Acts 4
4
Standing Before the Sanhedrin
1As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the kohanim and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them.
2They were indignant because Peter and John were teaching the people and announcing in Yeshua the resurrection of the dead.
3So they grabbed them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.
4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5On the next day, the rulers and elders and Torah scholars were gathered together in Jerusalem.
6Annas the kohen gadol was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were of high-priestly descent.
7When they had placed Peter and John in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
9If we are on trial today for a mitzvah done for a sick man, as to how this fellow was healed,
10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yeshua ha-Mashiach ha-Natzrati—whom you had crucified, whom God raised from the dead—this one stands before you whole.
11This Yeshua is ‘the stone—rejected by you, the builders—that has become the chief cornerstone.’
12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved!”
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and figured out they were laymen without training, they were amazed. They began to realize that these men had been with Yeshua.
14But seeing the healed man standing with them, they had nothing to say in response.
15When they had ordered Peter and John to go out of the council chamber, they began to confer with one another,
16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For indeed, it’s obvious to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has happened through them, and we cannot deny it.
17But so it won’t spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak anymore to anyone in this name.”
18So they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Yeshua.
19But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you decide.
20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21After threatening them again, they let them go—finding no way they could punish them on account of the people, because they all were glorifying God for what had happened.
22For the man in whom this miracle of healing had happened was more than forty years old.
Prayer for Courage
23As soon as they were released, Peter and John went to their own people and reported all that the ruling kohanim and elders had said to them.
24When they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “O Sovereign Master, ‘You made heaven and earth and the sea, and everything in them.’
25You said by the Ruach ha-Kodesh, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, ‘Why did the nations rage and the peoples plot foolish things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against Adonai and against His Anointed One.’
27“For truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together in this city against Your holy Servant Yeshua, whom You anointed.
28They did whatever Your hand and Your purpose predetermined to happen.
29And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant Your servants to speak Your word with utmost courage—
30while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy Servant Yeshua.”
31When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. And they were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Ruach-Filled Community Life
32Now the whole group of those who believed was one in heart and mind. No one would say anything he owned was his own, but they had everything in common.
33With great power the emissaries were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and abundant favor was upon them all.
34No one among them was needy, for all who were owners of lands or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds
35and set them at the feet of the emissaries. And the proceeds were distributed according to the need each one had.
36Now Joseph, also called Barnabas by the emissaries (which is translated Son of Encouragement), was a Levite and native of Cyprus.
37He sold a field that he owned and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the emissaries.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Acts 4
4
Nothing to Hide
1-4While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!
5-7The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”
8-12With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”
13-14They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
15-17They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”
18-20They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”
21-22The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.
One Heart, One Mind
23-26As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:
Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth’s leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers!
27-28“For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion.
29-30“And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.
32-33The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.
34-35And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.
36-37Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.