Acts 4

1 While they were talking to the people, the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to them.

But while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the magistrate of the temple and the Sadducees overwhelmed them,

2 They were angry that they were teaching the people, telling them that through Jesus there is resurrection from the dead.

being grieved that they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 They arrested them and placed them under guard until the following day since it was already evening.

And they laid hands on them, and they placed them under guard until the next day. For it was now evening.

4 But many who had heard the message believed it, and the total number of believers grew to about five thousand.

But many of those who had heard the word believed. And the number of men became five thousand.

5 The next day, the rulers, elders, and religious leaders met together in Jerusalem.

And it happened on the next day that their leaders and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,

6 They included the high priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others of the high priest's family.

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

7 They brought Peter and John before them and asked, “By what power or by whose authority have you done this?”

And stationing them in the middle, they questioned them: “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

8 Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them. “Rulers of the people, and elders:

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Leaders of the people and elders, listen.

9 Are we being interrogated regarding a good deed done to a man who couldn't help himself, and how he came to be healed?

If we today are judged by a good deed done to an infirm man, by which he has been made whole,

10 If so, all of you should know, and all the people of Israel, that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the one you killed on a cross and whom God raised from the dead—it's because of him that this man stands before you completely healed.

let it be known to all of you and to all of the people of Israel, that in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God has raised from the dead, by him, this man stands before you, healthy.

11 ‘He is the stone you builders rejected, but he has been made the chief cornerstone.’

He is the stone, which was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.

12 There is no salvation in anyone else; there is no other name under heaven given to humanity that can possibly save us.”

And there is no salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, by which it is necessary for us to be saved.”

13 When they saw Peter and John's confidence, and realized they were uneducated, ordinary men, they were very surprised. They also recognized them as Jesus' companions.

Then, seeing the constancy of Peter and John, having verified that they were men without letters or learning, they wondered. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

14 Since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there with them, they had nothing to say in response to what had happened.

Also, seeing the man who had been cured standing with them, they were unable to say anything to contradict them.

15 So they instructed them to wait outside the council while they discussed the matter among themselves.

But they ordered them to withdraw outside, away from the council, and they conferred among themselves,

16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked. “We can't deny a significant miracle has happened through them. Everybody living here in Jerusalem knows about it.

saying: “What shall we do to these men? For certainly a public sign has been done through them, before all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It is manifest, and we cannot deny it.

17 But to prevent it spreading among the people any further, we should threaten them never to speak to anybody in this name again.”

But lest it spread further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak anymore in this name to any man.”

18 So they called them back in and ordered them never to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again.

And calling them in, they warned them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John responded, “Whether it's right in God's eyes to obey you rather than God—you decide.

Yet truly, Peter and John said in response to them: “Judge whether it is just in the sight of God to listen to you, rather than to God.

20 We can't help talking about what we've seen and heard!”

For we are unable to refrain from speaking the things that we have seen and heard.”

21 After making more threats they let them go. They couldn't work out how to punish them because everyone was glorifying God for what had happened.

But they, threatening them, sent them away, having not found a way that they might punish them because of the people. For all were glorifying the things that had been done in these events.

22 For the man who received this miracle of healing was more than forty years old.

For the man in whom this sign of a cure had been accomplished was more than forty years old.

23 After the disciples had been released, they went to the other believers and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them.

Then, having been released, they went to their own, and they reported in full what the leaders of the priests and the elders had said to them.

24 When they heard what had happened, they prayed to God together: “Lord, you made heaven and earth and sea, and everything that is in them.

And when they had heard it, with one accord, they lifted up their voice to God, and they said: “Lord, you are the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them,

25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through David, our forefather and your servant, saying ‘Why did the people of the other nations become so angry? Why did they plot so foolishly against me?

who, by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said: ‘Why have the Gentiles been seething, and why have the people been pondering nonsense?

26 The kings of the earth prepared for war the rulers united together against the Lord and against his Chosen One.’

The kings of the earth have stood up, and the leaders have joined together as one, against the Lord and against his Christ.’

27 Now this has really happened right here in this city! Both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the foreigners and the people of Israel, united together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed as Messiah.

For truly Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, joined together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed

28 They did whatever you had already decided because you had the power and the will to do it.

to do what your hand and your counsel had decreed would be done.

29 Now Lord: look at all their threats against us! Help us your servants to speak your word really boldly.

And now, O Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants that they may speak your word with all confidence,

30 As you exercise your power to heal, may signs and miracles be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus!”

by extending your hand in cures and signs and miracles, to be done through the name of your holy Son, Jesus.”

31 When they had finished praying, the building they were meeting in was shaken. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God boldly.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was moved. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they were speaking the Word of God with confidence.

32 All the believers thought and felt the same way. None of them claimed anything they had as their own, but shared everything with each other.

Then the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul. Neither did anyone say that any of the things that he possessed were his own, but all things were common to them.

33 The apostles gave their testimony regarding the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with tremendous power, and God greatly blessed them all.

And with great power, the Apostles were rendering testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. And great grace was in them all.

34 None of them needed anything because those who had lands or properties sold them.

And neither was anyone among them in need. For as many as were owners of fields or houses, selling these, were bringing the proceeds of the things that they were selling,

35 They took the proceeds and presented them to the apostles to be shared with those in need.

and were placing it before the feet of the Apostles. Then it was divided to each one, just as he had need.

36 Joseph, the one the apostles called Barnabas (meaning “son of encouragement”), was a Levite, a Cypriot national.

Now Joseph, who the Apostles surnamed Barnabas (which is translated as ‘son of consolation’), who was a Levite of Cyprian descent,

37 He sold a field that belonged to him. Then he brought the money and presented it to the apostles.

since he had land, he sold it, and he brought the proceeds and placed these at the feet of the Apostles.