Acts 4

Legacy Standard Bible

Peter and John Arrested

4 Now 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, ² being greatly agitated because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^[a](D)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them and ^(E)put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the ^[b]message believed, and ^(F)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵ Now it happened that on the next day, their ^(G)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶ and ^(H)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(I)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. ⁷ And when they had placed them in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^[c](J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “^[d](K)Rulers and elders of the people, ⁹ if we are ^[e]being examined today for ^(L)a good deed done to a sick man, ^[f]as to how this man has been ^[g]saved from his sickness, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^[h](M)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^(N)God raised from the dead—^[i]by ^[j]this name this man stands here before you in good health. ^11 [k](O)He is the ^(P)stone which was ^(Q)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. ¹² And there is salvation in ^(R)no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Peter and John Threatened and Released

¹³ Now as they observed the ^(S)confidence of ^(T)Peter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and ^(U)began to recognize them ^[l]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 ^[m](V)Sanhedrin, they began to confer with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “^(W)What should we do with these men? For the fact that a ^(X)noteworthy ^[n]sign has happened through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man ^(Y)in this name.” ¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they ^(Z)commanded them not to speak or teach at all ^[o]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 hear you rather than God, you be the judge; ²⁰ for ^(AC)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And 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 was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.

²³ So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who ^(AF)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵ who ^(AG)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

²⁷ For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ^[s](AK)Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^(AL)Herod and ^(AM)Pontius Pilate, along with ^(AN)the ^[t]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and ^(AO)Your purpose predestined to occur. ²⁹ And ^[u]now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may ^(AP)speak Your word with all ^(AQ)confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^[v](AR)signs and wonders happen through the name of Your holy ^[w](AS)Servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed earnestly, 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)confidence.

Distribution Among Needy Believers

³² And the ^[x]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own, but, for them, ^(AX)everything was common. ³³ And ^(AY)with great power the apostles were bearing ^(AZ)witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great 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 ^[y]proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and ^(BB)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^(BC)distributed to each as 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 ^[z](BF)Encouragement), ³⁷ and who owned a field, sold it and brought the money and ^(BG)laid it at the apostles’ feet.