Bible Verses About Peter

They threatened them some more but finally let them go — they couldn’t punish them because of the people, for everyone was praising God over what had happened,

since the man who had been miraculously healed was more than forty years old.

Upon being released, they went back to their friends and reported what the head cohanim and elders had said to them.

But there was a man named Hananyah who, with his wife Shappirah, sold some property

and, with his wife’s knowledge, withheld some of the proceeds for himself; although he did bring the rest to the emissaries.

Then Kefa said, “Why has the Adversary so filled your heart that you lie to the Ruach HaKodesh and keep back some of the money you received for the land?

Before you sold it, the property was yours; and after you sold it, the money was yours to use as you pleased. So what made you decide to do such a thing? You have lied not to human beings but to God!”

On hearing these words, Hananyah fell down dead; and everyone who heard about it was terrified.

The young men got up, wrapped his body in a shroud, carried him out and buried him.

Some three hours later, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened.

Kefa challenged her: “Tell me, is it true that you sold the land for such-and-such a price?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is what we were paid for it.”

But Kefa came back at her, “Then why did you people plot to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too!”

Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. The young men entered, found her there dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

As a result of this, great fear came over the whole Messianic community, and indeed over everyone who heard about it.

But the cohen hagadol and his associates, who were members of the party of the Tz’dukim, were filled with jealousy.

They arrested the emissaries and put them in the public jail.

But during the night, an angel of Adonai opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said,

“Go, stand in the Temple court and keep telling the people all about this new life!”

After hearing that, they entered the Temple area about dawn and began to teach. Now the cohen hagadol and his associates came and called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (that is, of Isra’el’s whole assembly of elders) and sent to the jail to have them brought.

But the officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they returned and reported,

“We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside!”

When the captain of the Temple police and the head cohanim heard these things, they were puzzled and wondered what would happen next.

Then someone came and reported to them, “Listen! The men you ordered put in prison are standing in the Temple court, teaching the people!”

The captain and his officers went and brought them, but not with force; because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them,