Acts 4
4
Peter and John’s Trial in Front of the Jewish Council
1Some priests, the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2These religious authorities were greatly annoyed. Peter and John were teaching the people and spreading the message that the dead will come back to life through Jesus. 3So the temple guards arrested them. Since it was already evening, they put Peter and John in jail until the next day.
4But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the Jewish rulers, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings met in Jerusalem. 6The chief priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the rest of the chief priest’s family were present. 7They made Peter and John stand in front of them and then asked, “By what power or in whose name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and leaders of the people, 9today you are cross-examining us about the good we did for a crippled man. You want to know how he was made well. 10You and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands in your presence with a healthy body because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified Jesus Christ, but God has brought him back to life. 11He is the stone that the builders rejected, the stone that has become the cornerstone. 12No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person.”
13After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. 14When they saw the man who was healed standing with Peter and John, they couldn’t say anything against the two apostles. 15So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council room and began to discuss the matter among themselves. 16They said, “What should we do to these men? Clearly, they’ve performed a miracle that everyone in Jerusalem knows about. We can’t deny that. 17So let’s threaten them. Let’s tell them that they must never speak to anyone about the one named Jesus. Then the news about the miracle that they have performed will not spread any further among the people.”
18They called Peter and John and ordered them never to teach about Jesus or even mention his name.
19Peter and John answered them, “Decide for yourselves whether God wants people to listen to you rather than to him. 20We cannot stop talking about what we’ve seen and heard.”
21The authorities threatened them even more and then let them go. Since all the people were praising God for what had happened, the authorities couldn’t find any way to punish Peter and John. 22(The man who was healed by this miracle was over 40 years old.)
The Apostles and Other Believers Pray for God’s Help
23When Peter and John were released, they went to their own people and told them everything the chief priests and leaders had said. 24When they heard this, they were united and loudly prayed to God, “Master, you made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them. 25You said through the Holy Spirit, who spoke through your servant David (our ancestor),
‘Why do the nations act arrogantly?
Why do their people devise useless plots?
26Kings take their stand.
Rulers make plans together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
27“In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28Through your will and power, they did everything that you had already decided should be done.
29“Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow us to speak your word boldly. 30Show your power by healing, performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31When they had finished praying, their meeting place shook. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s word boldly.
The Believers Share Their Property
32The whole group of believers lived in harmony. No one called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything.
33With great power the apostles continued to testify that the Lord Jesus had come back to life. ⌞God’s⌟ abundant good will #4:33 Or “grace.” was with all of them. 34None of them needed anything. From time to time, people sold land or houses and brought the money 35to the apostles. Then the money was distributed to anyone who needed it.
36Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “a person who encourages.” 37He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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.
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Good News Bible. 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.