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Peter and John Arrested

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, being greatly agitated 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 jail 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.

Now it happened that 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 and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. And when they had placed them in their midst, 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]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,

(AH)Why did the [p]Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise vain things?
26 (AI)The kings of the earth [q]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [r](AJ)Christ.’

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.

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 Or on trial
  6. Acts 4:9 Or by whom
  7. Acts 4:9 Or made well
  8. Acts 4:10 Or in
  9. Acts 4:10 Or in
  10. Acts 4:10 Or Him
  11. Acts 4:11 Lit This One
  12. Acts 4:13 Lit that they had been
  13. Acts 4:15 Or Council
  14. Acts 4:16 Or attesting miracle
  15. Acts 4:18 Or on the basis of
  16. Acts 4:25 Or nations
  17. Acts 4:26 Or approached
  18. Acts 4:26 Or Anointed One; Messiah, cf. Ps 2:2; Acts 4:27
  19. Acts 4:27 Or Son
  20. Acts 4:27 Or nations
  21. Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
  22. Acts 4:30 Or attesting miracles
  23. Acts 4:30 Or Son
  24. Acts 4:32 Or multitude
  25. Acts 4:34 Lit the prices of the things being sold
  26. Acts 4:36 Or Exhortation, Consolation

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

The priests and the captain of the temple guard(A) and the Sadducees(B) came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.(C) They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail(D) until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew(E) to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers,(F) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,(G) John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,(H) said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!(I) If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame(J) and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,(K) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,(L) that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’[a](M)

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”(N)

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John(O) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,(P) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.(Q) 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin(R) and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?”(S) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,(T) and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.(U) 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?(V) You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking(W) about what we have seen and heard.”(X)

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people(Y) were praising God(Z) for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.(AA) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(AB) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(AC)

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.[b][c](AD)

27 Indeed Herod(AE) and Pontius Pilate(AF) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(AG) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(AH) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(AI) 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders(AJ) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”(AK)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.(AL) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(AM) and spoke the word of God(AN) boldly.(AO)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.(AP) 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify(AQ) to the resurrection(AR) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace(AS) was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,(AT) brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet,(AU) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.(AV)

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(AW) (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22
  2. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ
  3. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2