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Ananias and Sapphira

Peter is not deceived and the apostles keep witnessing.
Contributed by Nadine de Boer
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, German
1
A man named Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold some property intending to give it all to God. But they decided to keep some of it for themselves and lied they had given the full amount to the Apostles. – Slide 1
2
Peter said, ‘Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!’ – Slide 2
3
When Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out to be buried. – Slide 3
4
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, 'Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?' <br/>‘Yes,’ she lied, ‘that was the price.’ <br/>Peter replied, ‘How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.’ – Slide 4
5
Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came back they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened. – Slide 5
6
The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed. – Slide 6
7
The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in jail. – Slide 7
8
But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. <br/>Then he told them, 'Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!' So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. – Slide 8
9
The apostles were arrested and brought before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. ‘We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!’ he said. ‘Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!’ – Slide 9
10
But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’ He went on to tell them they had killed Jesus but God had raised Him from the dead. – Slide 10
11
When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But, a Pharisee named Gamaliel spoke up, ‘My advice is to release these men. If they are doing these things in their own power it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!’ <br/>The Apostles were flogged and released. – Slide 11
12
The Apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. Every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: ‘Jesus is the Messiah.’ – Slide 12
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Slide 13