1 - Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 But they agreed to lie and keep some of the money for themselves. So when Ananias took the rest of the money to the apostles, 3 Peter asked, "Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you could lie to and deceive the Holy Spirit? You've held back some of the money you received for the land. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours. What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to human beings but to God.” 5 As soon as Ananias heard this, he fell down dead! And all who heard about it feared. 6 Some young men came in and wrapped up his body and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 9 So Peter said to her, "Why did you and your husband decide to put the Lord's Spirit to the test? The men who buried your husband are at the door right now, and they will carry you out too.” 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 The whole church and all the others who heard of this feared greatly.
12 The apostles worked many miracles and wonders among the people. All of the Lord's followers often met in the part of the temple known as Solomon's Porch. 13 Nobody outside the group dared join them, even though the people spoke highly of them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
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Very Brief Outline of Acts:
Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).
The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.
The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).
Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.
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