Peter and John Arrested

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and (A)the captain of the temple guard and (B)the Sadducees (C)came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming [a](D)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and (E)put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the [b]message believed; and (F)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

On the next day, their (G)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and (H)Annas the high priest was there, and (I)Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” Then Peter, [c](J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “[d](K)Rulers and elders of the people, if we are [e]on trial today for (L)a benefit done to a sick man, as to [f]how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that [g](M)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom (N)God raised from the dead—[h]by [i]this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 [j](O)He is the (P)stone which was (Q)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in (R)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the (S)confidence of (T)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and (U)began to recognize them [k]as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the [l](V)Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “(W)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a (X)noteworthy [m]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person (Y)in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they (Z)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [n]in the name of Jesus. 19 But (AA)Peter and John answered and said to them, “(AB)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20 for (AC)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) (AD)on account of the people, because they were all (AE)glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man on whom this [o]miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “[p]Lord, it is You who (AF)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who (AG)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

(AH)Why were the [q]nations insolent,
And the peoples plotting in vain?
26 (AI)The kings of the earth [r]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [s](AJ)Christ.’

27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [t](AK)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (AL)Herod and (AM)Pontius Pilate, along with (AN)the [u]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (AO)purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [v]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to (AP)speak Your word with all (AQ)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [w](AR)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy [x](AS)servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the (AT)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (AU)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (AV)speak the word of God with (AW)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

32 And the [y]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them [z]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but (AX)all things were common property to them. 33 And (AY)with great power the apostles were giving (AZ)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses (BA)would sell them and bring the [aa]proceeds of the sales 35 and (BB)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be (BC)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of (BD)Cyprian birth, who was also called (BE)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of [ab](BF)Encouragement), 37 [ac]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and (BG)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:2 Or in the case of
  2. Acts 4:4 Lit word
  3. Acts 4:8 Or having just been filled
  4. Acts 4:8 Lit Rulers of the people and elders
  5. Acts 4:9 Lit answering
  6. Acts 4:9 Or by what; or by whom
  7. Acts 4:10 Or in
  8. Acts 4:10 Or in
  9. Acts 4:10 Or Him
  10. Acts 4:11 Lit This One
  11. Acts 4:13 Lit that they had been
  12. Acts 4:15 Or Sanhedrin
  13. Acts 4:16 Or sign
  14. Acts 4:18 Or on the basis of
  15. Acts 4:22 Or sign
  16. Acts 4:24 Or Master
  17. Acts 4:25 Or Gentiles
  18. Acts 4:26 Or approached
  19. Acts 4:26 I.e., Messiah
  20. Acts 4:27 Or Son
  21. Acts 4:27 Or nations
  22. Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
  23. Acts 4:30 I.e., confirming miracles
  24. Acts 4:30 Or Son
  25. Acts 4:32 Or community; lit multitude
  26. Acts 4:32 Lit was saying
  27. Acts 4:34 Lit the prices of the things being sold
  28. Acts 4:36 Or Exhortation; or Consolation
  29. Acts 4:37 Lit a tract...belonging to him, he sold...

And as they are speaking unto the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees --

being grieved because of their teaching the people, and preaching in Jesus the rising again out of the dead --

and they laid hands upon them, and did put them in custody unto the morrow, for it was evening already;

and many of those hearing the word did believe, and the number of the men became, as it were, five thousand.

And it came to pass upon the morrow, there were gathered together of them the rulers, and elders, and scribes, to Jerusalem,

and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the chief priest,

and having set them in the midst, they were inquiring, `In what power, or in what name did ye do this?'

Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them: `Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

if we to-day are examined concerning the good deed to the ailing man, by whom he hath been saved,

10 be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye did crucify, whom God did raise out of the dead, in him hath this one stood by before you whole.

11 `This is the stone that was set at nought by you -- the builders, that became head of a corner;

12 and there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under the heaven that hath been given among men, in which it behoveth us to be saved.'

13 And beholding the openness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are men unlettered and plebeian, they were wondering -- they were taking knowledge also of them that with Jesus they had been --

14 and seeing the man standing with them who hath been healed, they had nothing to say against [it],

15 and having commanded them to go away out of the sanhedrim, they took counsel with one another,

16 saying, `What shall we do to these men? because that, indeed, a notable sign hath been done through them, to all those dwelling in Jerusalem [is] manifest, and we are not able to deny [it];

17 but that it may spread no further toward the people, let us strictly threaten them no more to speak in this name to any man.'

18 And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus,

19 and Peter and John answering unto them said, `Whether it is righteous before God to hearken to you rather than to God, judge ye;

20 for we cannot but speak what we did see and hear.'

21 And they having further threatened [them], let them go, finding nothing how they may punish them, because of the people, because all were glorifying God for that which hath been done,

22 for above forty years of age was the man upon whom had been done this sign of the healing.

23 And being let go, they went unto their own friends, and declared whatever the chief priests and the elders said unto them,

24 and they having heard, with one accord did lift up the voice unto God, and said, `Lord, thou [art] God, who didst make the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that [are] in them,

25 who, through the mouth of David thy servant, did say, Why did nations rage, and peoples meditate vain things?

26 the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ;

27 for gathered together of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel,

28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy counsel did determine before to come to pass.

29 `And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to Thy servants with all freedom to speak Thy word,

30 in the stretching forth of Thy hand, for healing, and signs, and wonders, to come to pass through the name of Thy holy child Jesus.'

31 And they having prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with freedom,

32 and of the multitude of those who did believe the heart and the soul was one, and not one was saying that anything of the things he had was his own, but all things were to them in common.

33 And with great power were the apostles giving the testimony to the rising again of the Lord Jesus, great grace also was on them all,

34 for there was not any one among them who did lack, for as many as were possessors of fields, or houses, selling [them], were bringing the prices of the thing sold,

35 and were laying them at the feet of the apostles, and distribution was being made to each according as any one had need.

36 And Joses, who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas -- which is, having been interpreted, Son of Comfort -- a Levite, of Cyprus by birth,

37 a field being his, having sold [it], brought the money and laid [it] at the feet of the apostles.