Study Desk

All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had.

They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it.

Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely,

But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!"

They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.

It was already late in the afternoon, and they arrested Peter and John and put them in jail for the night.

They brought in Peter and John and made them stand in the middle while they questioned them. They asked, "By what power and in whose name have you done this?"

The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain that these men had been with Jesus.

So they called the two apostles back in and told them that they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.

The officials could not find any reason to punish Peter and John. So they threatened them and let them go. The man who was healed by this miracle was more than forty years old, and everyone was praising God for what had happened.

As soon as Peter and John had been set free, they went back and told the others everything that the chief priests and the leaders had said to them.

When the rest of the Lord's followers heard this, they prayed together and said: Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Here in Jerusalem, Herod and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Then they turned against your holy Servant Jesus, your chosen Messiah.

They did what you in your power and wisdom had already decided would happen.

After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message.

The group of followers all felt the same way about everything. None of them claimed that their possessions were their own, and they shared everything they had with each other.

But they agreed to cheat and keep some of the money for themselves. So when Ananias took the rest of the money to the apostles,

Some young men came in and wrapped up his body. Then they took it out and buried it.

Then Peter said, "Why did the two of you agree to test the Lord's Spirit? The men who buried Ananias are by the door, and they will carry you out!"

At once she fell at Peter's feet and died. When the young men came back in, they found Sapphira lying there dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.