Acts 4–5

Peter and John Arrested

4And while^* they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them, ²greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³And they laid hands on them and put them^* in custody until the next day, because it was already evening. ⁴But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand.

Peter and John on Trial Before the Sanhedrin

⁵And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem, ⁶and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest’s family. ⁷And they made them stand in their^* midst and^* began to ask,^* “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a sick man—by what means^a this man was healed—¹⁰let 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—by him this man stands before you healthy! ¹¹This one^b is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone.^{c 12}And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved.”

¹³Now when they^* saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴And because they^* saw the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in return. ¹⁵But after they^* had ordered them to go outside the Sanhedrin,^d they began to confer^* with one another, ¹⁶saying, “What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them is evident to all those who live in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it!^{* 17}But in order that it may not spread much further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name to anyone at all.”^{e 18}And they called them back and^* commanded them^* not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹But Peter and John answered and^* said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide! ²⁰For we are not able to refrain from speaking about the things that we have seen and heard.” ²¹So after^* threatening them^* further, they released them, finding no way to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. ²²For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Continued Bold Witness

²³And when they^* were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴And when they^* heard it,^* they lifted their voices with one mind to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, ²⁵the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant,

‘Why do the nations^f rage,

and the peoples conspire in vain?

²⁶The kings of the earth stood opposed,

and the rulers assembled together at the same place,

against the Lord and against his Christ.’^g

²⁷For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, ²⁸to do all that your hand and plan^h had predestined to take place. ²⁹And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness, ³⁰as you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹And when^* they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak^* the wordⁱ of God with boldness.

The Believers Share All Things in Common

³²Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all things were theirs in common. ³³And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. ³⁴For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them^* and^* bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold ³⁵and placing them^* at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need. ³⁶So Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated “son of encouragement”), a Levite of Cyprus by nationality, ³⁷sold a field^j that belonged to him and^* brought the money and placed it^* at the feet of the apostles.

Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Holy Spirit

5Now a certain man named^a Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ²and he kept back for himself some of the proceeds, and his^* wife was aware of it.^* And he brought a certain part and^* placed it^* at the feet of the apostles. ³But Peter said, “Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land? ⁴When it^* remained to you, did it not remain yours? And when it^* was sold, was it at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!”

⁵And when^* Ananias heard these words, he fell down and^* died. And great fear came on all those who heard about it.^{* 6}So the young men stood up, wrapped him up, and carried him^* out and^* buried him.^{* 7}And it happened that there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you both^* were paid this much for the piece of land.” And she said, “Yes, this much.” ⁹So Peter said to her, “How is it that it was agreed by you two^* to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” ¹⁰And immediately she fell down at his feet and died. So when^* the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried her^* out and^* buried her^* with her husband. ¹¹And great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard about these things.

Many Signs and Wonders Are Performed by the Apostles

¹²Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles. And they were all together^b in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³And none of the rest dared to join them, but the people spoke highly of them. ¹⁴And even more believers in the Lord^c were being added, large numbers of both men and women, ¹⁵so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and put them^* on cots and mats^d so that when^* Peter came by, at least his^* shadow would fall on some of them. ¹⁶And the people of the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, who were all being healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Imprisoned

¹⁷Now the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and^* they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out and^* said, ²⁰“Go and stand in the temple courts^* and^* proclaim to the people all the words of this life.” ²¹And when they^* heard this,^* they entered at daybreak into the temple courts^* and began teaching.^*

Now when^* the high priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin—even the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel—and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²²But the officers who came^e did not find them in the prison, and they returned and^* reported, ²³saying, “We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we^* opened them,^* we found no one inside!” ²⁴Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed concerning them, as to what this might be. ²⁵But someone came and^* reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple courts^* and teaching the people!” ²⁶Then the captain went with the officers and^* brought them, not with force (for they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned by them).^*

The Apostles on Trial Before the Sanhedrin

²⁷And when they^* had brought them, they made them^* stand in the Sanhedrin,^f and the high priest put a question to them, ²⁸saying, “We strictly commanded^g you^h not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching! And you are intending to bring upon us the blood of this man!” ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered and^* said, “It is necessary to obey God rather than men! ³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by^* hanging him^* on a tree. ³¹This one God has exalted to his right hand as Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³²And we are witnesses of these things, and so is^* the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” ³³Now when^* they heard this,^* they were infuriated, and were wanting to execute them. ³⁴But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin,ⁱ a Pharisee named^j Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, and^* gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵And he said to them, “Men and Israelites, take care for yourselves what you are about to do to these men! ³⁶For before these days, Theudas rose up saying he was somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him.^k He^l was executed, and…