Acts 4

1 While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the Chief Priest, with the Officer in charge at the Temple and the Sadducees, came up to them,

And while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the sadducees came upon them,

2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people, and because, through Jesus, they were preaching the resurrection from the dead.

being vexed that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 They arrested the Apostles and, as it was already evening, had them placed in custody till the next day.

And they laid hands on them, and put them into custody till the next day: for it was now evening.

4 Many, however, of those who had heard the Apostles’ Message became believers in Christ, the number of the men alone amounting to about five thousand.

But many of them who heard the word, believed: and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5 The next day, a meeting of the leading men, the Councillors, and the Teachers of the Law was held in Jerusalem.

And on the morrow their rulers, and elders, and scribes were gathered together at Jerusalem:

6 There were present Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of High-Priestly rank.

and with them Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.

7 They had Peter and John brought before them, and questioned them. “By what power,” they asked, “Or in whose name have men like you done this thing?”

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked them, By what power, or in what name have ye done this?

8 On this, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke as follows: “Leaders of the people and Councillors,

Then Peter filled with the holy Spirit said unto them, Ye rulers of the people,

9 since we are on our trial to-day for a kind act done to a helpless man, and are asked in what way the man here before you has been cured,

and elders of Israel, if we are this day examined about the benefit done to the impotent man,

10 let me tell you all and all the people of Israel, that it is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead — it is, I say, by his Name that this man stands here before you lame no longer.

by what means he is cured, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, but whom God hath raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 Jesus is ‘the stone which, scorned by you the builders, has yet become the corner stone.’

This is the stone that was set at nought by you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 And Salvation is in him alone; for there is no other Name in the whole world, given to men, to which we must look for our Salvation.”

And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we can be saved.

13 When the Council saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and found that they were uneducated men of humble station, they were surprised, and realised that they had been companions of Jesus.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were plain and illiterate men, they were amazed; and they knew them again that they had been with Jesus:

14 But, when they looked at the man who had been healed, standing there with them, they had nothing to say.

but seeing the man that was cured standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.

15 So they ordered them out of court, and then began consulting together.

Therefore they ordered them to withdraw from the council,

16 “What are we to do to these men?” they asked one another. “That a remarkable sign has been given through them is obvious to every one living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

and conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do with these men? for that indeed an evident miracle hath been wrought by them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 But, to prevent this thing from spreading further among the people, let us warn them not to speak in this Name any more to any one whatever.”

But that it may spread no farther among the people, let us severely charge them to speak no more to any man in this name.

18 So they called the Apostles in, and ordered them not to speak or teach in the Name of Jesus.

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John replied: “Whether it is right, in the sight of God, to listen to you rather than to him —

But Peter and John answered them, and said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, judge ye:

20 Judge for yourselves, for we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard.”

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

21 However, after further warnings, the Council set them at liberty, not seeing any safe way of punishing them, because of the people, for they were all praising God for what had occurred;

So they threatened them more severely, and let them go; not finding how to punish them, because of the people: for they all glorified God for that which was done.

22 for the man who was the subject of this miraculous cure was more than forty years old.

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miraculous cure was wrought.

23 After they had been set at liberty, the Apostles went to their friends and told them what the Chief Priests and the Councillors had said to them.

Being dismissed they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 All who heard their story, moved by a common impulse, raised their voices to God in prayer: “O Sovereign Lord, it is you who has ‘made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,’

And when they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, Thou art God, who hast made heaven and earth, and sea, and all things therein:

25 And who, by the lips of our ancestor, your servant David, who spoke under the influence of the Holy Spirit, have said — ‘Why did the nations rage, And the peoples form vain designs?

who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth set their array, And its rulers gathered together, Against the Lord and against his Christ.’

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed.

27 There have indeed gathered together in this city against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you has consecrated the Christ, not Herod and Pontius Pilate only, but the nations and the people of Israel besides —

For of a truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel, combined against thy holy child Jesus,

28 Yet only to do what thou, by thy power and of thy own will, didst long ago destine to be done.

(whom Thou hast anointed, ) to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel had before determined to be done.

29 Now, therefore, O Lord, mark their threats, and enable thy servants, with all fearlessness, to tell thy Message,

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and give unto thy servants to speak thy word with all freedom, while Thou art stretching forth thy hand to heal,

30 while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and causest signs and wonders to take place through the Name of thy holy Servant Jesus.”

and while signs and wonders are done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 When their prayer was ended, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to tell God’s Message fearlessly.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with freedom.

32 The whole body of those who had become believers in Christ were of one heart and mind. Not one of them claimed any of his goods as his own, but everything was held for the common use.

And the heart and soul of the multitude that believed was one: no one called any of his possessions his own property, but they had all things common.

33 The Apostles continued with great power to bear their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s blessing rested upon them all abundantly.

And with great power did the apostles give their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Nor was there any one in need among them, for all who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the sales

Neither was there any indigent person among them; for as many as were proprietors of lands or houses, sold them and brought the prices of what were sold,

35 And laid them at the Apostles’ feet; and then every one received a share in proportion to his wants.

and laid them at the apostles feet; and distribution was made to every one according to their necessity.

36 A Levite of Cyprian birth, named Joseph, (who had received from the Apostles the additional name of ‘Barnabas’ — which means ‘The Consoler,’)

So Joses who was by the apostles sirnamed Barnabas, which is a son of consolation,

37 Sold a farm that belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles’ feet.

a Levite, by birth a Cyprian, having an estate, sold it and brought the money, and laid it at the feet of the apostles.