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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Acts of the Apostles 4: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Acts 4
4
Peter and John Are Taken to the Sanhedrin
1Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles. 2They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead. 3So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other people in the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them. “By what power did you do this?” they asked. “And through whose name?”
8Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a man who couldn’t walk? Are you asking how he was healed? 10Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus’ name that this man stands healed in front of you. 11Scripture says that Jesus is
“ ‘the stone you builders did not accept.
But it has become the most important stone of all.’ (Psalm 118:22)
12You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”
13The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. 14The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say. 15They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over. 16“What can we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed an unusual miracle. We can’t say it didn’t happen. 17We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
18Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus’ name. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right from God’s point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges! 20There’s nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”
21The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn’t decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22The man who had been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.
The Believers Pray
23Peter and John were allowed to leave. They went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24The believers heard this. Then they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Lord and King,” they said, “you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them. 25Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You spoke through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said,
“ ‘Why are the nations angry?
Why do the people make useless plans?
26The kings of the earth rise up.
The rulers of the earth gather together
against the Lord
and against his anointed king.’ (Psalm 2:1,2)
27In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles in this city. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed. 28They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word. 30Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God’s word.
The Believers Share What They Own
32All the believers were agreed in heart and mind. They didn’t claim that anything they had was their own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. 33With great power the apostles continued their teaching. They were telling people that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And God’s grace was working powerfully in all of them. 34So there were no needy persons among them. From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales. 35They put it down at the apostles’ feet. It was then given out to anyone who needed it.
36Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Help. 37Barnabas sold a field he owned. He brought the money from the sale. He put it down at the apostles’ feet.
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