Acts 4
4
Nothing to Hide
1-4While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!
5-7The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”
8-12With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”
13-14They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
15-17They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”
18-20They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”
21-22The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.
One Heart, One Mind
23-26As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:
Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth’s leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers!
27-28“For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion.
29-30“And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.
32-33The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.
34-35And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.
36-37Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
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.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.