Acts 4

1 And as they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them,

[Meanwhile, in the temple courtyard, there were some] priests, the officer who was in charge of the temple police, and [also some] [SYN] Sadducee [sect members]. These men came to Peter and John while the two of them were speaking to the people.

2 being greatly annoyed because of their teaching the people, and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

These men were very angry, because the [two] apostles were teaching the people [about Jesus]. What they were telling the people was that because ([God caused Jesus to become alive again/God raised] Jesus [from the dead]), [God] would cause other people who had died to become alive again.

3 And they threw hands on them, and put them in custody for the morrow, for it was now evening.

So those officials seized Peter and John. Then they put them in jail. [They had to wait] until the next day [to question Peter and John], because it was already evening [and it was contrary to their Jewish law to question people at night].

4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand.

However, many people who had heard the message [from Peter] believed [in Jesus]. (OR, But many people had [already] believed [in Jesus, because] they had heard the message [from Peter].) So the number of men [who believed in Jesus] increased to about five 5,000.

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, to be assembled in Jerusalem, their rulers, and elders, and scholars,

The next day [the supreme priest summoned] the [other] chief priests, the teachers of the [Jewish] laws, and the other members [of the Jewish Council, and they] gathered together [in one place] in Jerusalem.

6 and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the high priestly family.

Annas, [the former] supreme priest, Caiaphas [who was the new supreme priest], [two other former supreme priests whose names were] John and Alexander, and other men who were related to the supreme priest [were there].

7 And after placing them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?

They [commanded guards to] bring Peter and John into the courtroom [MTY] and have them stand in front of them. [Then one of] the leaders questioned [the two of] them, saying, “Who [do you two claim] gave you the power [to heal this man]? And who authorized [MTY] you to do this [DOU]?”

8 Then Peter being filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

So as the Holy Spirit completely controlled Peter, he said to them, “You [fellow Israelites] who rule us and [all of you other] elders, [listen]!

9 if we are examined today about a good deed, of a feeble man, by what this man has been healed,

Today you are questioning us concerning our doing something good for a man who was crippled, and you asked us how he was healed.

10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this, this man stands here before you healthy.

So [we(exc) want] you and all [of our other] fellow Israelites to know this: It is because Jesus the Messiah [MTY] from Nazareth healed this man that he is able to stand here. [God considers that] it was you who nailed Jesus to a cross, but God caused him to become alive again.

11 This is the stone that was rejected by you who build, which became into the head of the corner.

[In the Psalms this was written about the Messiah: ] He is [like] [MET] the stone that was rejected by the builders {that the builders rejected}. But that stone became the most important stone in the building [that they were building]. [Jesus is that stone, and] you [are those builders who threw away the stone that was the most important one].

12 And salvation is not in any other man, for there is no other name under the heaven, that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.

So he alone can save us [MTY]. [God] has sent only one person [MTY] into the world who can save us [from the guilt of our sins, and that person is Jesus]!”

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are illiterate and uneducated men, they marveled. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

The [Jewish leaders] realized that Peter and John (were not afraid [of them]/spoke boldly). They also learned that the two men were ordinary people who had not studied in schools. So the leaders were amazed, and they realized that these men had associated with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to contradict.

They also saw the man who had been healed standing there with [the two of] them, so they were not able to say anything [to oppose Peter and John].

15 But after commanding them to go outside of the council, they conferred among each other,

So the [Jewish leaders] commanded [guards] to take Peter, John, and the man outside of the room [where those leaders were meeting. After they did so], the leaders talked with each other [about Peter and John].

16 saying, What will we do to these men? For that indeed a notable sign has happened by them, is apparent to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

[Being frustrated, one after another], they said, “(There is really nothing that we can do to [punish] these [two] men!/How can we [(inc)] do anything to [punish] these [two] men?) [RHQ] Almost everyone [HYP] who is living in Jerusalem knows that they have done an amazing miracle, so we cannot tell people that it did not happen!

17 But that it may not spread on further among the people, let us threaten them with threats to speak no longer in this name, to not one man.

However, [we] must not allow other people to hear about [this miracle]. So we must tell these men that [we will punish them if they] continue to tell other people about this [MTY] man [who they say gave them the power to do it].”

18 And having called them, they commanded them entirely, not to utter nor to teach in the name of Jesus.

So the Jewish leaders [commanded guards] to bring the two apostles [into that room again. After they did so], they [commanded] them both that they should never speak about Jesus, and they should not teach [anyone about him] [MTY] [again].

19 But Peter and John having replied to them, they said, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken to you rather than God, judge ye.

But Peter and John replied, “Would God think that it is right [for us two] to obey you and not [to obey] him? [We(exc) will let] you decide [which of those you think is proper].

20 For we are not able not to speak what we saw and heard.

[But as for us, we cannot obey you]. We will not stop telling people about the things that we [(exc)] have seen [Jesus do] and what we have heard [him teach].”

21 And they, having further threatened, released them, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people. Since all glorified God for that which happened.

Then the [Jewish leaders] again told [Peter and John] not to disobey them. But all the people [there] were praising God about what had happened [to the lame man. The leaders knew that only God could have enabled Peter and John] to miraculously heal the man, because the man was more than 40 years old [and he was lame when his mother bore him. They also knew that the people would become angry if they punished the two apostles]. So, because they could not decide how to punish Peter and John, [they finally] let them go.

22 For the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.

23 And after being released, they went to their own men, and reported as many things as the chief priests and the elders said to them.

After Peter and John had been released, they went to the other believers and reported all that the chief priests and [other Jewish] elders had said to them.

24 And those who heard lifted up a voice to God with one accord, and said, Thou Master, the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all things in them.

When they heard that, they [all] agreed as they prayed to God, and [one of] them prayed, “O Lord! You [(sg)] made the sky, the earth and the oceans, and everything in them.

25 He who said through the mouth of thy boy David, Why do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate vain things?

The Holy Spirit caused our ancestor, [King] David [MTY], who served you, to write these words: [It is ridiculous] [RHQ] that the non-Jews became angry and the Israelite people planned uselessly [to oppose God].

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.

The kings of the world prepared to fight [God’s Ruler], and the [other] rulers assembled together [with them] to oppose the Lord [God] and the one whom he had appointed [to be the Messiah].

27 For in truth, against thy holy Boy Jesus, whom thou anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,

[Lord, we know that what you(sg) said long ago was true], because [King] Herod and the [governor], Pontius Pilate, and many other people, both non-Jews and Israelites, assembled together [here] in this city. [They] planned [to kill] Jesus, who devotedly served you [and] whom you appointed [MTY] [to be the Messiah].

28 to do as many things as thy hand and thy purpose predetermined to happen.

[Because] you [(sg)] are all-powerful, those people did [only] what you [SYN] allowed [them to do]. It was what you decided long ago would happen.”

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy bondmen with all boldness to speak thy word,

“So now, Lord, listen to what they are saying about punishing us! Help us who serve you [(sg)] to very boldly speak messages from you [(sg) about Jesus]

30 by thy stretching forth thy hand for healing, and signs and wonders to happen through the name of thy holy Boy Jesus.

[Also], by your power [MTY] miraculously heal [sick people] and do other amazing miracles [SYN] that show people your power! Ask Jesus, who always serves you, [to give us the authority] [MTY] [to do such miracles]!”

31 And when they prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

When the believers had finished praying, the place where they were meeting shook. All of them were (completely controlled/empowered) by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit (completely controlled/empowered) all of them}, with the result that they began to speak boldly the words that God [told them to speak].

32 And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. And not even one man said that anything of the things that was possessed by him was his own, but all things were common to them.

The group of people who had believed [in Jesus] were completely agreed about what they thought and what they wanted/desired. Not one of them claimed that he [alone] owned anything. Instead, they shared with one another everything that they had.

33 And with great power the apostles gave back the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

The apostles continued to tell others, very powerfully, [that God] had (caused the Lord Jesus to become alive again/raised the Lord Jesus from the dead). [People knew that God] was graciously helping all the believers.

34 For not even any needy was among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling, they brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

[Some of] the believers who owned land or houses would occasionally sell [some of] their property. Then they would bring [the money for what they sold]

35 and placed them at the apostles' feet. And it was distributed to each, according as any man had need.

and they would present it to the apostles [MTY]. Then [the apostles] would give money to any [believer] who needed [it]. So no one among the believers was lacking anything.

36 And Joses, who was surnamed by the apostles, Barnabas (which is, being translated, son of encouragement), a Levite, a Cypriot by nationality,

[For example, there was] Joseph. [He was] a descendant of Levi [and he was born] on Cyprus [Island]. The apostles called him Barnabas; [in the Jewish language] that name means a person who [IDM] always encourages [others].

37 having sold a field that was possessed by him, brought the money and placed it at the apostles' feet.

He sold one of his fields, and brought the money to the apostles [for them to distribute to other believers].