Acts 3–6

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

One day Peter and John^a were going up to the temple^b at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.^c Now a man who was lame from birth^d was being carried to the temple gate^e called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg^f from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,^g walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping,^h and praising God. When all the peopleⁱ saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful,^j and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

While the man held on to Peter and John,^a all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.^b When Peter saw this, he said to them: “People of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,^c the God of our fathers,^d has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over^e to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,^f though he had decided to let him go.^g You disowned the Holy^h and Righteous Oneⁱ and asked that a murderer be released to you.^j You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.^k We are witnesses^l of this. By faith in the name of Jesus,^m this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

“Now, brothers and sisters,ⁿ I know that you acted in ignorance,^o as did your leaders.^p But this is how God fulfilled^q what he had foretold^r through all the prophets,^s saying that his Messiah would suffer.^t Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,^u that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah,^v who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him^w until the time comes for God to restore everything,^x as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.^y For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.^z Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’^a

“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets^b who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs^c of the prophets and of the covenant^d God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’^e When God raised up^f his servant, he sent him first^g to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

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, 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. Jesus is

“ ‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’^m

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.”ⁿ

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 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin^r and then conferred together. “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. 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.”

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.^u But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?^v You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking^w about what we have seen and heard.”^x

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. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers’ Prayer

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. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.^a “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.^b You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:^c

“ ‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord

and against his anointed one.’^d

Indeed Herod^e and Pontius Pilate^f met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,^g whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.^h Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.ⁱ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders^j through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”^k

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.^l And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit^m and spoke the word of Godⁿ boldly.^o

The Believers Share Their Possessions

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.^a With great power the apostles continued to testify^b to the resurrection^c of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace^d was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,^e brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet,^f and it was distributed to anyone who had need.^g

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

Ananias and Sapphira

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,^a but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.^b

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan^c has so filled your heart^d that you have lied to the Holy Spirit^e and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?^f Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?^g What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”^h

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.ⁱ And great fear^j seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,^k and carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”^l

Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?^m Listen! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.ⁿ Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.^o Great fear^p seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

The apostles performed many signs and wonders^a among the people. And all the believers used to meet together^b in Solomon’s Colonnade.^c No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.^d Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.^e As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.^f Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.^g

The Apostles Persecuted

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party^a of the Sadducees,^b were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.^c But during the night an angel^d of the Lord opened the doors of the jail^e and brought them out.^f “Go, stand in the temple…