Acts 4

1 And as they are speaking to the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees—

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

2 being grieved because of their teaching the people, and preaching in Jesus the resurrection out of the dead—

greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

3 and they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was evening already;

They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

4 and many of those hearing the word believed, and the number of the men became, as it were, five thousand.

But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

5 And it came to pass the next day, there were gathered together of them the rulers, and elders, and scribes, to Jerusalem,

The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,

6 and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the chief priest,

along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family.

7 and having set them in the midst, they were inquiring, “In what power, or in what name did you do this?”

They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

9 if we are examined today concerning the good deed to the ailing man, by whom he has been saved,

If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,

10 be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised out of the dead, in Him has this one stood by before you whole.

then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

11 This is the stone that was set at nothing by you—the builders, that became head of a corner;

This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

12 and there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven that has been given among men, in which it is required of us to be saved.”

Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

13 And beholding the openness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are illiterate men and commoners, they were wondering—they were also taking knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus—

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

14 and seeing the man standing with them who has been healed, they had nothing to say against [it],

And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.

15 and having commanded them to go away out of the Sanhedrin, they took counsel with one another,

So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

16 saying, “What will we do to these men? Because that, indeed, a notable sign has been done through them [is] apparent to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny [it];

“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.

17 but that it may spread no further toward the people, let us strictly threaten them to no longer speak in this Name to any man.”

But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

18 And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor to teach, in the Name of Jesus,

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 and Peter and John answering to them said, “Whether it is righteous before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge;

But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

20 for we cannot but speak what we saw and heard.”

For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 And they having further threatened [them], let them go, finding no way how they may punish them, because of the people, because all were glorifying God for that which has been done,

After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

22 for above forty years of age was the man on whom had been done this sign of the healing.

For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

23 And being let go, they went to their own friends, and declared whatever the chief priests and the elders said to them,

On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 and they having heard, lifted up the voice to God with one accord and said, “LORD, You [are] God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that [are] in them,

When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

25 who, through the mouth of Your servant David, said, Why did nations rage, and peoples meditate vain things?

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

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 earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’

27 for gathered together of a truth against Your holy child Jesus, whom You anointed, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel,

In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

28 to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel determined before to come to pass.

They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.

29 And now, LORD, look on their threatenings, and grant to Your servants to speak Your word with all freedom,

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,

30 in the stretching forth of Your hand, for healing, and signs, and wonders, to come to pass through the Name of Your holy child Jesus.”

as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

31 And they having prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with freedom,

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

32 and of the multitude of those who believed, the heart and the soul were one, and not one was saying that anything of the things he had was his own, but all things were in common to them.

The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.

33 And with great power the apostles were giving the testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, great grace was also on them all,

With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.

34 for there was not anyone among them who lacked, for as many as were possessors of fields, or houses, selling [them], were bringing the prices of the thing sold,

There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,

35 and were laying them at the feet of the apostles, and distribution was being made to each according as anyone had need.

and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.

36 And Joses, who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas—which is, having been interpreted, Son of Comfort—a Levite, of Cyprus by birth,

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),

37 a field being his, having sold [it], brought the money and laid [it] at the feet of the apostles.

sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.