Acts 4
4
1 But while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the magistrate of the temple and the Sadducees overwhelmed them,
2 being grieved that they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and they placed them under guard until the next day. For it was now evening.
4 But many of those who had heard the word believed. And the number of men became five thousand.
5 And it happened on the next day that their leaders and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,
6 including Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the priestly family.
7 And stationing them in the middle, they questioned them: "By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?"
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Leaders of the people and elders, listen.
9 If we today are judged by a good deed done to an infirm man, by which he has been made whole,
10 let it be known to all of you and to all of the people of Israel, that in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God has raised from the dead, by him, this man stands before you, healthy.
11 He is the stone, which was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.
12 And there is no salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, by which it is necessary for us to be saved."
13 Then, seeing the constancy of Peter and John, having verified that they were men without letters or learning, they wondered. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14 Also, seeing the man who had been cured standing with them, they were unable to say anything to contradict them.
15 But they ordered them to withdraw outside, away from the council, and they conferred among themselves,
16 saying: "What shall we do to these men? For certainly a public sign has been done through them, before all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It is manifest, and we cannot deny it.
17 But lest it spread further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak anymore in this name to any man."
18 And calling them in, they warned them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 Yet truly, Peter and John said in response to them: "Judge whether it is just in the sight of God to listen to you, rather than to God.
20 For we are unable to refrain from speaking the things that we have seen and heard."
21 But they, threatening them, sent them away, having not found a way that they might punish them because of the people. For all were glorifying the things that had been done in these events.
22 For the man in whom this sign of a cure had been accomplished was more than forty years old.
23 Then, having been released, they went to their own, and they reported in full what the leaders of the priests and the elders had said to them.
24 And when they had heard it, with one accord, they lifted up their voice to God, and they said: "Lord, you are the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them,
25 who, by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said: 'Why have the Gentiles been seething, and why have the people been pondering nonsense?
26 The kings of the earth have stood up, and the leaders have joined together as one, against the Lord and against his Christ.'
27 For truly Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, joined together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed
28 to do what your hand and your counsel had decreed would be done.
29 And now, O Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants that they may speak your word with all confidence,
30 by extending your hand in cures and signs and miracles, to be done through the name of your holy Son, Jesus."
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was moved. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they were speaking the Word of God with confidence.
32 Then the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul. Neither did anyone say that any of the things that he possessed were his own, but all things were common to them.
33 And with great power, the Apostles were rendering testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. And great grace was in them all.
34 And neither was anyone among them in need. For as many as were owners of fields or houses, selling these, were bringing the proceeds of the things that they were selling,
35 and were placing it before the feet of the Apostles. Then it was divided to each one, just as he had need.
36 Now Joseph, who the Apostles surnamed Barnabas (which is translated as 'son of consolation'), who was a Levite of Cyprian descent,
37 since he had land, he sold it, and he brought the proceeds and placed these at the feet of the Apostles.
Currently Selected:
Acts 4: CPDV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Acts 4
4
Peter and John before the Council
1Peter and John were still speaking to the people when some priests,#4.1 priests; some manuscripts have chief priests. the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees arrived. 2They were annoyed because the two apostles were teaching the people that Jesus had risen from death, which proved that the dead will rise to life. 3So they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day, since it was already late. 4But many who heard the message believed; and the number of men grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the Jewish leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the Law gathered in Jerusalem. 6They met with the High Priest Annas and with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the others who belonged to the High Priest's family. 7They made the apostles stand before them and asked them, “How did you do this? What power have you got or whose name did you use?”
8Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: 9if we are being questioned today about the good deed done to the lame man and how he was healed, 10then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth — whom you crucified and whom God raised from death. 11#Ps 118.22Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says:
‘The stone that you the builders despised
turned out to be the most important of all.’
12Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”
13The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus. 14But there was nothing that they could say, because they saw the man who had been healed standing there with Peter and John. 15So they told them to leave the Council room, and then they started discussing among themselves. 16“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn these men never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.”
18So they called them back in and told them that on no condition were they to speak or to teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “You yourselves judge which is right in God's sight — to obey you or to obey God. 20For we cannot stop speaking of what we ourselves have seen and heard.” 21So the Council warned them even more strongly and then set them free. They saw that it was impossible to punish them, because the people were all praising God for what had happened. 22The man on whom this miracle of healing had been performed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23As soon as Peter and John were set free, they returned to their group and told them what the chief priests and the elders had said. 24#Ex 20.11; Neh 9.6; Ps 146.6When the believers heard it, they all joined together in prayer to God: “Master and Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and all that is in them! 25#Ps 2.1–2 (LXX)By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said:
‘Why were the Gentiles furious;
why did people make their useless plots?
26The kings of the earth prepared themselves,
and the rulers met together
against the Lord and his Messiah.’
27 #
Mt 27.1–2; Mk 15.1; Lk 23.1, 7–11; Jn 18.28–29 For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. 28They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen. 29And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal, and grant that wonders and miracles may be performed through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
31When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God's message with boldness.
The Believers Share their Possessions
32 #
Acts 2.44–45
The group of believers was one in mind and heart. None of them said that any of their belongings were their own, but they all shared with one another everything they had. 33With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God poured rich blessings on them all. 34There was no one in the group who was in need. Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, 35and hand it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed to each one according to his need.
36And so it was that Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “One who Encourages”), 37sold a field he owned, brought the money, and handed it over to the apostles.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.