a considerable number of people withdrew after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered.
5:38 And now I say to you*, Withdraw from these men and permit them to continue because if this counsel or this work is from men, it will be torn-down;
5:39 but if it is from God, you* will not be able to tear it down; lest you* might be found even to be quarreling against God.

5:40 And they agreed with him and when they had called the apostles to them, they whipped them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.
5:41 Therefore indeed, they went away from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were deemed worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the name of Jesus.
5:42 And they did not cease to teach and to proclaim Jesus as the Christ every day in the temple and in their house.
{Autumn 36 AD. Temple at Jerusalem. Pontius Pilate deposed.}