World English Bible · Under Rome
Acts 5
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But a certain man named , with his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at ' feet. But said, ", why has filled to lie to and to keep back part of the price of the land? While you kept it, didn't it your own? After it was sold, wasn't it in your ? How is it that you have conceived this thing in ? You haven't lied to men, but to ." , hearing these words, fell down and . Great fear came on all who heard these things. The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and . 7About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, for so much." But asked her, "How is it that you have agreed together to of ? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." She fell down immediately at his feet and . The young men came in and found her , and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. Great fear came on the whole , and on all who heard these things. By the hands of many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in porch. None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people them. More believers were added to , of both men and women. They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them. also came together from the cities around , bringing sick people and those who were tormented by ; and they were all healed. But the rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the ), and they were filled with and laid hands on , then put them in public custody. But of opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, "Go stand and speak in to the people all the words of this life." When they heard this, they entered into about daybreak and taught. But the and those who were with him came and called together, with all the senate of the , and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But the officers who came didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported, "We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!" Now when the , the captain of , and the heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25One came and told them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in , standing and teaching the people." Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without , for they were afraid that the people might stone them. When they had brought them, they set them before . The questioned them, saying, "Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's on us." But and answered, "We must rather than men. The of our fathers up , whom you killed, . exalted him with his to be a Prince and a , to give to Israel, and remission of . We are his of these things; and so also is , whom has given to those who him." But they, when they heard this, were cut to , and were determined to kill them. But one stood up in , a named , a teacher of , by all the people, and commanded to put out for a little while. He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as him, were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, of rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also , and all, as many as him, were scattered abroad. Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. But if it is of , you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against !" They agreed with him. Summoning , they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of , and let them go. They therefore departed from the of , rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for ' name. Every day, in and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching , the Christ.
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The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.