Acts of the Apostles 4

¹ While they were still talking to the people the priests came up to them, accompanied by the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees.[*a]

² They were extremely annoyed at their teaching the people the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead by proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus.

³ They arrested them, but as it was already late, they held them till the next day.

⁴ But many of those who had listened to their message became believers, the total number of whom had now risen to something like five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers, elders and scribes[*b] had a meeting in Jerusalem

⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, Jonathan, Alexander and all the members of the high-priestly families.

⁷ They made the prisoners stand in the middle and began to interrogate them, ‘By what power, and by whose name have you men done this?’

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed them, ‘Rulers of the people, and elders!

⁹ If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple, and asking us how he was healed,

¹⁰ then I am glad to tell you all, and would indeed be glad to tell the whole people of Israel, that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy, here in your presence, today.

¹¹ This is the stone rejected by you the builders, but which has proved to be the keystone.[*c]

¹² For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’

¹³ They were astonished at the assurance shown by Peter and John, considering they were uneducated laymen; and they recognised them as associates of Jesus;

¹⁴ but when they saw the man who had been cured standing by their side, they could find no answer.

¹⁵ So they ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin had a private discussion.

¹⁶ ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘It is obvious to everybody in Jerusalem that a miracle has been worked through them in public, and we cannot deny it.

¹⁷ But to stop the whole thing spreading any further among the people, let us caution them never to speak to anyone in this name again.’

¹⁸ So they called them in and gave them a warning on no account to make statements or to teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John retorted, ‘You must judge whether in God’s eyes it is right to listen to you and not to God.

²⁰ We cannot promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.’

²¹ The court repeated the warnings and then released them; they could not think of any way to punish them, since all the people were giving glory to God for what had happened.

²² The man who had been miraculously cured was over forty years old.

²³ As soon as they were released they went to the community and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them.

²⁴ When they heard it they lifted up their voice to God all together. ‘Master,’ they prayed ‘it is you who made heaven and earth and sea, and everything in them;

²⁵ you it is who said through the Holy Spirit and speaking through our ancestor David, your servant: Why this arrogance among the nations, these futile plots among the peoples?

²⁶ Kings on earth setting out to war, princes making an alliance, against the Lord and against his Anointed.[*d]

²⁷ ‘This is what has come true: in this very city Herod and Pontius Pilate made an alliance with the pagan nations and the peoples of Israel, against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,[*e]

²⁸ but only to bring about the very thing that you in your strength and your wisdom had predetermined should happen.

²⁹ And now, Lord, take note of their threats and help your servants to proclaim your message with all boldness,

³⁰ by stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’

³¹ As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly.

³² The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.

³³ The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.

³⁴ None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them,

³⁵ to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need.

³⁶ There was a Levite of Cypriot origin called Joseph whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’).

³⁷ He owned a piece of land and he sold it and brought the money, and presented it to the apostles.