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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Acts 4: JUB
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International
Acts 4
4
Peter and John before the Council
1Peter and John were still speaking to the people when some priests,#4.1 priests; some manuscripts have chief priests. the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees arrived. 2They were annoyed because the two apostles were teaching the people that Jesus had risen from death, which proved that the dead will rise to life. 3So they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day, since it was already late. 4But many who heard the message believed; and the number of men grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the Jewish leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the Law gathered in Jerusalem. 6They met with the High Priest Annas and with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the others who belonged to the High Priest's family. 7They made the apostles stand before them and asked them, “How did you do this? What power have you got or whose name did you use?”
8Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: 9if we are being questioned today about the good deed done to the lame man and how he was healed, 10then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth — whom you crucified and whom God raised from death. 11#Ps 118.22Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says:
‘The stone that you the builders despised
turned out to be the most important of all.’
12Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”
13The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus. 14But there was nothing that they could say, because they saw the man who had been healed standing there with Peter and John. 15So they told them to leave the Council room, and then they started discussing among themselves. 16“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn these men never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.”
18So they called them back in and told them that on no condition were they to speak or to teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “You yourselves judge which is right in God's sight — to obey you or to obey God. 20For we cannot stop speaking of what we ourselves have seen and heard.” 21So the Council warned them even more strongly and then set them free. They saw that it was impossible to punish them, because the people were all praising God for what had happened. 22The man on whom this miracle of healing had been performed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said. 24#Ex 20.11; Neh 9.6; Ps 146.6When the believers heard it, they all joined together in prayer to God: “Master and Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them! 25#Ps 2.1–2 (LXX)By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said:
‘Why were the Gentiles furious;
why did people make their useless plots?
26The kings of the earth prepared themselves,
and the rulers met together
against the Lord and his Messiah.’
27 #
Mt 27.1–2; Mk 15.1; Lk 23.1, 7–11; Jn 18.28–29 For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. 28They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen. 29And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
31When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God's message with boldness.
The Believers Share their Possessions
32 #
Acts 2.44–45
The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. 33With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. 34There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, 35and hand it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed to each one according to his need.
36And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “One who Encourages”), 37sold a field he owned, brought the money, and handed it over to the apostles.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.