4:1 | While Peter and John* were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander* of the temple guard* and the Sadducees* came up* to them, |
4:2 | angry* because they were teaching the people and announcing* in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. |
4:3 | So* they seized* them and put them in jail* until the next day (for it was already evening). |
4:4 | But many of those who had listened to* the message* believed, and the number of the men* came to about five thousand. |
4:5 | On the next day,* their rulers, elders, and experts in the law* came together* in Jerusalem.* |
4:6 | Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family.* |
4:7 | After* making Peter and John* stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name* did you do this?” |
4:8 | Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,* replied,* “Rulers of the people and elders,* |
4:9 | if* we are being examined* today for a good deed* done to a sick man – by what means this man was healed* – |
4:10 | let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ* the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. |
4:11 | This Jesus* is the stone that was rejected by you,* the builders, that has become the cornerstone.* |
4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people* by which we must* be saved.” |
4:13 | When they saw the boldness* of Peter and John, and discovered* that they were uneducated* and ordinary* men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. |
4:14 | And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.* |
4:15 | But when they had ordered them to go outside the council,* they began to confer with one another, |
4:16 | saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain* to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign* has come about through them,* and we cannot deny it. |
4:17 | But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more* to anyone in this name.” |
4:18 | And they called them in and ordered* them not to speak or teach at all in the name* of Jesus. |
4:19 | But Peter and John replied,* “Whether it is right before God to obey* you rather than God, you decide, |
4:20 | for it is impossible* for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” |
4:21 | After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising* God for what had happened. |
4:22 | For the man, on whom this miraculous sign* of healing had been performed,* was over forty years old. |
4:23 | When they were released, Peter and John* went to their fellow believers* and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. |
4:24 | When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind* and said, “Master of all,* you who made the heaven, the earth,* the sea, and everything that is in them, |
4:25 | who said by the Holy Spirit through* your servant David our forefather,* ‘Why do the nations* rage,* and the peoples plot foolish* things? |
4:26 | The kings of the earth stood together,* and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his* Christ.’* |
4:27 | “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against* your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,* |
4:28 | to do as much as your power* and your plan* had decided beforehand* would happen. |
4:29 | And now, Lord, pay attention to* their threats, and grant* to your servants* to speak your message* with great courage,* |
4:30 | while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs* and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” |
4:31 | When* they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken,* and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak* the word of God* courageously.* |
4:32 | The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind,* and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.* |
4:33 | With* great power the apostles were giving testimony* to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. |
4:34 | For there was no one needy* among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling* them* and bringing the proceeds from the sales |
4:35 | and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds* were distributed to each, as anyone had need. |
4:36 | So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”),* |
4:37 | sold* a field* that belonged to him and brought the money* and placed it at the apostles’ feet. |