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.
The Acts 4
4
1And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being distressed on account of their teaching the people and preaching by Jesus the resurrection from among the dead; 3and they laid hands on them, and put them in ward till the morrow; for it was already evening. 4But many of those who had heard the word believed; and the number of the men had become about five thousand.
5And it came to pass on the morrow that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together at Jerusalem, 6and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the high priestly family; 7and having placed them in the midst they inquired, In what power or in what name have ye done this? 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, 9if we this day are called upon to answer as to the good deed done to the infirm man, how he has been healed, 10be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazaraean, whom ye have crucified, whom God has raised from among the dead, by him this man stands here before you sound in body. 11He is the stone which has been set at nought by you the builders, which is become the corner stone. 12And salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved. 13But seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unlettered and uninstructed men, they wondered; and they recognised them that they were with Jesus. 14And beholding the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to reply;
15but having commanded them to go out of the council they conferred with one another, 16saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed an evident sign has come to pass through their means is manifest to all that inhabit Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But that it be not further spread among the people, let us threaten them severely no longer to speak to any man in this name. 18And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answering said to them, If it be righteous before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge ye; 20for as for us we cannot refrain from speaking of the things which we have seen and heard. 21But they, having further threatened them, let them go, finding no way how they might punish them, on account of the people, because all glorified God for what had taken place; 22for the man on whom this sign of healing had taken place was above forty years old.
23And having been let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24And they, having heard it, lifted up their voice with one accord to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them; 25who hast said by the mouth of thy servant David, Why have the nations raged haughtily and the peoples meditated vain things? 26The kings of the earth were there, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. 27For in truth against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations, and peoples of Israel, have been gathered together in this city 28to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel had determined before should come to pass. 29And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and give to thy bondmen with all boldness to speak thy word, 30in that thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and that signs and wonders take place through the name of thy holy servant Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.
32And the heart and soul of the multitude of those that had believed were one, and not one said that anything of what he possessed was his own, but all things were common to them; 33and with great power did the apostles give witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34For neither was there any one in want among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold 35and laid it at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each according as any one might have need. 36And Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being interpreted, Son of consolation), a Levite, Cyprian by birth, 37being possessed of land, having sold it, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.