Acts 4

1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,2 being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide.4 But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,9 if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole;10 be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole.11 He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.12 And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.13 Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.14 And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,16 saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.18 And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:20 for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.21 And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done.22 For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought.23 And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.24 And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:25 who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:

27 for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,28 to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass.29 And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,30 while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.33 And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.34 For neither was there among them any 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 at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,37 having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4

The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John

1 While Peter and Johnt were speaking to the people, the priests and the commandert of the temple guardts and the Sadduceess came upt to them,2 angryt because they were teaching the people and announcingt in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.3 Sot they seizedt them and put them in jailt until the next day (for it was already evening).

4 But many of those who had listened tot the messaget believed, and the number of the ment came to about five thousand.
5 On the next day,t their rulers, elders, and experts in the lawts came togethert in Jerusalem.s6 Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family.s7 Aftert making Peter and Johnt stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what names did you do this?”8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,s replied,t “Rulers of the people and elders,s9 ift we are being examinedt today for a good deedt done to a sick man – by what means this man was healedt –10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christt the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy.11 This Jesust is the stone that was rejected by you,tthe builders, that has become the cornerstone.s

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among peoplet by which we musts be saved.”
13 When they saw the boldnesst of Peter and John, and discoveredt that they were uneducateds and ordinaryt men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.t15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the council,t they began to confer with one another,16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plaint to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous signt has come about through them,t and we cannot deny it.17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no moret to anyone in this name.”18 And they called them in and orderedt them not to speak or teach at all in the names of Jesus.19 But Peter and John replied,t “Whether it is right before God to obeyt you rather than God, you decide,20 for it is impossiblet for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praisingt God for what had happened.

22 For the man, on whom this miraculous signt of healing had been performed,t was over forty years old.

The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, Peter and Johnt went to their fellow believerst and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them.24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one minds and said, “Master of all,ts you who made the heaven, the earth,t the sea, and everything that is in them,

25 who said by the Holy Spirit throught your servant David our forefather,t
‘Why do the nationstrage,s
and the peoples plot foolishtthings?

26 The kings of the earth stood together,t
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against histsChrist.’s
27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city againsts your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,s28 to do as much as your powert and your plant had decided beforehandt would happen.29 And now, Lord, pay attention tot their threats, and grants to your servantst to speak your messaget with great courage,t30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signst and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 Whent they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken,s and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speakt the word of Godt courageously.t

Conditions Among the Early Believers

32 The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind,t and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.ts33 Witht great power the apostles were giving testimonyt to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.34 For there was no one needyt among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were sellingt themt and bringing the proceeds from the sales35 and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceedst were distributed to each, as anyone had need.36 So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”),s

37 soldt a fieldt that belonged to him and brought the moneyt and placed it at the apostles’ feet.