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
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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