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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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Acts 4
4
Standing Before the Sanhedrin
1As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the kohanim and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them.
2They were indignant because Peter and John were teaching the people and announcing in Yeshua the resurrection of the dead.
3So they grabbed them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.
4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5On the next day, the rulers and elders and Torah scholars were gathered together in Jerusalem.
6Annas the kohen gadol was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were of high-priestly descent.
7When they had placed Peter and John in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
9If we are on trial today for a mitzvah done for a sick man, as to how this fellow was healed,
10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yeshua ha-Mashiach ha-Natzrati—whom you had crucified, whom God raised from the dead—this one stands before you whole.
11This Yeshua is ‘the stone—rejected by you, the builders—that has become the chief cornerstone.’
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved!”
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and figured out they were laymen without training, they were amazed. They began to realize that these men had been with Yeshua.
14But seeing the healed man standing with them, they had nothing to say in response.
15When they had ordered Peter and John to go out of the council chamber, they began to confer with one another,
16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For indeed, it’s obvious to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has happened through them, and we cannot deny it.
17But so it won’t spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak anymore to anyone in this name.”
18So they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Yeshua.
19But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you decide.
20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21After threatening them again, they let them go—finding no way they could punish them on account of the people, because they all were glorifying God for what had happened.
22For the man in whom this miracle of healing had happened was more than forty years old.
Prayer for Courage
23As soon as they were released, Peter and John went to their own people and reported all that the ruling kohanim and elders had said to them.
24When they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “O Sovereign Master, ‘You made heaven and earth and the sea, and everything in them.’
25You said by the Ruach ha-Kodesh, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, ‘Why did the nations rage and the peoples plot foolish things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against Adonai and against His Anointed One.’
27“For truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together in this city against Your holy Servant Yeshua, whom You anointed.
28They did whatever Your hand and Your purpose predetermined to happen.
29And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant Your servants to speak Your word with utmost courage—
30while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy Servant Yeshua.”
31When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. And they were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Ruach-Filled Community Life
32Now the whole group of those who believed was one in heart and mind. No one would say anything he owned was his own, but they had everything in common.
33With great power the emissaries were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and abundant favor was upon them all.
34No one among them was needy, for all who were owners of lands or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds
35and set them at the feet of the emissaries. And the proceeds were distributed according to the need each one had.
36Now Joseph, also called Barnabas by the emissaries (which is translated Son of Encouragement), was a Levite and native of Cyprus.
37He sold a field that he owned and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the emissaries.
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