Acts 4
4
The Arrest of Peter and John
1 Now while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple* and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 greatly vexed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in a prison until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was nearly five thousand.
5 And it occurred that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were from the high-priestly family. 7 And they made them stand in the midst and began to inquire, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined this day with reference to a good work done to a sick man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by Him this man is presented before you well. 11 This is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.* 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven which has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the confidence of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unschooled and untrained* men, they were wondering. And they recognised them that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the Sanhedrin, they began to converse with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For that an exceptional sign has been done through them is clear to all those who live in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it. 17 But so that it may not spread further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer in this name to anyone.” 18 And when they had called them, they commanded them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you must decide, 20 for we cannot refrain from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 And after they had further threatened them, they released them, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all were glorifying God for what had taken place. 22 For the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had been performed.
Prayer for Boldness to Speak the Word of God
23 And when they had been released, they went to their own fellows,* and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices with one accord to God and said, “Lord, You are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 the One who through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
‘Why did the nations rage,
and the peoples devise vain things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers gathered themselves together,
against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’*
27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do all that Your hand and Your plan had predestined to be done. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant Your servants to speak Your word with all boldness, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Unity Among the Believers
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said anything that belonged to him was his own, but everything was common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. 34 For there was not even anyone needy among them, because as many as were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laying them at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each, just as anyone had need. 36 Now Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated son of encouragement), a Levite, a Cypriot by nationality, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money, and he laid it at the feet of the apostles.
Notes
1 One ancient Greek manuscript omits the expression and the captain of the temple
11 Refers to Ps. 118:22
13 One ancient Greek manuscript omits the coordinate adjective phrase and untrained
23 Greek they went to their own
25-26 Quoted from Ps. 2:1-2
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
