Acts 4
4
Peter and John at the Council
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and Sadducees came up to them. 2They were upset because the two apostles were teaching the people and were preaching that people will rise from the dead through the power of Jesus. 3The older leaders grabbed Peter and John and put them in jail. Since it was already night, they kept them in jail until the next day. 4But many of those who had heard Peter and John preach believed the things they said. There were now about five thousand in the group of believers.
5The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there, as well as everyone from the high priest’s family. 7They made Peter and John stand before them and then asked them, “By what power or authority did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and you elders, 9are you questioning us about a good thing that was done to a crippled man? Are you asking us who made him well? 10We want all of you and all the people to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified him, but God raised him from the dead. This man was crippled, but he is now well and able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus. 11Jesus is
‘the stone that you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’#Psalm 118:22
12Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us.”
13The leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak, and they understood that these men had no special training or education. So they were amazed. Then they realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. 14Because they saw the healed man standing there beside the two apostles, they could say nothing against them. 15After the leaders ordered them to leave the meeting, they began to talk to each other. 16They said, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows they have done a great miracle, and we cannot say it is not true. 17But to keep it from spreading among the people, we must warn them not to talk to people anymore using that name.”
18So they called Peter and John in again and told them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “You decide what God would want. Should we obey you or God? 20We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21The leaders warned the apostles again and let them go free. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had been done. 22The man who received the miracle of healing was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray
23After Peter and John left the meeting of leaders, they went to their own group and told them everything the leading priests and the elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they prayed to God together, “Lord, you are the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25By the Holy Spirit, through our father David your servant, you said:
‘Why are the nations so angry?
Why are the people making useless plans?
26The kings of the earth prepare to fight,
and their leaders make plans together
against the Lord
and his Christ.’#Psalm 2:1–2
27These things really happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, and some Jews and non-Jews all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. Jesus is your holy servant, the One you made to be the Christ. 28These people made your plan happen because of your power and your will. 29And now, Lord, listen to their threats. Lord, help us, your servants, to speak your word without fear. 30Show us your power to heal. Give proofs and make miracles happen by the power of Jesus, your holy servant.”
31After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke God’s word without fear.
The Believers Share
32The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything. 33With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from the dead. And God blessed all the believers very much. 34There were no needy people among them. From time to time those who owned fields or houses sold them, brought the money, 35and gave it to the apostles. Then the money was given to anyone who needed it.
36One of the believers was named Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas (which means “one who encourages”). 37Joseph owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles.
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Acts 4: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Acts 4
4
Acts 4
1¶ And as they spoke unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2resentful that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3And they laid hands on them and put them in jail unto the next day, for it was now evening.
4But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5¶ And it came to pass on the next day that their princes and elders and scribes
6and Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have ye done this?
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye princes of the people and elders of Israel,
9if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole,
10be 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 by him does this man stand here before you whole.
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men in which we can be saved.
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.
14And beholding the man who 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,
16saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all those that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in this name.
18And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19Then Peter and John answered and said unto them, Judge whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God.
20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way how they might punish them because of the people, for everyone glorified God for that which was done.
22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shown.
23¶ And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the princes of the priests and the elders had said unto them.
24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, thou art the God, who hast made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them,
25who (in the Holy Spirit) by the mouth of thy servant David (our father) hast said, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
26The kings of the earth were present, and the princes were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.
27For of a truth against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (in this city),
28to do that which thy hand and thy counsel had determined beforehand must be done.
29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy slaves that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30that thou might stretch forth thine hand so that healings and signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy slave Jesus.
31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32¶ And of the multitude of those that had believed was one heart and one soul; no one said that anything he possessed was his own, but they had all things common.
33And with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34Neither 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
35and laid them down at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made unto each one according to their need.
36Then Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International