Acts 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

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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