Acts 4
4
Peter and John Arrested
1While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,#Mt 3:7; Lk 22:4; Ac 5:24 2because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.#Ac 3:15; 17:18 3So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men#4:4 Or people came to about five thousand.
Peter and John Face the Jewish Leadership
5The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.#Mt 26:3; Lk 3:2; Jn 18:13 7After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”
8Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders:#4:8 Other mss add of Israel#Lk 23:13; Ac 4:5 9If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead — by him this man is standing here before you healthy.#Ac 2:24; 3:6 11This Jesus is
the stone rejected by you builders,
which has become the cornerstone. # 4:11 Ps 118:22 #
1Pt 2:7
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”#Mt 1:21; Ac 10:43; 1Tm 2:5
The Boldness of the Disciples
13When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.#Mt 11:25; Lk 22:8; Jn 7:15 14And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.#Jn 11:47; Ac 3:9–10 17But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;#Ac 4:13; 5:28 20for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”#Ac 22:15; 1Co 9:16; 1Jn 1:1,3
21After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.#Mt 9:8; 21:26; Lk 20:6,19; 22:2; Ac 5:26 22For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old.
Prayer for Boldness
23After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.#Ex 20:11; 2Ch 2:12; Neh 9:6; Ps 102:25; 124:8; 134:3; 146:6; Is 37:16 25You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant:#4:25 Other mss read through the mouth of David your servant
Why do the Gentiles rage
and the peoples plot futile things?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers assemble together
against the Lord and against his Messiah. # 4:25–26 Ps 2:1–2 #
Ps 2:1–2; Dn 9:24–25; Lk 4:18; Ac 1:16; 10:38; Heb 1:9
27“For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,#Mt 14:1; 27:2; Lk 23:1,12 28to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness,#Ac 9:27; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; Php 1:14 30while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders#Jn 4:48; Ac 3:6 are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.#Ac 2:2,4; 16:26; Php 1:14
All Things in Common
32Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.#Ac 2:44; Php 1:27 33With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.#Lk 24:48; Ac 1:8,22 34For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,#Mt 19:21; Ac 2:45 35and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.#Ac 2:45; 4:37; 5:2; 6:1
36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement),#Ac 9:27; 1Co 9:6 37sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.#Ac 4:35; 5:2
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Acts 4
4
Peter and John at the Council
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and Sadducees came up to them. 2They were upset because the two apostles were teaching the people and were preaching that people will rise from the dead through the power of Jesus. 3The older leaders grabbed Peter and John and put them in jail. Since it was already night, they kept them in jail until the next day. 4But many of those who had heard Peter and John preach believed the things they said. There were now about five thousand in the group of believers.
5The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there, as well as everyone from the high priest’s family. 7They made Peter and John stand before them and then asked them, “By what power or authority did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, 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 people to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified him, but God raised him from the dead. 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 that you builders rejected,
which 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 leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak, and 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. 14Because they saw the healed man standing there beside the two apostles, they could say nothing against them. 15After the leaders ordered them to leave the meeting, they began to talk to each other. 16They said, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows they have done a great miracle, and we cannot say it is not true. 17But to keep it from spreading among the people, we must warn them not to talk to people anymore using that name.”
18So they called Peter and John in again and told them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “You decide what God would want. Should we obey you or God? 20We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21The leaders warned the apostles again and let them go free. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had been done. 22The man who received the miracle of healing was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray
23After Peter and John left the meeting of leaders, they went to their own group and told them everything the leading priests and the elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they prayed to God together, “Lord, you are the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25By the Holy Spirit, through our father David your servant, you said:
‘Why are the nations so angry?
Why are the people making useless plans?
26The kings of the earth prepare to fight,
and their leaders make plans together
against the Lord
and his Christ.’#Psalm 2:1–2
27These things really happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, and some Jews and non-Jews all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. Jesus is your holy servant, the One you made to be the Christ. 28These people made your plan happen because of your power and your will. 29And now, Lord, listen to their threats. Lord, help us, your servants, to speak your word without fear. 30Show us your power to heal. 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 united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything. 33With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from the dead. And God blessed all the believers very much. 34There were no needy people among them. From time to time those who owned fields or houses sold them, brought the money, 35and gave it to the apostles. Then the money was given to anyone who needed it.
36One of the believers was named Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas (which means “one who encourages”). 37Joseph owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.