Acts 4

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the officer of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

While they were saying this to the people, the Priests, the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees came upon them,

2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead:

highly incensed at their teaching the people and proclaiming in the case of Jesus the Resurrection from among the dead.

3 And they laid hands upon them, and put them in hold till the next day; for it was now evening.

They arrested the two Apostles and lodged them in custody till the next day; for it was already evening.

4 But many of them who had heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was made five thousand.

But many of those who had listened to their preaching believed; and the number of the adult men had now grown to be about 5,000.

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes, and ancients, and scribes, were gathered together in Jerusalem;

The next day a meeting was held in Jerusalem of their Rulers, Elders, and Scribes,

6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.

with Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the other members of the high-priestly family.

7 And setting them in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name, have you done this?

So they made the Apostles stand in the centre, and demanded of them, "By what power or in what name have you done this?"

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear:

Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he replied, "Rulers and Elders of the people,

9 If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole:

if we to-day are under examination concerning the benefit conferred on a man helplessly lame, as to how this man has been cured;

10 Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole.

be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Anointed, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, but whom God has raised from among the dead-- through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health.

11 This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner.

This Jesus is the Stone treated with contempt by you the builders, but it has been made the Cornerstone.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

And in no other is the great salvation to be found; for, in fact, there is no second name under Heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved."

13 Now seeing the constancy of Peter and of John, understanding that they were illiterate and ignorant men, they wondered; and they knew them that they had been with Jesus.

As they looked on Peter and John so fearlessly outspoken--and also discovered that they were illiterate persons, untrained in the schools--they were surprised; and now they recognized them as having been with Jesus.

14 Seeing the man also who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

And seeing the man standing with them--the man who had been cured--they had no reply to make.

15 But they commanded them to go aside out of the council; and they conferred among themselves,

So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin while they conferred among themselves.

16 Saying: What shall we do to these men? for indeed a known miracle hath been done by them, to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: it is manifest, and we cannot deny it.

"What are we to do with these men?" they asked one another; for the fact that a remarkable miracle has been performed by them is well known to every one in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 But that it may be no farther spread among the people, let us threaten them that they speak no more in this name to any man.

But to prevent the matter spreading any further among the people, let us stop them by threats from speaking in the future in this name to any one whatever."

18 And calling them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.

So they recalled the Apostles, and ordered them altogether to give up speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answering, said to them: If it be just in the sight of God, to hear you rather than God, judge ye.

But Peter and John replied, "Judge whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you instead of listening to God.

20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about."

21 But they threatening, sent them away, not finding how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified what had been done, in that which had come to pass.

The Court added further threats and then let them go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people, because all gave God the glory for the thing that had happened.

22 For the man was above forty years old, in whom that miraculous cure had been wrought.

For the man was over forty years of age on whom this miracle of restoration to health had been performed.

23 And being let go, they came to their own company, and related all that the chief priests and ancients had said to them.

After their release the two Apostles went to their friends, and told them all that the High Priests and Elders had said.

24 Who having heard it, with one accord lifted up their voice to God, and said: Lord, thou art he that didst make heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.

And they, upon hearing the story, all lifted up their voices to God and said, "O Sovereign Lord, it is Thou who didst make Heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them,

25 Who, by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, hast said: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people meditate vain things?

and didst say through the Holy Spirit by the lips of our forefather David Thy servant, "'Why have the nations stamped and raged, and the peoples formed futile plans?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes assembled together against the Lord and his Christ.

The kings of the earth came near, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Anointed.'"

27 For of a truth there assembled together in this city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,

"They did indeed assemble in this city in hostility to Thy holy Servant Jesus whom Thou hadst anointed--Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel--

28 To do what thy hand and thy counsel decreed to be done.

to do all that Thy power and Thy will had predetermined should be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants, that with all confidence they may speak thy word,

And now, Lord, listen to their threats, and enable Thy servants to proclaim Thy Message with fearless courage,

30 By stretching forth thy hand to cures, and signs, and wonders to be done by the name of thy holy Son Jesus.

whilst Thou stretchest out Thine arm to cure men, and to give signs and marvels through the name of Thy holy Servant Jesus."

31 And when they had prayed, the place was moved wherein they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with confidence.

When they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were, one and all, filled with the Holy Spirit, and proceeded to tell God's Message with boldness.

32 And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul: neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed, was his own; but all things were common unto them.

Among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart and soul, so that none of them claimed any of his possessions as his own, but everything they had was common property;

33 And with great power did the apostles give testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord; and great grace was in them all.

while the Apostles with great force of conviction delivered their testimony as to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.

34 For neither was there any one needy among them. For as many as were owners of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the price of the things they sold,

And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the money which they realised,

35 And laid it down before the feet of the apostles. And distribution was made to every one, according as he had need.

and gave it to the Apostles, and distribution was made to every one according to his wants.

36 And Joseph, who, by the apostles, was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, by interpretation, The son of consolation, ) a Levite, a Cyprian born,

In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas--signifying 'Son of Encouragement' --a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the price, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

sold a farm which he had, and brought the money and gave it to the Apostles.