Acts 4
4
The Apostles and the Jewish High Council
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, some Jewish leaders came up to them. There were some priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and some Sadducees. 2They were upset because of what Peter and John were teaching the people. By telling people about Jesus, the apostles were teaching that people will rise from death. 3The Jewish leaders arrested Peter and John and put them in jail. It was already night, so they kept them in jail until the next day. 4But many of the people who heard the apostles believed what they said. There were now about 5000 men in the group of believers.
5The next day the Jewish rulers, the older Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there. Everyone from the high priest’s family was there. 7They made Peter and John stand before all the people. They asked them over and over, “How did you make this crippled man well? What power did you use? By whose authority did you do this?”
8Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and you older leaders, 9are you questioning us today about what we did to help this crippled man? Are you asking us what made him well? 10We want all of you and all the people of Israel to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You nailed Jesus to a cross, but God raised him from death. This man was crippled, but he is now well. He is able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus! 11Jesus is
‘the stone#4:11 stone A picture or symbol meaning Jesus. that you builders thought was not important.
But this stone has become the cornerstone.’ Psalm 118:22
12Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be saved through him!”
13The Jewish leaders understood that Peter and John had no special training or education. But they also saw that they were not afraid to speak. So the leaders were amazed. They also realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. 14They saw the crippled man standing there beside the apostles. They saw that he was healed, so they could say nothing against the apostles.
15The Jewish leaders told them to leave the council meeting. Then the leaders talked to each other about what they should do. 16They said, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about the miracle they did as a sign from God. It’s too obvious. We can’t say it didn’t happen. 17But we must make them afraid to talk to anyone again using that name.#4:17 that name That is, Jesus’ name. The Jewish leaders avoided saying his name. See Lk. 15:2. Then this problem will not spread among the people.”
18So the Jewish leaders called Peter and John in again. They told the apostles not to say anything or to teach anything in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “What do you think is right? What would God want? Should we obey you or God? 20We cannot be quiet. We must tell people about what we have seen and heard.”
21-22The Jewish leaders could not find a way to punish the apostles, because all the people were praising God for what had been done. This miracle was a sign from God. The man who was healed was more than 40 years old. So the Jewish leaders warned the apostles again and let them go free.
Peter and John Return to the Believers
23Peter and John left the meeting of Jewish leaders and went to their own group. They told the group everything that the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they all prayed to God with one purpose. They said, “Master, you are the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in the world. 25Our ancestor David was your servant. With the help of the Holy Spirit he wrote these words:
‘Why are the nations shouting?
Why are the people planning such useless things?
26‘The kings of the earth prepare themselves to fight,
and the rulers all come together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ Psalm 2:1-2
27That’s what actually happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, the other nations, and the people of Israel all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. He is your holy Servant, the one you made to be the Messiah. 28These people who came together against Jesus made your plan happen. It was done because of your power and your will. 29And now, Lord, listen to what they are saying. They are trying to make us afraid. We are your servants. Help us to say what you want us to say without fear. 30Help us to be brave by showing us your power. Make sick people well. Cause miraculous signs and wonders to happen by the authority#4:30 authority Literally, “name.” of Jesus, your holy servant.”
31After the believers prayed, the place where they were meeting shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak God’s message without fear.
The Believers Share
32The whole group of believers was united in their thinking and in what they wanted. None of them said that the things they had were their own. Instead, they shared everything. 33With great power the apostles were making it known to everyone that the Lord Jesus was raised from death. And God blessed all the believers very much. 34None of them could say they needed anything. Everyone who owned fields or houses sold them. They brought the money they got 35and gave it to the apostles. Then everyone was given whatever they needed.
36One of the believers was named Joseph. The apostles called him Barnabas, a name that means “one who encourages others.” He was a Levite born in Cyprus. 37Joseph sold a field he owned. He brought the money and gave it to the apostles.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Acts 4
4
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1As they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, # Lk 22:4; Ac 5:24 and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being greatly troubled, because they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. # Ac 17:18 3And they seized them and put them in custody # Ac 5:18 until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men grew to about five thousand. # Ac 2:41
5On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes # Ac 4:8 6were assembled at Jerusalem with Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, # Mt 26:3; Lk 3:2 and John and Alexander, and all who were of the family of the high priest. 7When they had stood them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” # Mt 21:23; Ac 4:10
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, # Lk 12:11–12; Ac 2:4; 1Pe 3:15 said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9If we today are being examined concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, how this man has been healed, # Ac 3:7 10be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, # Ac 3:6 whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole. 11He is
‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’ # Ps 118:22–23; Isa 28:16 # 4:11 Ps 118:22.
12There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” # Mt 1:21; Jn 3:36
13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were untrained and uneducated men, # Mt 11:25; Jn 7:15 they marveled. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14But seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. 15So when they had commanded them to go outside of the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that an acknowledged miracle has been done through them is revealed to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But lest it spread further among the people, let us warn them no more to speak to anyone in this name.” # Ac 5:28
18Then they called them and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. # Ac 5:40 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. # Ac 5:29 20For we cannot help but declare what we have seen and heard.” # Ac 22:15
21When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people. # Mt 21:46; Ac 5:26 For all glorified God for what was done, 22for the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23On being released, they went to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they lifted their voices in unity to God and prayed, “Lord, You are God, who has made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, # Ne 9:6 25and who by the mouth of Your servant David said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
and the people devise vain things?
26The kings of the earth came,
and the rulers were assembled together
against the Lord
and against His Christ.’ # Ps 2:1–2; Lk 4:18; Ac 10:38 # 4:25–26 Ps 2:1–2.
27Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, # Mt 27:2 with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were assembled together against Your holy Son Jesus # Ac 4:30 whom You have anointed, 28to do what Your hand and Your counsel had foreordained to be done. # Isa 46:10; Ac 2:23 29Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant that Your servants may speak Your word with great boldness, # Ac 4:13, 31 30by stretching out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be performed in the name of Your holy Son Jesus.” # Ac 3:6; 4:27
31When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. # Ac 2:2 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. # Ac 2:4
All Things in Common
32All the believers were of one heart and one soul, # 2Ch 30:12; Php 1:27 and no one said that what he possessed was his own. But to them all things were in common. 33With great power the apostles testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, # Ac 1:8, 22 and great grace was on them all. 34There was no one among them who lacked, for all those who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the income from what was sold, # Ac 2:45 35and placed it at the apostles’ feet. # Ac 5:2 And it was distributed to each according to his need. # Ac 2:45
36Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means, Son of Encouragement), # 1Co 9:6 a Levite from the land of Cyprus, 37sold a field he owned, and brought the money and placed it at the apostles’ feet.
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
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