Acts 4
Peter and John Arrested
1
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests,
the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees
came upon them,
2
being greatly disturbed that they taught the
people and preached in Jesus the resurrection
from the dead.
3
And they laid hands on them, and put them
in custody until the next day, for it was
already evening.
4
However, many of those who heard the word
believed; and the number of the men came to be
about five thousand.Addressing the
Sanhedrin
5
And it came to pass, on the next day, that their
rulers, elders, and scribes,
6
as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas,
John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the
family of the high priest, were gathered
together at Jerusalem.
7
And when they had set them in the midst, they
asked, “By what power or by what name have you
done this?”
8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to
them, “Rulers of the people and elders of
Israel:
9 If we this day are judged for a good
deed done to a helpless man, by what
means he has been made well,
10
let it be known to you all, and to all the
people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God
raised from the dead, by Him this man stands
here before you whole.
11
This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you
builders, which has become the chief
cornerstone.’
12
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
13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, and perceived that they were uneducated
and untrained men, they marveled. And they
realized that they had been with Jesus.
14
And seeing the man who had been healed standing
with them, they could say nothing against it.
15
But when they had commanded them to go aside out
of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16
saying, “What shall we do to these men? For,
indeed, that a notable miracle has been done
through them is evident to all who dwell
in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17
But 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
So they called them and commanded them not to
speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19
But Peter and John answered and said to them,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to
listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20
For we cannot but speak the things which we have
seen and heard.”
21
So when they had further threatened them, they
let them go, finding no way of punishing them,
because of the people, since they all glorified
God for what had been done.
22
For the man was over forty years old on whom
this miracle of healing had been performed.
Prayer for Boldness
23
And being let go, they went to their own
companions and reported all that the chief
priests and elders had said to them.
24
So when they heard that, they raised their voice
to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You
are God, who made heaven and earth and the
sea, and all that is in them,
25
who by the mouth of Your servant David have
said:
‘ Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their
stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His
Christ.’
27
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom
You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate,
with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were
gathered together
28
to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose
determined before to be done.
29
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to
Your servants that with all boldness they may
speak Your word,
30
by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that
signs and wonders may be done through the name
of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31
And when they had prayed, the place where they
were assembled together was shaken; and they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they
spoke the word of God with boldness.
Sharing in All Things
32
Now the multitude of those who believed were of
one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say
that any of the things he possessed was his own,
but they had all things in common.
33
And with great power the apostles gave witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great
grace was upon them all.
34
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for
all who were possessors of lands or houses sold
them, and brought the proceeds of the things
that were sold,
35
and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and
they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles
(which is translated Son of Encouragement), a
Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37
having land, sold it, and brought the
money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
