Acts 4
4
Peter and John Are Brought in Front of the Council
1The apostles were still talking to the people, when some priests, the captain of the temple guard, and some Sadducees arrived. 2These men were angry because the apostles were teaching the people that the dead would be raised from death, just as Jesus had been raised from death. 3It was already late in the afternoon, and they arrested Peter and John and put them in jail for the night. 4But a lot of people who had heard the message believed it. So by now there were about 5,000 followers of the Lord.
5The next morning the leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses met in Jerusalem. 6The high priest Annas was there, as well as Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other members of the high priest's family. 7They brought in Peter and John and made them stand in the middle while they questioned them. They asked, “By what power and in whose name have you done this?”
8Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the nation's leaders and the elders:
9You are questioning us today about a kind deed in which a man who could not walk was healed. 10But there is something we must tell you and everyone else in Israel. This man is standing here completely well because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus to death on a cross, but God raised him to life. 11#Ps 118.22. He is the stone you builders thought was worthless, and now he is the most important stone of all. 12Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.
13The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain these men had been with Jesus. 14But they could not deny what had happened. The man who had been healed was standing there with the apostles.
15The officials commanded them to leave the council room. Then the officials said to each other, 16“What can we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn't happen. 17But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.” 18So they called the two apostles back in and told them they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.
19Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? 20We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”
21-22The officials could not find any reason to punish Peter and John. So they threatened them and let them go. The man who was healed by this miracle was more than 40 years old, and everyone was praising God for what had happened.
Peter and Others Pray for Courage
23As soon as Peter and John had been set free, they went back and told the others everything the chief priests and the leaders had said to them. 24#Ex 20.11; Ne 9.6; Ps 146.6. When the rest of the Lord's followers heard this, they prayed together and said:
Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25#Ps 2.1,2 (LXX). And by the Holy Spirit you spoke to our ancestor David. He was your servant, and you told him to say:
“Why are all the Gentiles
so furious?
Why do people
make foolish plans?
26The kings of earth
prepare for war,
and the rulers
join together
against the Lord
and his Messiah.”
27 #
Lk 23.7-11;
Mt 27.1,2; Mk 15.1; Lk 23.1; Jn 18.28,29. Here in Jerusalem, Herod#4.27 Herod: Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Then they turned against your holy Servant#4.27 Servant: See the note at 3.13. Jesus, your chosen Messiah. 28They did what you in your power and wisdom had already decided would happen.
29Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. 30Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant#4.30 Servant: See the note at 3.13. Jesus.
31After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message.
Sharing Possessions
32 #
Ac 2.44,45. The group of followers all felt the same way about everything. None of them claimed that their possessions were their own, and they shared everything they had with each other. 33In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers,#4.33 God greatly blessed his followers: Or “Everyone highly respected his followers.” 34and no one went in need of anything. Everyone who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money 35to the apostles. Then they would give the money to anyone in need.
36-37Joseph was one of the followers who had sold a piece of property and brought the money to the apostles. He was a Levite from Cyprus, and the apostles called him Barnabas, which means “one who encourages others.”
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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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