Acts 4:32-37 RSV

Acts 1:15-26 In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,

"Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.

For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.

(Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language A-kel'da-ma, that is, Field of Blood.)

For it is written in the book of Psalms, "Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'' and 'His office let another take.'

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

And they put forward two, Joseph called Bar-sab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Mat-thi'as.

And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knoweth the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen

to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place."

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Mat-thi'as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Acts 5:1-11 But a man named An-a-ni'as with his wife Sap-phi'ra sold a piece of property,

and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But Peter said, "An-a-ni'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?

While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? and after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

When An-a-ni'as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."

But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."

Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.