But Peter and John answered and said to 19 them: Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken to you rather than to God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we 20 saw and heard.

And they, having further threatened them, 21 let them go, finding no way to punish them on account of the people, because all glorified God for that which had been done. For the man 22 was above forty years old, on whom this sign of the healing had been wrought.

And being let go, they went to their own 23 company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders said to them. And they, hearing it, 24 lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said: Lord, thou art he that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things in them; who by the mouth of thy servant David said: 25 Why did the heathen rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood 26 near, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord, and against his Christ. For in truth 27 there assembled in this city, against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever thy hand and 28 thy counsel before determined to be done. And 29

V. 25. or, Why rage the heathen

now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant to thy servants, that with all boldness they may 30 speak thy word, by stretching forth thy hand for healing, and that signs and wonders may be wrought through the name of thy holy servant Jesus.

81

32

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; and not one said that aught of the things which he possessed was 33 his own, but they had all things common. And with great power the apostles gave the testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; 34 and great grace was upon them all. For there was no one among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that 35 were sold, and laid them at the feet of the apos tles; and distribution was made to each one according as he had need.

36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was sur

named Barnabas, (which is interpreted, Son of 37 consolation,) a Levite, born in Cyprus, having land sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

V. Bur a certain man named Ananias, with 1: Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept 2 back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said: Ana- 3 nias, why has Satan filled thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why didst thou conceive this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God. And Ana- 5 nias hearing these words fell down, and expired; and great fear came on all that heard these things. And the young men arose, wrapt him 6 up, and carried him forth, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours af- 7 ter, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered her: Tell me, 8 whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much. Then Peter said to 9 her: Why is it that ye agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. And immediately she 10 fell at his feet, and expired; and coming in, the young men found her dead, and carried her

V. 6. (2d clause) or, laid him out

11 forth, and buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon all that heard these things.

12

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's 13 porch. But of the rest no one dared to join

himself to them; but the people honored them; 14 (and still more were believers added to the 15 Lord, multitudes both of men and women;) so

that along the streets they brought forth the sick, and laid them on beds and pallets, that, as Peter was passing, the shadow at least might over16 shadow some one of them. And the multitude

17

also of the cities around came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons, and those who were vexed by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

But the high priest rose up, and all that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, 18 and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.

19 But an angel of the Lord by night opened the

prison doors; and having brought them forth, he 20 said: Go, stand and speak in the temple to the 21 people all the words of this life. And hearing it, they went into the temple at early dawn, and taught.

And the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the eldership of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But 22 when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and reported, saying: 23 The prison indeed we found shut with all security, and the keepers standing without before the doors; but when we had opened them, we found no one within.

Now when the priest and the captain of the 24 temple and the chief priests heard these things, they were at a loss concerning them, to what this might grow. But one came and told them, say- 25' ing: Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and 26 brought them without violence, (for they feared the people,) that they might not be stoned. And having brought them, they set them before 27 the council. And the high priest asked them, saying: Did not we strictly command you not to 28 teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

And Peter answering, and the apostles, said: 29 We ought to obey God rather than men. The 30 God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. Him, as a 31