JMNT(i)
1 However, a certain adult man – Ananias by name – together with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession
2 and he secretly put aside (kept back funds; embezzled) for himself from the proceeds (the price received for its value) – [his] wife having seen [it] with [him] and thus also knowing [about it] – and then bringing a certain part [of it], he placed [it] beside the feet (= deposited it for the disposal) of the sent-forth folks.
3 So Peter said, "Ananias, why (or: through what [situation or circumstance]) did the adversary (or: satan) fill your heart (= the core of yourself) to lie to the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: play false to the Holy Spirit; speak that which is not true, with the Sacred Attitude), and thus to secretly put aside (keep back funds; embezzle) for yourself from the proceeds of the piece of ground (the field; the property; the homestead; the freehold)?
4 "Was it not by all means continuously abiding (remaining; dwelling) with you while it continued remaining [yours]? And then, upon being sold, it continued in your authority and control. Why [is it] that you put (or: fix) this worthless matter (this affair of poor quality; this bad performance-effect) within your heart? You did not play false and lie to humans (people), but rather (or: but on the contrary) to God!"
5 Now after progressively hearing these words, Ananias, immediately falling [down], at once breathed out [his] soul-life. Then great fear and reverence came to be upon all the people presently (or: one after another) hearing [about it].
6 So after standing up, the younger men enwrapped him for burial, then, after carrying [him] out, they buried [him].
7 Now it occurred [after] about an interval of three hours that his wife entered – not having seen or known of the thing having occurred (or: not being aware of what had happened).
8 So Peter made a decisive response to her, "Tell me if you folks sold (or: gave from yourself [as a price]) the property for such-and-such." So she said, "Yes, for so much."
9 Then Peter [said] to her, "Why [is it] that it came in symphony to you folks (or: was voiced together by [both] of you) to make [this] attempt [with] the Spirit of [the] Lord (or: to test [Yahweh's, or, Christ's] Breath-effect)? Look and see! The feet of the folks just now burying your husband [are] at the door (or: gate), and they will proceed in carrying you out!"
10 Now she instantly fell to (or: toward) his feet and she breathed out [her] soul-life. So upon entering, the youths found her dead. And then, after carrying [her] out, they buried [her] face-to-face with her husband.
11 Consequently great fear and awe was birthed (or: came to be) upon the whole called-out community – as well as upon all the people hearing these things.
12 Now through (or: by means of) the hands of the sent-forth folks, many signs and miracles (or: portents; wonders) kept on happening (or: were being birthed from time to time) among the people. And so they all continued being with one accord and with similar emotions (like-minded and with the same passions) within Solomon's colonnade (a roofed portico).
13 But concerning the rest of the folks [in the city], no one was daring or brave enough to be permanently united with (or: closely joined [as with furniture] or glued [as in sexual union] to) them. Nevertheless, the people [of the city] continued speaking highly of them – as well as great things about them.
14 Yet, more than that, multitudes (= large numbers) of both men and women – folks continuing to trust and to believe – kept on being added by the Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] (or: to the Lord; or: for the Lord).
15 Therefore (or: So then) [folks] continued to be carrying out the sick and weak (infirm) folks even into the plazas and city squares or broad streets, then to be putting them on little beds and cots (small couches used by the poor), so that at Peter's repeated (or: usual; habitual) coming and going, at the very least [his] shadow (or: even if the shadow) will overshadow [other MSS: might cast a shadow on] some one of them [D adds: for you see, they were one after another changed or transformed to be other than they were away (or: = set free and healed) from all sicknesses and infirmities according as each one of them had been having].
16 So the multitude – from towns and cities roundabout – also continued coming together, constantly bringing sick people and folks being constantly disturbed by unclean spirits or breath-effects (or: repeatedly affected under the [influence of] crowds and culturally impure mob spirits and attitudes) – all of whom, one after another, were being tended, given treatment or cured.
17 Now having arisen, the chief (ranking) priest and all those together with him – the existing sect of the Sadducees – were filled with jealousy (or: with boiling zeal),
18 and they thrust [their] hand upon (= arrested) the sent-forth folks (the emissaries) and put them in [the] public [place] of custody and observation.
19 But during [the] night, an agent of [the] Lord (= Christ's or Yahweh's messenger) opened the gates (or: doors) of the prison (or: jail; place of being under guard). Then, after leading them out, he said,
20 "You folks be going your way, then later, upon taking a stand within the Temple courts (or: grounds), continue speaking to the people all the gush-effects of and results of the flow from (or: sayings and declarations) this Life."
21 So after hearing [this], they entered into the Temple complex under the [light of] daybreak (or: the early dawn) and began (or: continued) teaching. Now later, after arriving (or: coming along), the chief (ranking) priest and those with him called together the Sanhedrin (the Jewish High Council; the governing body) and all the assembly of the older men (persons of age and influence invited to sit with the Sanhedrin; = the senate) of the sons of Israel (= Israel as a tribe or nation), and they sent forth [men] unto the prison (jail; place for bound folks) to have them brought.
22 But upon arriving [D adds: and opening up the prison], the subordinate officers did not find them in the jail (or: prison). So after returning, they gave a report, saying,
23 "We found the prison (or: jail) shut in all security, having been firmly barred and locked, and the guards standing at the doors – yet upon opening [them] up, we found no one inside."
24 Now as they heard these words, both the captain of the Temple complex and the head (chief; ranking) priests became utterly perplexed about them and continued bewildered as to whatever this might come to be (or: what would come of this).
25 But then someone just arriving reported to them, "Look, and consider (or: Hey)! The men whom you folks put in the prison are presently within the Temple courts (or: grounds), standing and continuing in teaching the people!"
26 At that point the captain, after going off with the subordinate officers, proceeded in leading them, [bringing them] without force or violence – for they were fearing the people, lest they could (or: should; would) be stoned.
27 So after leading them, they had [them] stand in the Sanhedrin [hall], and then the chief (head; ranking) priests questioned them, saying,
28 "We commanded to you men, with a direct order, not to keep on teaching upon the [authority and basis of] this Name – and look! – you folks have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and now you continue purposed and determined to bring upon us (= hold us responsible for) the blood of this man!"
29 So Peter, along with the sent-forth folks, in giving a decisive reply, said, "It continues binding and necessary to with persuaded faithfulness habitually obey and yield to God as the Ruler, rather than humans (people)!
30 "The God of our fathers (= ancestors) raised up Jesus – Whom you men yourselves intensely manhandled with intent to kill, hanging [Him] on a wooden pole (or: suspending [Him] upon a tree).
31 "God exalted and lifted up high this Originator (or: Beginning Leader; Inaugurator; Founder; Chief Agent; Prince) and Deliverer (Savior; Rescuer; Restorer of health and wholeness; Returner to the original sphere and state of being) to (or: by; with) His right hand (= power and authority; [D reads: glory]) – to give (or: grant) a change of mind and way of thinking [which results in a return to Yahweh] to (or: for; in) Israel, and a sending away of mistakes and deviations (a divorcing of failures; an abandoning of sinning; a flowing away of the results from times of missing the target; a forgiveness of errors; [D adds: within {or: among} them])!
32 "And we ourselves are evidences and witnesses of these gush-effects and results of the flow (or: saying and declarations; spoken words) – as well as the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; consecrated attitude) which (or: Whom) God gave (or: gives) to (or: in; for; among) the folks who in persuaded loyalty are continually obeying and yielding to Him as the Ruler."
33 Now the people hearing [this] began being divided in two by a saw (sawn through; = cut and torn apart emotionally so as to be enraged) and began intending (wanting and purposing) to "lift them up" (= haul them off and kill them).
34 But, after standing up, a certain man in [other MSS: belonging to] the Sanhedrin – a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a Law professor (a respected teacher of the Torah; [note: the grandson of Hillel]), one esteemed and honored by all the People – gave an order to put the men outside for a little while (or: briefly).
35 And then he said to them [D reads: to the leaders (rulers) of the Sanhedrin], "Men! Israelites! (or: Men of Israel!) Hold [this matter] to yourselves [in your mind] and put your attention upon these men, being careful as to what you are presently about to be committing or performing (= doing to them).
36 "You see, before these days Theudas (or: Todah) arose, repeatedly saying of himself to be somebody [D adds: great (= important; significant)] – to whom men numbering about four hundred were inclined (= rallied in support) – who was "taken up" (= hauled off to be killed – [perhaps by hanging or crucifixion]) and everyone, whoever was loyally submitting to him and obeyed him, were at once disbanded and dispersed, and so it came to be nothing (or: unto nothing did it occur).
37 "After this, Judah (or: Judas) the Galilean, in the days of the registration (or: census; the enrollment for the Roman tax), also established a people of behind him (= got some people to defect to him). That one also destroyed himself – then all [p45 & D omit: all], whoever was loyally submitted to him and obeyed him, were fully dispersed and are scattered abroad.
38 "And so, [with] the present [circumstances and events] (or: = in this instance), I am now telling you men, Stand away from these men and leave them alone (or: let them go off; divorce [yourselves] from them; allow them; [D adds: {do} not {be} staining {your} hands]), because if this counsel or this work should be from humans (or: have people as its source or origin) it well be utterly undone and demolished.
39 "Yet if it is from out of God, you folks will not be able or have power to dismantle or demolish them [D adds: neither we nor kings nor tyrants. Therefore, hold yourselves away from these men] – and [D* omits: and] may you not at some point be found [to be] fighters [against] God!" And so they were persuaded by him.
40 Next, upon calling the sent-forth folks to their presence, after severely lashing (flogging; whipping) [them], they gave orders not to continue speaking upon the [authority and basis of the] Name of Jesus. Then they released them.
41 Therefore the sent-forth folks indeed went their way, away from the face (= presence) of the Sanhedrin (the High Council), repeatedly rejoicing because they were counted (deemed; regarded; put down and recorded as being) worthy (of corresponding value) to be dishonored and treated as being without value and despised – over (for the sake of) the Name.
42 And so every day – within the Temple complex, as well as from house to house – they were not ceasing (they continued without letup) in repeatedly and progressively teaching and announcing the good news of the ease and well-being: the message about Christ Jesus (or: the news which came by, and is, Jesus, the Anointed One).