Acts 4
4
Peter and John Arrested
1Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the #Matt. 22:23Sadducees came upon them, 2being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Addressing the Sanhedrin
5And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6as well as #Luke 3:2; John 11:49; 18:13Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, #Ex. 2:14; Matt. 21:23; Acts 7:27“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
8#Luke 12:11, 12Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, #Acts 2:22; 3:6, 16that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, #Acts 2:24whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11This is the #Ps. 118:22; Is. 28:16; Matt. 21:42‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12#Is. 42:1, 6, 7; 53:11; Dan. 9:24; (Matt. 1:21; John 14:6; Acts 10:43; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6)Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Name of Jesus Forbidden
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, #Matt. 11:25; (1 Cor. 1:27)and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed #Acts 3:11standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16saying, #John 11:47“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is #Acts 3:7–10evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
18#Acts 5:28, 40So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, #Acts 5:29“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20#Acts 1:8; 2:32For we cannot but speak the things which #Acts 22:15; (1 John 1:1, 3)we have seen and heard.” 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, #Matt. 21:26; Luke 20:6, 19; 22:2; Acts 5:26because of the people, since they all #Matt. 15:31glorified God for #Acts 3:7, 8what had been done. 22For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
Prayer for Boldness
23And being let go, #Acts 2:44–46; 12:12they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, #Ex. 20:11; 2 Kin. 19:15; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 146:6You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
#Ps. 2:1, 2‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27“For #Matt. 26:3; Luke 22:2; 23:1, 8truly against #(Luke 1:35)Your holy Servant Jesus, #Luke 4:18; John 10:36whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28#Acts 2:23; 3:18to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants #Acts 4:13, 31; 9:27; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 26:26; Eph. 6:19that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30by stretching out Your hand to heal, #Acts 2:43; 5:12and that signs and wonders may be done #Acts 3:6, 16through the name of #Acts 4:27Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31And when they had prayed, #Matt. 5:6; Acts 2:2, 4; 16:26the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, #Acts 4:29and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Sharing in All Things
32Now the multitude of those who believed #Acts 5:12; Rom. 15:5, 6; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 1:27; 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:8were of one heart and one soul; #Acts 2:44neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33And with #(Acts 1:8)great power the apostles gave #Acts 1:22witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And #Rom. 6:15great grace was upon them all. 34Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; #(Matt. 19:21); Acts 2:45for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35#Acts 4:37; 5:2and laid them at the apostles’ feet; #Acts 2:45; 6:1and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37#Acts 4:34, 35; 5:1, 2having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
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Acts 4: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Acts 4
4
The Apostles and the Jewish High Council
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, some Jewish leaders came up to them. There were some priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and some Sadducees. 2They were upset because of what Peter and John were teaching the people. By telling people about Jesus, the apostles were teaching that people will rise from death. 3The Jewish leaders arrested Peter and John and put them in jail. It was already night, so they kept them in jail until the next day. 4But many of the people who heard the apostles believed what they said. There were now about 5000 men in the group of believers.
5The next day the Jewish rulers, the older Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there. Everyone from the high priest’s family was there. 7They made Peter and John stand before all the people. They asked them over and over, “How did you make this crippled man well? What power did you use? By whose authority did you do this?”
8Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and you older leaders, 9are you questioning us today about what we did to help this crippled man? Are you asking us what made him well? 10We want all of you and all the people of Israel to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You nailed Jesus to a cross, but God raised him from death. This man was crippled, but he is now well. He is able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus! 11Jesus is
‘the stone#4:11 stone A picture or symbol meaning Jesus. that you builders thought was not important.
But this stone has become the cornerstone.’ Psalm 118:22
12Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be saved through him!”
13The Jewish leaders understood that Peter and John had no special training or education. But they also saw that they were not afraid to speak. So the leaders were amazed. They also realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. 14They saw the crippled man standing there beside the apostles. They saw that he was healed, so they could say nothing against the apostles.
15The Jewish leaders told them to leave the council meeting. Then the leaders talked to each other about what they should do. 16They said, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about the miracle they did as a sign from God. It’s too obvious. We can’t say it didn’t happen. 17But we must make them afraid to talk to anyone again using that name.#4:17 that name That is, Jesus’ name. The Jewish leaders avoided saying his name. See Lk. 15:2. Then this problem will not spread among the people.”
18So the Jewish leaders called Peter and John in again. They told the apostles not to say anything or to teach anything in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “What do you think is right? What would God want? Should we obey you or God? 20We cannot be quiet. We must tell people about what we have seen and heard.”
21-22The Jewish leaders could not find a way to punish the apostles, because all the people were praising God for what had been done. This miracle was a sign from God. The man who was healed was more than 40 years old. So the Jewish leaders warned the apostles again and let them go free.
Peter and John Return to the Believers
23Peter and John left the meeting of Jewish leaders and went to their own group. They told the group everything that the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they all prayed to God with one purpose. They said, “Master, you are the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in the world. 25Our ancestor David was your servant. With the help of the Holy Spirit he wrote these words:
‘Why are the nations shouting?
Why are the people planning such useless things?
26‘The kings of the earth prepare themselves to fight,
and the rulers all come together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ Psalm 2:1-2
27That’s what actually happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, the other nations, and the people of Israel all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. He is your holy Servant, the one you made to be the Messiah. 28These people who came together against Jesus made your plan happen. It was done because of your power and your will. 29And now, Lord, listen to what they are saying. They are trying to make us afraid. We are your servants. Help us to say what you want us to say without fear. 30Help us to be brave by showing us your power. Make sick people well. Cause miraculous signs and wonders to happen by the authority#4:30 authority Literally, “name.” of Jesus, your holy servant.”
31After the believers prayed, the place where they were meeting shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak God’s message without fear.
The Believers Share
32The whole group of believers was united in their thinking and in what they wanted. None of them said that the things they had were their own. Instead, they shared everything. 33With great power the apostles were making it known to everyone that the Lord Jesus was raised from death. And God blessed all the believers very much. 34None of them could say they needed anything. Everyone who owned fields or houses sold them. They brought the money they got 35and gave it to the apostles. Then everyone was given whatever they needed.
36One of the believers was named Joseph. The apostles called him Barnabas, a name that means “one who encourages others.” He was a Levite born in Cyprus. 37Joseph sold a field he owned. He brought the money and gave it to the apostles.
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