Acts 4
4
1 AND WHILE they [Peter and John] were talking to the people, the high priests and the military commander of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 Being vexed and indignant through and through because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in [the case of] Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 So they laid hands on them (arrested them) and put them in prison until the following day, for it was already evening.
4 But many of those who heard the message believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus as the Christ). And their number grew and came to about 5,000.
5 Then on the following day, their magistrates and elders and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem,
6 Including Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and all others who belonged to the high priestly relationship.
7 And they set the men in their midst and repeatedly demanded, By what sort of power or by what kind of authority did [such people as] you do this [healing]?
8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and controlled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and members of the council (the Sanhedrin),
9 If we are being put on trial [here] today and examined concerning a good deed done to benefit a feeble (helpless) cripple, by what means this man has been restored to health,
10 Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body.
11 This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. [Ps. 118:22.]
12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And since they saw the man who had been cured standing there beside them, they could not contradict the fact or say anything in opposition.
15 But having ordered [the prisoners] to go aside out of the council [chamber], they conferred (debated) among themselves,
16 Saying, What are we to do with these men? For that an extraordinary miracle has been performed by (through) them is plain to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But in order that it may not spread further among the people and the nation, let us warn and forbid them with a stern threat to speak any more to anyone in this name [or about this Person].
18 [So] they summoned them and imperatively instructed them not to converse in any way or teach at all in or about the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must decide (judge).
20 But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we have seen and heard.
21 Then when [the rulers and council members] had further threatened them, they let them go, not seeing how they could secure a conviction against them because of the people; for everybody was praising and glorifying God for what had occurred.
22 For the man on whom this sign (miracle) of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
23 After they were permitted to go, [the apostles] returned to their own [company] and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them, [Exod. 20:11; Ps. 146:6.]
25 Who by the mouth of our forefather David, Your servant and child, said through the Holy Spirit, Why did the heathen (Gentiles) become wanton and insolent and rage, and the people imagine and study and plan vain (fruitless) things [that will not succeed]?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand in array [for attack] and the rulers were assembled and combined together against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ, the Messiah). [Ps. 2:1, 2.]
27 For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, [Ps. 2:1, 2.]
28 To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur.
29 And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly,
30 While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage.
32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all.
33 And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.
34 Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales
35 And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need.
36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which interpreted means Son of Encouragement,
37 Sold a field which belonged to him and brought the sum of money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.
Currently Selected:
Acts 4: AMPC
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Acts 4
4
Peter and John Arrested
1Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the #Matt. 22:23Sadducees came upon them, 2being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Addressing the Sanhedrin
5And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6as well as #Luke 3:2; John 11:49; 18:13Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, #Ex. 2:14; Matt. 21:23; Acts 7:27“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
8#Luke 12:11, 12Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, #Acts 2:22; 3:6, 16that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, #Acts 2:24whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11This is the #Ps. 118:22; Is. 28:16; Matt. 21:42‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12#Is. 42:1, 6, 7; 53:11; Dan. 9:24; (Matt. 1:21; John 14:6; Acts 10:43; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6)Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Name of Jesus Forbidden
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, #Matt. 11:25; (1 Cor. 1:27)and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed #Acts 3:11standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16saying, #John 11:47“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is #Acts 3:7–10evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
18#Acts 5:28, 40So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, #Acts 5:29“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20#Acts 1:8; 2:32For we cannot but speak the things which #Acts 22:15; (1 John 1:1, 3)we have seen and heard.” 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, #Matt. 21:26; Luke 20:6, 19; 22:2; Acts 5:26because of the people, since they all #Matt. 15:31glorified God for #Acts 3:7, 8what had been done. 22For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
Prayer for Boldness
23And being let go, #Acts 2:44–46; 12:12they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, #Ex. 20:11; 2 Kin. 19:15; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 146:6You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
#Ps. 2:1, 2‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27“For #Matt. 26:3; Luke 22:2; 23:1, 8truly against #(Luke 1:35)Your holy Servant Jesus, #Luke 4:18; John 10:36whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28#Acts 2:23; 3:18to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants #Acts 4:13, 31; 9:27; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 26:26; Eph. 6:19that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30by stretching out Your hand to heal, #Acts 2:43; 5:12and that signs and wonders may be done #Acts 3:6, 16through the name of #Acts 4:27Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31And when they had prayed, #Matt. 5:6; Acts 2:2, 4; 16:26the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, #Acts 4:29and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Sharing in All Things
32Now the multitude of those who believed #Acts 5:12; Rom. 15:5, 6; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 1:27; 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:8were of one heart and one soul; #Acts 2:44neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33And with #(Acts 1:8)great power the apostles gave #Acts 1:22witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And #Rom. 6:15great grace was upon them all. 34Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; #(Matt. 19:21); Acts 2:45for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35#Acts 4:37; 5:2and laid them at the apostles’ feet; #Acts 2:45; 6:1and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37#Acts 4:34, 35; 5:1, 2having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.