Chapter 4

Peter and John Arrested

1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and athe captain of the temple guard and bthe Sadducees ccame up to them,

2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming 1ain Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them and aput them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

4 But many of those who had heard the 1message believed; and athe number of the men came to be about five thousand.

5 On the next day, their arulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;

6 and aAnnas the high priest was there, and bCaiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.

7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, 1afilled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “2bRulers and elders of the people,

9 if we are 1on trial today for aa benefit done to a sick man, 2as to how this man has been made well,

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that 1aby the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom bGod raised from the dead—1by 2this name this man stands here before you in good health.

11 “1aHe is the bstone which was crejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.

12 “And there is salvation in ano one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the aconfidence of bPeter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and cbegan to recognize them 1as having been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

15 But when they had ordered them to leave the 1aCouncil, they began to confer with one another,

16 saying, “aWhat shall we do with these men? For the fact that a bnoteworthy 1miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man ain this name.”

18 And when they had summoned them, they acommanded them not to speak or teach at all 1in the name of Jesus.

19 But aPeter and John answered and said to them, “bWhether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

20 for awe cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) aon account of the people, because they were all bglorifying God for what had happened;

22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this 1miracle of healing had been performed.

23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O 1Lord, it is You who amade the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

25 who aby the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

‘bWhy did the 1Gentiles rage,

And the peoples devise futile things?

26 ‘aThe kings of the earth 1took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the Lord and against His 2bChrist.’

27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy 1aservant Jesus, whom You anointed, both bHerod and cPontius Pilate, along with dthe 2Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

28 to do whatever Your hand and aYour purpose predestined to occur.

29 “And 1now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may aspeak Your word with all bconfidence,

30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and 1asigns and wonders take place through the name of Your holy 2bservant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the aplace where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all bfilled with the Holy Spirit and began to cspeak the word of God with dboldness.

Sharing among Believers

32 And the 1congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them 2claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but aall things were common property to them.

33 And awith great power the apostles were giving btestimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses awould sell them and bring the 1proceeds of the sales

35 and alay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be bdistributed to each as any had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite of aCyprian birth, who was also called bBarnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of 1cEncouragement),

37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and alaid it at the apostles’ feet.