< Acts 4 >

1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain 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 sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed 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 on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide.
They arrested the two Apostles and lodged them in custody till the next day; for it was already evening.
4 But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about 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 rulers and elders 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 [was there], and Caiaphas, 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 when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye 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 unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,
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 a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is 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 unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] in him doth this man stand 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 He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made 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 And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein 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 when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of 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 And seeing the man which was 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 when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, 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 that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; 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 spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
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 they called them, and 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 answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto 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 saw and heard.
As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about."
21 And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done.
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 more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was 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 reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.
After their release the two Apostles went to their friends, and told them all that the High Priests and Elders had said.
24 And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
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, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine 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 set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:
The kings of the earth came near, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Anointed.'"
27 for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,
"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 whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel foreordained to come to pass.
to do all that Thy power and Thy will had predetermined should be done.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,
And now, Lord, listen to their threats, and enable Thy servants to proclaim Thy Message with fearless courage,
30 while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant 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 shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
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 them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one [of them] said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
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 gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon 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 among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were 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 them at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one 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, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,
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 a field, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
sold a farm which he had, and brought the money and gave it to the Apostles.

< Acts 4 >