Acts 4
4
Peter and John Arrested
1And while Peter and John were talking to the people, the priests and the captain [who was in charge of the temple area and] of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2being extremely disturbed and thoroughly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in [the case of] Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day, because it was evening. 4But many of those who heard the message [of salvation] believed [in Jesus and accepted Him as the Christ]. And the number of the men came to be about 5,000.
5On the next day, their magistrates and elders and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6and #4:6 Annas served as high priest a.d. 6-15. He was removed from the position by Rome, but continued to be extremely influential and was regarded by the Jews as de facto high priest even though others (his sons and son-in-law) officially held the office.Annas the high priest was there, and #4:6 Caiaphas (Annas’ son-in-law) served as high priest a.d. 18-36.Caiaphas and #4:6 Perhaps this is Jonathan, one of Annas’ sons.John and Alexander, and all others who were of high-priestly descent. 7When they had put the men in #4:7 The Sanhedrin sat in a semi-circle.front of them, they repeatedly asked, “By what sort of power, or in what name [that is, by what kind of authority], did you do this [healing]?” 8Then Peter, filled with [the power of] the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people [members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court], 9if we are being put on trial today [to interrogate us] for a good deed done to [benefit] a disabled man, as to how this man has been restored to health, 10let it be known and clearly understood by all of you, and by all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you [demanded be] crucified [by the Romans and], whom God raised from the dead—in this name [that is, by the authority and power of Jesus] this man stands here before you in good health. 11This Jesus is the stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which became the #4:11 The cornerstone is the supreme foundation stone governing the structure of the entire building. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone.chief Cornerstone. [Ps 118:22] 12And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
Threat and Release
13Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were #4:13 They had no formal religious training in the rabbinical schools.uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15But after ordering them to step out of the Council [chamber], they began to confer among themselves, 16saying, “What are we to do with these men? For the fact that an extraordinary miracle has taken place through them is public knowledge and clearly evident to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep it from spreading further among the people and the nation, let us [sternly] warn them not to speak again to anyone in this name.” 18So they sent for them, and commanded them not to speak [as His representatives] or teach at all in the name of Jesus [using Him as their authority]. 19But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves]; 20for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.” 21When the rulers and Council members had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because [of their fear] of the people, for they were all praising and glorifying and honoring God for what had happened; 22for the man to whom this sign (attesting miracle) of healing had happened was more than forty years old.
23After Peter and John were released, they returned to their own [people] and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24And when they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “O Sovereign Lord [having complete power and authority], it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, [Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6] 25who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said,
‘Why did the nations (Gentiles) become arrogant and rage,
And the peoples devise futile things [against the Lord]?
26‘The kings of the earth took their stand [to attack],
And the rulers were assembled together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed (the Christ, the Messiah).’ [Ps 2:1, 2]
27For in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined [before the creation of the world] to occur [and so without knowing it, they served Your own purpose]. 29And now, Lord, observe their threats [take them into account] and grant that Your bond-servants may declare Your message [of salvation] with great confidence, 30while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders (attesting miracles) take place through the name [and the authority and power] of Your holy Servant and Son Jesus.” 31And when they had prayed, the place where they were meeting together was shaken [a sign of God’s presence]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness and courage.
Sharing among Believers
32Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of all. 33And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales 35and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.
36Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed #4:36 Barnabas becomes a prominent figure in the book of Acts (9:27; 11:22-30; 13:1-14:28, etc.), and it may be for that reason that Luke briefly mentions him here, telling the reader how Barnabas came to be associated with the apostles.Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles’ feet.
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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.