Egypt Attacks Judah^(A)

12 Now ^(B)it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that ^(C)he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him. ^2 (D)And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord, ³ with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt—^(E)the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians. ⁴ And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.

⁵ Then ^(F)Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’ ”

⁶ So the leaders of Israel and the king ^(G)humbled themselves; and they said, ^(H)“The Lord is righteous.”

⁷ Now when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, ^(I)the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. ⁸ Nevertheless ^(J)they will be his servants, that they may distinguish ^(K)My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”

^9 (L)So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house; he took everything. He also carried away the gold shields which Solomon had ^(M)made. ¹⁰ Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them ^(N)to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house. ¹¹ And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guard would go and bring them out; then they would take them back into the guardroom. ¹² When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.

The End of Rehoboam’s Reign^(O)

¹³ Thus King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now ^(P)Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, ^(Q)the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother’s name was Naamah, an ^(R)Ammonitess. ¹⁴ And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

¹⁵ The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, ^(S)and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? ^(T)And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. ¹⁶ So Rehoboam ^[a]rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David. Then ^(U)Abijah^[b] his son reigned in his place.

Sharing in All Things

³² Now the multitude of those who believed ^(A)were of one heart and one soul; ^(B)neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. ³³ And with ^(C)great power the apostles gave ^(D)witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And ^(E)great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; ^(F)for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, ^35 (G)and laid them at the apostles’ feet; ^(H)and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

³⁶ And ^[a]Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of ^[b]Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ^37 (I)having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Lying to the Holy Spirit

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. ² And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ^3 (A)But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(B)Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? ⁴ While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

⁵ Then Ananias, hearing these words, ^(C)fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. ⁶ And the young men arose and ^(D)wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

⁷ Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

She said, “Yes, for so much.”

⁹ Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together ^(E)to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ^10 (F)Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. ^11 (G)So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Continuing Power in the Church

¹² And ^(H)through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. ^(I)And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ Yet ^(J)none of the rest dared join them, ^(K)but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, ^(L)that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing ^(M)sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Imprisoned Apostles Freed

^17 (N)Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with ^[a]indignation, ^18 (O)and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But at night ^(P)an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people ^(Q)all the words of this life.”

²¹ And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. ^(R)But the high priest and those with him came and called the ^[b]council together, with all the ^[c]elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Apostles on Trial Again

²² But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, ²³ saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing ^[d]outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ Now when ^[e]the high priest, ^(S)the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. ²⁵ So one came and told them, ^[f]saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, ^(T)for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, ^(U)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, ^(V)and intend to bring this Man’s ^(W)blood on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ^(X)“We ought to obey God rather than men. ^30 (Y)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by ^(Z)hanging on a tree. ^31 (AA)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be ^(AB)Prince and ^(AC)Savior, ^(AD)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And ^(AE)we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit ^(AF)whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³ When they heard this, they were ^(AG)furious^[g] and plotted to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named ^(AH)Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them: “Men of Israel, ^[h]take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, ^[i]joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. ³⁸ And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; ^39 (AI)but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found ^(AJ)to fight against God.”

⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and when they had ^(AK)called for the apostles ^(AL)and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, ^(AM)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for ^[j]His name. ⁴² And daily ^(AN)in the temple, and in every house, ^(AO)they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.