The Acts 4
4
Peter and John at the Council
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, a group of men came up to them. There were Jewish priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and some Sadducees. 2They were upset because the two apostles were teaching the people. Peter and John were preaching that people will rise from death through the power of Jesus. 3The Jewish leaders grabbed 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 those who heard Peter and John preach believed the things they said. There were now about 5,000 men in the group of believers.
5The next day the Jewish rulers, the Jewish elders, 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 them. The Jewish leaders asked them: “By what power or authority did you do this?”
8Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He 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 Jewish people to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth! You nailed him to a cross, but God raised him from death. 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# A symbol meaning Jesus. that you builders did not want.
It 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 Jewish leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak. 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. 14They saw the crippled man standing there beside the two apostles. They saw that the man was healed. So they could say nothing against them. 15The Jewish leaders told them to leave the 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 that they have done a great miracle! We cannot say it is not true. 17But we must warn them not to talk to people anymore using that name. Then this thing will not spread among the people.”
18So they called Peter and John in again. They told them not to speak or to teach at all 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 keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21-22The Jewish leaders could not find a way to punish them because all the people were praising God for what had been done. (This miracle was a proof 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.
The Believers’ Prayer
23Peter and John left the meeting of Jewish leaders and went to their own group. They told them everything that the leading priests and the Jewish elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they prayed to God with one purpose. They prayed, “Lord, you are the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in the world. 25Our father David was your servant. With the help of the Holy Spirit he said:
‘Why are the nations so angry?
Why are the people making useless plans?
26The kings of the earth prepare to fight.
Their leaders make plans together
against the Lord
and against his Christ.’ Psalm 2:1-2
27These things really happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, the non-Jewish people, and the Jewish people all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. Jesus is your holy Servant. He is the One you made to be the Christ. 28These people made your plan happen; it happened because of your power and your will. 29And now, Lord, listen to what they are saying. They are trying to make us afraid! Lord, we are your servants. Help us to speak your word without fear. 30Help us to be brave by showing us your power; make sick people well, 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 joined in their hearts, and they had the same spirit. No person in the group said that the things he had were his own. Instead, they shared everything. 33With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from death. And God blessed all the believers very much. 34They all received the things they needed. Everyone that owned fields or houses sold them. They brought the money 35and gave it to the apostles. Then each person was given the things he needed.
36One of the believers was named Joseph. The apostles called him Barnabas. (This name means “one who encourages.”) He was a Levite, born in Cyprus. 37Joseph owned a field. He sold it, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.