Acts 4
The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John
4:1 While Peter and John1 were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander2 of the temple guard3 and the Sadducees4 came up5 to them, 4:2 angry6 because they were teaching the people and announcing7 in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 4:3 So8 they seized9 them and put them in jail10 until the next day (for it was already evening). 4:4 But many of those who had listened to11 the message12 believed, and the number of the men13 came to about five thousand.
4:5 On the next day,14 their rulers, elders, and experts in the law15 came together16 in Jerusalem.17 4:6 Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family.18 4:7 After19 making Peter and John20 stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name21 did you do this?” 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,22 replied,23 “Rulers of the people and elders,24 4:9 if25 we are being examined26 today for a good deed27 done to a sick man – by what means this man was healed28 – 4:10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ29 the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 4:11 This Jesus30 is the stone that was rejected by you,31 the builders, that has become the cornerstone.32 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people33 by which we must34 be saved.”
4:13 When they saw the boldness35 of Peter and John, and discovered36 that they were uneducated37 and ordinary38 men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 4:14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.39 4:15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the council,40 they began to confer with one another, 4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain41 to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign42 has come about through them,43 and we cannot deny it. 4:17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more44 to anyone in this name.” 4:18 And they called them in and ordered45 them not to speak or teach at all in the name46 of Jesus. 4:19 But Peter and John replied,47 “Whether it is right before God to obey48 you rather than God, you decide, 4:20 for it is impossible49 for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 4:21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising50 God for what had happened. 4:22 For the man, on whom this miraculous sign51 of healing had been performed,52 was over forty years old.
The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness
4:23 When they were released, Peter and John53 went to their fellow believers54 and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind55 and said, “Master of all,56 you who made the heaven, the earth,57 the sea, and everything that is in them, 4:25 who said by the Holy Spirit through58 your servant David our forefather,59
and the peoples plot foolish62 things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood together,63
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his64 Christ.’65
4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against66 your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,67 4:28 to do as much as your power68 and your plan69 had decided beforehand70 would happen. 4:29 And now, Lord, pay attention to71 their threats, and grant72 to your servants73 to speak your message74 with great courage,75 4:30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs76 and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 4:31 When77 they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken,78 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak79 the word of God80 courageously.81
Conditions Among the Early Believers
4:32 The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind,82 and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.83 4:33 With84 great power the apostles were giving testimony85 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. 4:34 For there was no one needy86 among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling87 them88 and bringing the proceeds from the sales 4:35 and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds89 were distributed to each, as anyone had need. 4:36 So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”),90 4:37 sold91 a field92 that belonged to him and brought the money93 and placed it at the apostles’ feet.