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.
Ma`asei (Acts) 4
4
1And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the Set-apart Place, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2being annoyed because they taught the people and announced the resurrection from the dead in יהושע.
3And they arrested them, and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.
4But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand.
5And it came to be, on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes assembled in Yerushalayim,
6as well as Ḥanan the high priest, and Qayapha, and Yoḥanan, and Alexander, and as many as were of high priestly descent.
7And having placed them in the middle, they asked, “By what power or in what Name did you do this?”
8Then Kĕpha, filled with the Set-apart Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Yisra’ĕl:
9“If today we are called to account for a good deed towards a sick man, by whom he has been healed,
10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Yisra’ĕl, that in the Name of יהושע Messiah of Natsareth, whom you impaled, whom Elohim raised from the dead, by Him this one stands before you, healthy.
11This is ‘the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief corner-stone.’# Psa. 118:22
12And there is no deliverance in anyone else, for there is no other Name under the heaven given among men by which we need to be saved.
13And seeing the boldness of Kĕpha and Yoḥanan, and perceiving that they were unlearned and ordinary men, they marvelled. And they recognised that they had been with יהושע.
14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could not contradict it.
15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they consulted with one another,
16saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that an outstanding miracle has been done through them is apparent to all those dwelling in Yerushalayim, and we are unable to deny it.
17But in order that it spreads no further among the people, let us strongly threaten them, to speak no more to anyone in this Name.
18And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the Name of יהושע.
19But Kĕpha and Yoḥanan answering them, said, “Whether it is right in the sight of Elohim to listen to you more than to Elohim,#See Acts 5:29 you judge.
20For it is impossible for us not to speak of what we saw and heard.
21And having threatened them further, they released them, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, because they were all praising Elohim for what had been done.
22For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been done.
23And having been released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders said to them.
24And having heard that, they lifted up their voice to Elohim with one mind and said, “יהוה, You are Elohim, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,# Psa 146:6#See Exo. 20:11
25who by the mouth of Your servant Dawiḏ have said, ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot in vain?
26‘The sovereigns of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against יהוה and against His Messiah.’# Psa. 2:1, 2
27“For truly, in this city there were gathered together against Your set-apart Servant יהושע, whom You anointed, both Herodes and Pontius Pilate, with the nations and the people of Yisra’ĕl
28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose decided before to be done.
29“And now, יהוה, look on their threats, and give to Your servants all boldness to speak Your word,
30by stretching out Your hand for healing, and signs, and wonders to take place through the Name of Your set-apart Servant יהושע.”
31And when they had prayed, the place where they came together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Set-apart Spirit, and they spoke the word of Elohim with boldness.
32And the group of those who believed were of one heart and one being. And no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had all in common.
33And with great power the emissaries gave witness to the resurrection of the Master יהושע, and great favour was upon them all.
34For there was not anyone needy among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of what was sold,
35and laid them at the feet of the emissaries, and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36And Yosĕph, who was also called Barnaḇa by the emissaries (which means Son of Encouragement), a Lĕwite, a native of Cyprus,
37having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the emissaries.
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