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.
The Acts 4
4
1And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being distressed on account of their teaching the people and preaching by Jesus the resurrection from among the dead; 3and they laid hands on them, and put them in ward till the morrow; for it was already evening. 4But many of those who had heard the word believed; and the number of the men had become about five thousand.
5And it came to pass on the morrow that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together at Jerusalem, 6and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the high priestly family; 7and having placed them in the midst they inquired, In what power or in what name have ye done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, 9if we this day are called upon to answer as to the good deed done to the infirm man, how he has been healed, 10be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazaraean, whom ye have crucified, whom God has raised from among the dead, by him this man stands here before you sound in body. 11He is the stone which has been set at nought by you the builders, which is become the corner stone. 12And salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved. 13But seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unlettered and uninstructed men, they wondered; and they recognised them that they were with Jesus. 14And beholding the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to reply;
15but having commanded them to go out of the council they conferred with one another, 16saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed an evident sign has come to pass through their means is manifest to all that inhabit Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But that it be not further spread among the people, let us threaten them severely no longer to speak to any man in this name. 18And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answering said to them, If it be righteous before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge ye; 20for as for us we cannot refrain from speaking of the things which we have seen and heard. 21But they, having further threatened them, let them go, finding no way how they might punish them, on account of the people, because all glorified God for what had taken place; 22for the man on whom this sign of healing had taken place was above forty years old.
23And having been let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24And they, having heard it, lifted up their voice with one accord to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them; 25who hast said by the mouth of thy servant David, Why have the nations raged haughtily and the peoples meditated vain things? 26The kings of the earth were there, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. 27For in truth against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations, and peoples of Israel, have been gathered together in this city 28to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel had determined before should come to pass. 29And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and give to thy bondmen with all boldness to speak thy word, 30in that thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and that signs and wonders take place through the name of thy holy servant Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.
32And the heart and soul of the multitude of those that had believed were one, and not one said that anything of what he possessed was his own, but all things were common to them; 33and with great power did the apostles give witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34For neither was there any one in want among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold 35and laid it at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each according as any one might have need. 36And Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being interpreted, Son of consolation), a Levite, Cyprian by birth, 37being possessed of land, having sold it, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.