Acts 4
4
Peter and John Are Taken to the Sanhedrin
1Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles. 2They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead. 3So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other people in the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them. “By what power did you do this?” they asked. “And through whose name?”
8Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a man who couldn’t walk? Are you asking how he was healed? 10Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus’ name that this man stands healed in front of you. 11Scripture says that Jesus is
“ ‘the stone you builders did not accept.
But it has become the most important stone of all.’ (Psalm 118:22)
12You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”
13The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. 14The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say. 15They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over. 16“What can we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed an unusual miracle. We can’t say it didn’t happen. 17We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
18Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus’ name. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right from God’s point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges! 20There’s nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”
21The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn’t decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22The man who had been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.
The Believers Pray
23Peter and John were allowed to leave. They went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24The believers heard this. Then they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Lord and King,” they said, “you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them. 25Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You spoke through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said,
“ ‘Why are the nations angry?
Why do the people make useless plans?
26The kings of the earth rise up.
The rulers of the earth gather together
against the Lord
and against his anointed king.’ (Psalm 2:1,2)
27In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles in this city. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed. 28They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word. 30Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God’s word.
The Believers Share What They Own
32All the believers were agreed in heart and mind. They didn’t claim that anything they had was their own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. 33With great power the apostles continued their teaching. They were telling people that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And God’s grace was working powerfully in all of them. 34So there were no needy persons among them. From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales. 35They put it down at the apostles’ feet. It was then given out to anyone who needed it.
36Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Help. 37Barnabas sold a field he owned. He brought the money from the sale. He put it down at the apostles’ feet.
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Acts 4: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Acts 4
4
1While they were talking to the people, the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to them. 2They were angry that they were teaching the people, telling them that through Jesus there is resurrection from the dead. 3They arrested them and placed them under guard until the following day since it was already evening. 4But many who had heard the message believed it, and the total number of believers grew to about five thousand.
5The next day, the rulers, elders, and religious leaders met together in Jerusalem. 6They included the high priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others of the high priest's family. 7They brought Peter and John before them and asked, “By what power or by whose authority have you done this?”
8Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them. “Rulers of the people, and elders: 9Are we being interrogated regarding a good deed done to a man who couldn't help himself, and how he came to be healed? 10If so, all of you should know, and all the people of Israel, that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the one you killed on a cross and whom God raised from the dead—it's because of him that this man stands before you completely healed. 11‘He is the stone you builders rejected, but he has been made the chief cornerstone.’#4:11. Quoting Psalms 118:22. 12There is no salvation in anyone else; there is no other name under heaven given to humanity that can possibly save us.”
13When they saw Peter and John's confidence, and realized they were uneducated, ordinary men, they were very surprised. They also recognized them as Jesus' companions. 14Since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there with them, they had nothing to say in response to what had happened.
15So they instructed them to wait outside the council while they discussed the matter among themselves. 16“What should we do with these men?” they asked. “We can't deny a significant miracle has happened through them. Everybody living here in Jerusalem knows about it. 17But to prevent it spreading among the people any further, we should threaten them never to speak to anybody in this name#4:17. Clearly the name of Jesus, but they did not even want to mention the actual name. again.”
18So they called them back in and ordered them never to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. 19But Peter and John responded, “Whether it's right in God's eyes to obey you rather than God—you decide. 20We can't help talking about what we've seen and heard!”
21After making more threats they let them go. They couldn't work out how to punish them because everyone was glorifying God for what had happened. 22For the man who received this miracle of healing was more than forty years old. 23After the disciples had been released, they went to the other believers and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard what had happened, they prayed to God together:
“Lord, you made heaven and earth and sea, and everything that is in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through David, our forefather and your servant, saying ‘Why did the people of the other nations become so angry? Why did they plot so foolishly against me? 26The kings of the earth prepared for war;#4:26. “For war,” implied. the rulers united together against the Lord and against his Chosen One.’#4:26. Literally, “Anointed.” The quote is from Psalms 2:1-2.
27Now this has really happened right here in this city! Both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the foreigners and the people of Israel, united together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed as Messiah. 28They did whatever you had already decided because you had the power and the will to do it.
29Now Lord: look at all their threats against us! Help us your servants to speak your word really boldly. 30As you exercise your power to heal, may signs and miracles be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus!”
31When they had finished praying, the building they were meeting in was shaken. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God boldly. 32All the believers thought and felt the same way. None of them claimed anything they had as their own, but shared everything with each other. 33The apostles gave their testimony regarding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with tremendous power, and God greatly blessed them all. 34None of them needed anything because those who had lands or properties sold them. 35They took the proceeds and presented them to the apostles to be shared with those in need. 36Joseph, the one the apostles called Barnabas (meaning “son of encouragement”), was a Levite, a Cypriot national. 37He sold a field that belonged to him. Then he brought the money and presented it to the apostles.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com