The Acts 4
4
1And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide. 4But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, 9if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole; 10be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner. 12And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved. 13Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man which was healed standing 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, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: 20for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard. 21And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought.
23And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them. 24And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 25who by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed: 27for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, 28to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel foreordained to come to pass. 29And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, 30while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need. 36And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, 37having a field, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
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The Acts 4: RV1895
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historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Acts of the Apostles 4
4
Peter and John questioned
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them. 2They were incensed that the apostles were teaching the people and announcing that the resurrection of the dead was happening because of Jesus. 3They seized Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day. (It was already evening.) 4Many who heard the word became believers, and their number grew to about five thousand.
5The next day the leaders, elders, and legal experts gathered in Jerusalem, 6along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others from the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered, “Leaders of the people and elders, 9are we being examined today because something good was done for a sick person, a good deed that healed him? 10If so, then you and all the people of Israel need to know that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected; he has become the cornerstone! 12Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.”
13The council was caught by surprise by the confidence with which Peter and John spoke. After all, they understood that these apostles were uneducated and inexperienced. They also recognized that they had been followers of Jesus. 14However, since the healed man was standing with Peter and John before their own eyes, they had no rebuttal. 15After ordering them to wait outside, the council members began to confer with each other. 16“What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem is aware of the sign performed through them. It’s obvious to everyone and we can’t deny it. 17To keep it from spreading further among the people, we need to warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.” 18When they called Peter and John back, they demanded that they stop all speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus.
19Peter and John responded, “It’s up to you to determine whether it’s right before God to obey you rather than God. 20As for us, we can’t stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21They threatened them further, then released them. Because of public support for Peter and John, they couldn’t find a way to punish them. Everyone was praising God for what had happened, 22because the man who had experienced this sign of healing was over 40 years old.
The believers pray
23After their release, Peter and John returned to the brothers and sisters and reported everything the chief priests and elders had said. 24They listened, then lifted their voices in unison to God, “Master, you are the one who created the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25You are the one who spoke by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:
“Why did the Gentiles rage”,
“and the peoples plot in vain?”
26“The kings of the earth took their stand”
“and the rulers gathered together as one”
“against the Lord and against his Christ.”#4.26 Or anointed one;Ps 2:1-2
27Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Gentiles and Israelites, did gather in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and plan had already determined would happen. 29Now, Lord, take note of their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with complete confidence. 30Stretch out your hand to bring healing and enable signs and wonders to be performed through the name of Jesus, your holy servant.” 31After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking God’s word with confidence.
Sharing among the believers
32The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. 33The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at work among them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need.
36Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (that is, “one who encourages”), was a Levite from Cyprus. 37He owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles.
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