Acts 4 (English Standard Version)

Acts 4

Peter and John Before the Council

 ¹And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and^(A) the captain of the temple and^(B) the Sadducees came upon them, ²greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming^(C) in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³And they arrested them and^(D) put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴But many of those who had heard the word believed, and^(E) the number of the men came to about five thousand.

 ⁵On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶with^(F) Annas the high priest and^(G) Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired,^(H) "By what power or^(I) by what name did you do this?" ⁸Then Peter,^(J) filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹if we are being examined today^(K) concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that^(L) by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,^(M) whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ^11(N) This Jesus^[a] is the stone that was^(O) rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^{[b] 12}And there is^(P) salvation^(Q) in no one else, for^(R) there is no other^(S) name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

 ^13(T) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴But seeing the man who was healed^(U) standing beside them,^(V) they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶saying,^(W) "What shall we do with these men? For that^(X) a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them^(Y) to speak no more to anyone in this name." ¹⁸So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹But Peter and John answered them,^(Z) "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰for^(AA) we cannot but speak of what^(AB) we have seen and heard." ²¹And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them,^(AC) because of the people, for all were praising God^(AD) for what had happened. ²²For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

 ²³When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴And when they heard it, they lifted their voices^(AE) together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord,^(AF) who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,^[c] said by the Holy Spirit,

   ^(AG) "'Why did the Gentiles rage,
   and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶The kings of the earth set themselves,
   and^(AH) the rulers were gathered together,
   against the Lord and against his^(AI) Anointed'^[d]—

 ²⁷for truly in this city there were gathered together against your^(AJ) holy servant Jesus,^(AK) whom you anointed, both^(AL) Herod and^(AM) Pontius Pilate, along^(AN) with the Gentiles and^(AO) the peoples of Israel, ^28(AP) to do whatever your hand and^(AQ) your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹And now, Lord,^(AR) look upon their threats and grant to your servants^[e] to continue to speak your word with all^(AS) boldness, ³⁰while^(AT) you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed^(AU) through the name of your^(AV) holy servant Jesus." ³¹And when they had prayed,^(AW) the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and^(AX) they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and^(AY) continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

 ³²Now the full number of those who believed were of^(AZ) one heart and^(BA) soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but^(BB) they had everything in common. ³³And with great^(BC) power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and^(BD) great grace was upon them all. ^34(BE) There was not a needy person among them, for^(BF) as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵and^(BG) laid it at the apostles’ feet, and^(BH) it was distributed to each as any had need. ³⁶Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means^(BI) son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and^(BJ) laid it at the apostles’ feet.