Acts 4:18–33

¹⁸So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; ^d20for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” ^e

²¹After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done; ^f22for this sign of healing had been performed on a man over 40 years old.

Prayer for Boldness

²³After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. ^g25You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: ^h

Why did the Gentiles rage

and the peoples plot futile things?

²⁶The kings of the earth took their stand

and the rulers assembled together

against the Lord and against His Messiah. ^ij

²⁷“For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people ^kof Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, ^l28to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, ^m30while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders ⁿto be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” ³¹When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness. ^o

Believers Sharing

³²Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. ^p33And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. ^q