1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as 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 porch. 13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
17¶ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33¶ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41¶ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Hananiya ndi Safira
1Koma munthu wina dzina lake Hananiya, pamodzi ndi mkazi wake Safira, anagulitsanso munda wawo. 2Mogwirizana ndi mkazi wakeyo anapatulapo pa ndalamazo nazisunga, ndipo anatenga zotsalazo ndi kukapereka kwa atumwi.
3Koma Petro anamufunsa kuti, “Hananiya, chifukwa chiyani Satana anadzaza chotere mu mtima wako kuti unamize Mzimu Woyera ndipo wapatula ndi kusunga ndalama? 4Kodi sunali wako usanagulitse? Ndipo utagulitsa ndalamazo sizinali mʼmanja mwako kodi? Nʼchiyani chinakuchititsa zimenezi? Iwe sunanamize anthu koma Mulungu.”
5Hananiya atamva mawu amenewa anagwa pansi namwalira. Onse amene anamva zimene zinachitikazi anachita mantha kwambiri. 6Kenaka anyamata anafika, nakulunga thupi lake, ndipo anamunyamula ndi kukamuyika mʼmanda.
7Patapita maora atatu mkazi wake analowa, wosadziwa zimene zinachitika. 8Petro anamufunsa iye kuti, “Tandiwuza, kodi izi ndi ndalama zonse zimene iwe ndi Hananiya munalandira mutagulitsa munda?”
Mkaziyo anati, “Inde ndi zimenezo.”
9Petro anati kwa iye, “Bwanji inu munapangana kuyesa Mzimu wa Ambuye? Taona! Anthu amene anakayika mwamuna wako mʼmanda ali pa khomo, ndipo adzakunyamula iwenso.”
10Nthawi yomweyo anagwa pansi pa mapazi a Petro ndipo anamwalira. Ndipo anyamata aja analowa, napeza kuti wafa kale, anamunyamula ndi kukamuyika pafupi ndi mwamuna wake. 11Mpingo wonse ndi anthu onse amene anamva zimenezi anachita mantha kwambiri.
Atumwi Achiritsa Anthu Ambiri
12Atumwi anachita zizindikiro zodabwitsa ndi zozizwitsa zambiri pakati pa anthu. Ndipo onse okhulupirira ankasonkhana pamodzi mu Khonde la Solomoni. 13Palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe analimba mtima kuphatikana nawo, ngakhale kuti anthu onse amawalemekeza kwambiri. 14Ngakhale zinali chotere, anthu ambiri anakhulupirira Ambuye ndipo amawonjezeredwa ku chiwerengero chawo. 15Chifukwa cha zimenezi, anthu anabweretsa odwala mʼmisewu ya mu mzinda nawagoneka pa mabedi ndi pa mphasa kuti chithunzi chokha cha Petro chikhudze ena mwa iwo iye akamadutsa. 16Anthu ochuluka ochokera ku mizinda yayingʼono ozungulira Yerusalemu amasonkhananso atatenga odwala awo ndi iwo amene amasautsidwa ndi mizimu yoyipa ndipo onsewo amachiritsidwa.
Atumwi Azunzidwa
17Koma mkulu wa ansembe pamodzi ndi onse omuthandiza, amene anali a gulu la Asaduki, anachita nsanje. 18Iwo anagwira atumwi ndi kuwatsekera mʼndende ya anthu wamba. 19Koma usiku mngelo wa Ambuye anatsekula zitseko za ndende ndi kuwatulutsa 20Mngeloyo anati, “Pitani, ku mabwalo a Nyumba ya Mulungu ndipo mukawuze anthu uthenga onse wamoyo watsopanowu.”
21Kutacha mmawa, atumwi analowa mʼbwalo la mʼNyumba ya Mulungu, monga anawuzidwa ndipo anayamba kuphunzitsa anthu.
Mkulu wa ansembe pamodzi ndi omuthandiza ake amene anali naye anafika, anayitanitsa msonkhano wa Bwalo Lalikulu, ndilo bwalo la akulu onse a Israeli. Anatuma alonda kuti akatenge atumwi aja kundende. 22Koma alonda aja atafika kundende, sanawapezemo. Iwo anabwerera nakawafotokozera 23kuti, “Tinakapeza ndende ili chitsekere ndithu, ndi alonda atayimirira pa khomo, koma pamene tinatsekula zitseko, sitinapezemo munthu aliyense mʼkatimo.” 24Mkulu wa alonda a Nyumba ya Mulungu ndi akulu a ansembe atamva zimenezi anathedwa nzeru, osadziwa kuti zimenezi zidzatha bwanji.
25Ndipo wina anabwera ndi kuti, “Taonani! Anthu aja amene munawatsekera mʼndende ali ku Nyumba ya Mulungu ndipo akuphunzitsa anthu.” 26Pamenepo mkulu wa alonda pamodzi ndi alonda anakawatenga atumwi. Sanakawatenge mwaukali, chifukwa amaopa kuti anthu angawaponye miyala.
27Atafika nawo atumwi aja, anawayimika pamaso pa Bwalo Lalikulu kuti afunsidwe mafunso ndi mkulu wa ansembe. 28Iye anati, “Ife tinakuletsani kuti musaphunzitsenso mʼdzina ili, koma inu mwadzaza Yerusalemu ndi chiphunzitso chanu, ndipo mukufuna kutisenzetsa imfa ya munthu ameneyu.”
29Petro ndi atumwi enawo anayankha kuti, “Ife tiyenera kumvera Mulungu osati anthu! 30Mulungu wa makolo athu anamuukitsa Yesu, amene inu munamupha pomupachika pa mtengo. 31Mulungu anamukweza Iye ku dzanja lake lamanja kukhala Mfumu ndi Mpulumutsi kuti Iye apatse Aisraeli mtima wolapa ndi chikhululukiro cha machimo. 32Ife ndife mboni za zimenezi, ndiponso Mzimu Woyera amene Mulungu anapereka kwa iwo akumvera Iye.”
33Akuluakuluwo atamva zimenezi anakwiya kwambiri nafuna kuwapha. 34Koma Mfarisi wina dzina lake Gamalieli, mphunzitsi wa malamulo, amene anthu onse amamulemekeza, anayimirira ndi kulamula kuti atumwiwo ayambe apita panja. 35Ndipo iye anawuza bwalolo kuti, “Aisraeli, taganizani bwino, zimene mukufuna kuchita kwa anthu awa. 36Pakuti masiku a mʼmbuyomu kunali Teuda amene anadzitchukitsa, ndipo anthu pafupifupi 400 anamutsatira. Iye anaphedwa ndipo omutsatira akewo anabalalitsidwa, zonse zinatheratu. 37Pambuyo pake, nthawi ya kalembera kunalinso Yudasi wa ku Galileya, ndipo anatsogolera gulu la anthu amene anawukira, iyenso anaphedwa ndipo anthu ake onse anabalalitsidwa. 38Chifukwa chake pa nkhani iyi ndikuwuzani kuti, alekeni anthuwa ndipo aloleni apite! Pakuti ngati zimene akuganiza kapena kuchita ndi zochokera kwa munthu zidzalephera. 39Koma ngati ndi zochokera kwa Mulungu inu simudzatha kuwaletsa anthu awa: inu mwina muzapezeka kuti mukulimbana ndi Mulungu.”
40Akuluakulu enawo anavomerezana naye. Iwo anayitana atumwi aja ndipo anawakwapula kwambiri. Ndipo anawalamula kuti asayankhulenso mʼdzina la Yesu ndipo anawamasula.
41Iwo anachoka ku Bwalo Lalikulu akukondwa chifukwa anayesedwa oyenera kunyozedwa chifukwa cha dzina la Yesu. 42Ndipo tsiku ndi tsiku, sanaleke kuphunzitsa ndi kulalikira mʼNyumba ya Mulungu komanso nyumba ndi nyumba, Uthenga Wabwino wa kuti Yesu ndi Khristu.
