Acts 4
4
Peter and John Before the Council
1And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and #ch. 5:24, 26; Luke 22:4, 52; [1 Chr. 9:11; Neh. 11:11] the captain of the temple and #See Matt. 22:23the Sadducees came upon them, 2greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming #ch. 17:18; [ch. 3:15]in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they arrested them and #See Luke 21:12put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who had heard the word believed, and #[ch. 2:41]the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6with #Luke 3:2; John 18:13, 24 Annas the high priest and #See Matt. 26:3Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, #[Matt. 21:23] “By what power or #[ver. 10]by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, #See Matt. 10:20filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are being examined today #ch. 3:7, 8concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that #ch. 3:6 by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, #See ch. 2:24whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11#See Ps. 118:22 This Jesus#4:11 Greek This one is the stone that was #Mark 9:12; Luke 23:11rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.#4:11 Greek the head of the corner 12And there is #ch. 13:26; 28:28; John 4:22; Heb. 2:3; Jude 3 salvation #[1 Tim. 2:5] in no one else, for #[Gal. 1:7] there is no other #ch. 10:43; Luke 24:47; John 20:31name under heaven given among men#4:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women by which we must be saved.”
13 # [John 7:15] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14But seeing the man who was healed #ch. 3:11 standing beside them, #[Luke 21:15]they had nothing to say in opposition. 15But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16saying, #[John 11:47; 12:19] “What shall we do with these men? For that #ver. 21; ch. 3:9, 10a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them #ch. 5:28, 40to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, #ch. 5:29“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20for #[Amos 3:8; John 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:16] we cannot but speak of what #ch. 22:15; 1 John 1:1, 3we have seen and heard.” 21And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, #ch. 5:13, 26; [Matt. 21:26, 46; Mark 11:32; Luke 20:6, 19; 22:2] because of the people, for all were praising God #ch. 3:7, 8for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24And when they heard it, they lifted their voices #See ch. 1:14 together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, #Ex. 20:11; 2 Chr. 2:12; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 102:25; 124:8; 134:3; 146:6who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,#4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30 said by the Holy Spirit,
# Cited from Ps. 2:1, 2 “‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth set themselves,
and #ver. 5 the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his #ch. 10:38; Luke 4:18; Heb. 1:9; [Dan. 9:24; Rev. 11:15]Anointed’#4:26 Or Christ—
27for truly in this city there were gathered together against your #ver. 30 holy servant Jesus, #ver. 26 whom you anointed, both #Luke 23:7-11 Herod and #Matt. 27:2 Pontius Pilate, along #See Matt. 20:19 with the Gentiles and #Matt. 26:3the peoples of Israel, 28#[Isa. 46:10] to do whatever your hand and #See ch. 2:23your plan had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, #[2 Kgs. 19:16] look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all #ver. 13, 31; ch. 9:27, 29; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 28:31; Eph. 6:19boldness, 30while #[Ps. 138:7; Prov. 31:20; Isa. 1:25; Zeph. 1:4] you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed #ch. 3:6; [Matt. 7:22; Mark 9:39; 16:17] through the name of your #ver. 27holy servant Jesus.” 31And when they had prayed, #[ch. 2:2; 16:26; Ps. 77:18] the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and #See ch. 2:4 they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and #[Phil. 1:14]continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
They Had Everything in Common
32Now the full number of those who believed were of #2 Chr. 30:12; Ezek. 11:19 one heart and #Phil. 1:27 soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but #ch. 2:44they had everything in common. 33And with great #See ch. 1:8, 22 power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and #[ch. 11:23]great grace was upon them all. 34#[2 Cor. 8:14, 15] There was not a needy person among them, for #ch. 2:45as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35and #ver. 37; ch. 5:2 laid it at the apostles’ feet, and #[ch. 6:1]it was distributed to each as any had need. 36Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means #[Mark 3:17]son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and #ver. 35laid it at the apostles’ feet.
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Acts 4
4
Peter and John Are Taken to the Sanhedrin
1Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles. 2They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead. 3So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other people in the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them. “By what power did you do this?” they asked. “And through whose name?”
8Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a man who couldn’t walk? Are you asking how he was healed? 10Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus’ name that this man stands healed in front of you. 11Scripture says that Jesus is
“ ‘the stone you builders did not accept.
But it has become the most important stone of all.’ (Psalm 118:22)
12You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”
13The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. 14The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say. 15They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over. 16“What can we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed an unusual miracle. We can’t say it didn’t happen. 17We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
18Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus’ name. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right from God’s point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges! 20There’s nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”
21The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn’t decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22The man who had been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.
The Believers Pray
23Peter and John were allowed to leave. They went back to their own people. They reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24The believers heard this. Then they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Lord and King,” they said, “you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them. 25Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You spoke through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said,
“ ‘Why are the nations angry?
Why do the people make useless plans?
26The kings of the earth rise up.
The rulers of the earth gather together
against the Lord
and against his anointed king.’ (Psalm 2:1,2)
27In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles in this city. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed. 28They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word. 30Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God’s word.
The Believers Share What They Own
32All the believers were agreed in heart and mind. They didn’t claim that anything they had was their own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. 33With great power the apostles continued their teaching. They were telling people that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And God’s grace was working powerfully in all of them. 34So there were no needy persons among them. From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales. 35They put it down at the apostles’ feet. It was then given out to anyone who needed it.
36Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas. The name Barnabas means Son of Help. 37Barnabas sold a field he owned. He brought the money from the sale. He put it down at the apostles’ feet.
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