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
Currently Selected:
Acts 4: CSB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Acts 4
4
Peter and John before the Council
1While Peter and John#4.1 Gk While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.
5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,#4.6 Other ancient authorities read Jonathan and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners#4.7 Gk them stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,#4.10 Gk the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus#4.11 Gk This is
‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.’#4.11 Or keystone
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. 14When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. 16They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. 17But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23After they were released, they went to their friends#4.23 Gk their own and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, 25it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:#4.25 Or child
‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples imagine vain things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers have gathered together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.’#4.26 Or his Christ
27For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant#4.27 Or child Jesus, whom you anointed, 28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants#4.29 Gk slaves to speak your word with all boldness, 30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant#4.30 Or child Jesus.” 31When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). 37He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.