The Skeptics Annotated Bible (872 page)

25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And
when they had prayed, the place was shaken
where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

(4.31)
The first prayer-caused earthquake
“When they had prayed, the place was shaken.”

(4.32-35) Imagine no possessions: The early Christians were communists.

32 And
the multitude
of them that believed
were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

(4.32)
“The multitude … were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them
, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet
: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

(4.34-35)
“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them … and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

(5.1-11)
The dark side of Christian communism
God killed Ananias and Sapphira for not giving Peter all of the money that they made when selling their land. (They kept some for themselves.)
God’s 133rd Killing

5
But a certain man named
Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it
, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

(5.1-2)
“Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it.”

3 But
Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

(5.3)
“Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?
why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

(5.4)
“Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

5
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost
: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

(5.5)
“And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost.”

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

(5.7)
“Three hours after … his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.”

8 And
Peter answered
unto her,
Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

(5.8)
“Peter answered … Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.”

9 Then
Peter said
unto her,
How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

(5.9)
“Peter said … How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.”

10
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost
: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

(5.10)
“Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost.”

11
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

(5.11)
“And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”

12 And
by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people
; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

(5.12)
“By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.”

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

(5.15-16) The sick were healed just by touching the shadow of Peter.