唯一的救主

彼得和约翰向百姓讲道的时候,祭司、圣殿护卫长和撒都该人赶来了。 因为彼得和约翰宣讲借着耶稣死人可以复活,他们非常恼怒, 下令拘捕二人,因天色已晚,就把他们扣押了一夜。 但有许多听道的人信了,男人的数目约有五千人。

第二天,官长、长老和律法教师都聚集在耶路撒冷, 大祭司亚那,以及该亚法、约翰、亚历山大和大祭司的许多亲族都在场。 他们令使徒站在当中,质问道:“你们凭什么权柄、以谁的名义这样做?”

那时彼得被圣灵充满,对他们说:“各位百姓的官长和长老啊, 如果因为那残疾的乞丐得到医治这件善事,你们今天来查问我们他是如何痊愈的, 10 那么,你们和所有以色列人都应当知道,他能健康地站在你们面前,全是靠拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名!你们把祂钉在十字架上,但上帝使祂从死里复活了。

11 “‘祂是你们工匠丢弃的石头,
已成了房角石。’

12 除祂以外,别无救主,因为普天之下没有赐下别的名我们可以靠着得救!”

13 在场的人看到彼得和约翰的胆量,又知道他们原是没有学问的平民百姓,都很惊奇。他们认出这些人跟随过耶稣, 14 又见那被医好的瘸子站在他们旁边,便无话可说, 15 只好暂时把他们押下去,然后彼此商量说: 16 “我们该怎样处置这两个人呢?整个耶路撒冷的居民都知道他们行了一个神迹,我们无法否认。 17 为了避免这件事传得更广,我们必须警告他们以后不许再对任何人传讲耶稣的事。”

18 于是,他们又把使徒传来,严令他们不许再奉耶稣的名讲论或传道。 19 但彼得和约翰答道:“要我们听从你们而不听从上帝,这在上帝看来合理吗?你们自己想想吧。 20 我们耳闻目睹的,不能不说!” 21 官长实在不知道如何惩治使徒,只好再三恐吓之后把他们放了,因为百姓都为这个神迹赞美上帝。 22 在这次神迹中蒙上帝医治的那个人已经四十多岁了。

同心祷告

23 彼得和约翰被释放之后,就去找其他信徒,把祭司长和长老的话都告诉大家。 24 大家听后,一同高声向上帝祷告说:“主啊,你创造了天地、海洋和其中的万物。 25 你借着圣灵感动你的仆人——我们的祖先大卫说,

“‘列国为何咆哮?
万民为何枉费心机?
26 世上的君王一同行动,官长聚集起来,
要抵挡主和祂所膏立的王。’

27 “果然如此,希律和本丢·彼拉多、外族人和以色列人都聚集在这城里,要对抗你膏立的圣子[a]耶稣, 28 然而他们所做的只不过是你凭自己的能力和旨意所预定的。 29 主啊,你看他们这样恐吓我们,求你帮助你的奴仆们坦然无惧地传你的道。 30 求你伸出手医治疾病,借着你圣子耶稣的名行神迹奇事。”

31 祷告完后,聚会的地方震动起来,他们都被圣灵充满,放胆传扬上帝的道。

共用一切

32 当时所有信徒都同心合意,共用所有的东西,没有人说他的财物只属于自己。 33 使徒充满能力,继续为主耶稣复活的事做见证,上帝也赐下极大的恩典给众人。 34 信徒都一无所缺,因为大家卖掉房屋田产,把所得的钱交给使徒, 35 照各人的需要分配给各人。

36 有个生在塞浦路斯的利未人名叫约瑟,使徒叫他巴拿巴,意思是劝慰者。 37 他卖掉自己的一块田,把卖得的钱交给了使徒。

Footnotes

  1. 4:27 圣子”或译“圣仆”。

使徒与犹太议会

正当彼得和约翰向众人讲话时,一些祭司、大殿的看守长和撒都该人走了过来。 因为彼得和约翰正在教导人们,宣讲通过耶稣基督死里复活的事情,所以他们非常恼怒和不安。 他们逮捕了彼得和约翰,并把他们囚禁在牢房里过夜,因为当时已是晚上了。 但是,听到传道的人中许多人都信了,信徒由此增加到约五千人。

第二天,犹太人首领、年长的犹太首领和律法师都聚在耶路撒冷。 大祭司亚那和该亚法、约翰、亚力山大以及大祭司的亲属都在那里。 他们把彼得和约翰带到面前,质问道: “你们凭什么权力,又仗着谁的名义来这么做的呢?”

此时,彼得浑身充满圣灵,他对他们说∶“人民的首领和年长的犹太首领! 如果今天为我们治愈了一个残疾人的善行和他如何被治愈的,而质问我们的话, 10 那么,你们和所有的以色列人,都应该知道,让站在你们面前这个人痊愈的,是拿撒勒的耶稣基督名字的力量。你们把耶稣钉在十字架上,但是,上帝却让他死而复活。 11 耶稣是:

‘那块被你们建筑工扔掉的石头,
它现在变成了重要的基石。’ (A)

12 耶稣是唯一能有拯救的那位,因为,在天下没有赐给人们任何其它的名字,通过耶稣,我们必得救。”

13 当那些人看到彼得和约翰有如此的勇气,而且也知道他们没受过什么教育,只是普普通通的人而已时,都非常惊讶。他们意识到彼得和约翰曾与耶稣在一起过。 14 不过,他们既然看到和他们站在一起的那个被治愈了的人,也便无话可说了。 15 他们下令,要彼得和约翰离开议会,然后,开始彼此商量道: 16 “我们该拿这些人怎么办呢?住在耶路撒冷的人都知道了,通过他们所行的这个令人注目的奇迹,我们是无法否认它了。 17 但是,为了阻止此事在人们中间进一步扩散,我们必须警告他们,不得再以那个人的名义来向任何人讲话。”

18 然后,他们又把彼得和约翰叫了进来,命令他们不得以耶稣的名义说什么话或教导任何事情。 19 彼得和约翰却回答道∶“请你们自己判断,在上帝面前,我们应该听从你们的话,还是应该听从上帝的话呢? 20 我们对自己的所见所闻不能不说。” 21 他们进一步威胁了他们一番后,便把他们释放了。他们找不到任何办法来惩罚他们,因为当地所有的人都在为所发生的一切赞美着上帝。 22 因为那个被奇迹般治愈的人当时已经四十多岁了。

彼得和约翰回到信徒中间

23 彼得和约翰一被释放,又回到了自己人中间,向他们讲述了祭司长和年长的犹太首领对他们所说的一切。 24 人们听到这些,都异口同声地高声向上帝祷告道∶“主啊,您造就了天空、大地、海洋和其中的一切。 25 您,借圣灵,通过你的仆人,我们的祖先大卫之口说道:

‘众邦为何怒火冲天,
人们为什么要图谋虚妄?
26 地上的国王们为争战做好了准备;
统治者们结集在一起对抗主和他的基督。’ (B)

27 是的,希律和本丢彼拉多已经与外族人和以色列人聚集在这个城市,图谋反对您神圣的仆人耶稣、即您所立的基督。 28 他们聚在一起做的每一件事情,都是您,凭着您的力量和旨意预先决定应该发生的事情。 29 而现在,主啊,请明察他们的威胁,让您的仆人能够勇敢地讲述您的信息, 30 请您伸出手,治愈疾病,并通过您的圣仆耶稣的名字使奇事和神迹得以发生。”

31 人们刚祷告完,他们聚集的地方便颤动起来了。霎那间,他们都被圣灵充满,大胆地讲着上帝的信息。

信徒同分享

32 所有的信徒同心同意,没有人说他的财产只属于自己,而是互相分享拥有的一切。 33 使徒们用巨大的力量为主耶稣的复活做了见证,上帝慷慨地赐福给所有的信徒。 34 这些人中,没有一个缺少什么的,因为那些有田有房的人变卖财产后,把所得的钱, 35 放在了使徒的脚边。这些钱又按需分发给了每一个人。

36 一位来自塞浦路斯的利未人,名叫约瑟,使徒们都叫他“巴拿巴”(意思是“鼓舞他人的那位”)。 37 他卖掉了一块他拥有的地,把钱放在了使徒的脚边。

彼得約翰在公議會受審

使徒們正對群眾講話的時候,祭司、聖殿的守衛長,和撒都該人來到他們那裡。 因為使徒教訓群眾,並且傳揚耶穌從死人中復活,他們就非常惱怒, 於是下手拿住使徒。那時天已經晚了,就把他們拘留到第二天。 然而有許多聽道的人信了,男人的數目,約有五千。

第二天,猶太人的官長、長老、經學家,都聚集在耶路撒冷, 還有大祭司亞那和該亞法、約翰、亞歷山大,以及大祭司的家人,所有的人都在那裡。 他們叫使徒都站在當中,查問說:“你們憑甚麼能力,奉誰的名作這事?” 當時彼得被聖靈充滿,對他們說:“民眾的領袖和長老啊! 我們今天受審,如果是為了在那殘疾人身上所行的善事,就是這個人怎麼會好的, 10 那麼,你們各位和以色列全民都應當知道,站在你們面前這人好了,是因拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名。這位耶穌基督,你們把他釘死在十字架上, 神卻使他從死人中復活。 11 這耶穌是你們

‘建築工人所棄的石頭,

成了房角的主要石頭。’

12 除了他以外,別無拯救,因為在天下人間,沒有賜下別的名,我們可以靠著得救。”

13 他們看見彼得和約翰的膽量,也知道這兩個人是沒有學問的平民,就很驚奇;同時認出他們是跟耶穌一夥的, 14 又看見那醫好了的人,和他們一同站著,就沒有話可辯駁。 15 於是吩咐他們到公議會外面去,彼此商議, 16 說:“對這些人我們應該怎麼辦呢?因為有一件人所共知的神蹟,藉著他們行了出來,所有住在耶路撒冷的人都知道,我們也無法否認。 17 為了避免這件事在民間越傳越廣,我們應該警告他們,不許再奉這名向任何人談道。” 18 於是叫了他們來,嚴禁他們再奉耶穌的名講論教導。 19 彼得和約翰回答:“聽從你們過於聽從 神,在 神面前對不對,你們自己說吧! 20 我們看見的聽見的,不能不說!” 21 眾人因著所發生的事,都頌讚 神,於是公議會為了群眾的緣故,也因為找不到藉口懲罰他們,就恐嚇一番,把他們放了。 22 原來藉著神蹟醫好的那人,有四十多歲了。

信徒同心祈禱

23 彼得和約翰被釋放了之後,回到自己的人那裡去,把祭司長和長老說的一切,都告訴他們。 24 他們聽了,就同心向 神高聲說:“主啊,你是那創造天地、海洋和其中萬物的主宰。 25 你曾以聖靈藉著你僕人我們祖先大衛的口說:

‘列國為甚麼騷動?

萬民為甚麼空謀妄想?

26 地上的君王都起來,

首領聚在一起,

敵對主和他的受膏者。’

27 希律和本丟.彼拉多,外族人和以色列民,真的在這城裡聚集,反對你所膏立的聖僕耶穌, 28 行了你手和你旨意所預定要成就的一切。 29 主啊,他們恐嚇我們,現在求你鑒察,也賜你僕人們大有膽量,傳講你的道。 30 求你伸手醫治,藉著你聖僕耶穌的名,大行神蹟奇事。” 31 他們禱告完了,聚會的地方震動起來,他們都被聖靈充滿,放膽傳講 神的道。

信徒凡物公用

32 全體信徒一心一意,沒有一個人說自己的財物是自己的,他們凡物公用。 33 使徒大有能力,為主耶穌的復活作見證,眾人都蒙了大恩。 34 他們中間沒有一個有缺乏的,因為凡有田產房屋的都賣了,把得到的錢拿來, 35 放在使徒腳前,照著各人的需要來分配。 36 有一個人名叫約瑟,使徒稱他為巴拿巴,就是“安慰者”的意思,他是個利未人,生在塞浦路斯。 37 他賣掉了自己的田地,把錢拿來,放在使徒的腳前。

Peter and John before the Council

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,[a] the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.’[b]

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber[c] and conferred among themselves.

16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

21 The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God 22 for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

The Believers Pray for Courage

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,

‘Why were the nations so angry?
    Why did they waste their time with futile plans?
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle;
    the rulers gathered together
against the Lord
    and against his Messiah.’[d]

27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Footnotes

  1. 4:10 Or Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
  2. 4:11 Ps 118:22.
  3. 4:15 Greek the Sanhedrin.
  4. 4:25-26 Or his anointed one; or his Christ. Ps 2:1-2.

The priests put Peter and John in prison

Peter and John were still speaking to the crowd in the yard of the temple. Then some priests, the leader of the police in the temple and some Sadducees came to them. They were angry because of the things that Peter and John were teaching the people there. They were teaching that Jesus had become alive again after his death. The Jewish leaders did not agree that dead people could become alive again. So they took hold of Peter and John. They put them in prison, because by then it was evening time. They put them in the prison until the next day. But many of the people who had heard Peter's message believed what he said. There were now about 5,000 men who believed in Jesus.

The Jewish leaders ask Peter and John questions

The next day, the Jewish rulers and other important Jews met together in Jerusalem. The teachers of God's Law met together with them. They met with Annas who was the most important priest. Caiaphas, John and Alexander were also there. Other men from the family of the most important priest were with them too. The Jewish leaders made Peter and John stand in front of them. They began to ask them questions. They said, ‘How did you cause that man's legs to become strong? Who gave you the power and the authority to do it?’

Then Peter became full with the Holy Spirit and he said to them, ‘All you men are rulers of the people and important Jews. Today you are asking us questions about the good thing that we did for this man. Before that, he could not walk. You are asking us how we caused his legs to become strong. 10 Now I need to tell you and all the people of Israel what is true. Then you will know how this happened. This man is standing here in front of you and he is well. His legs are strong because of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and his authority. You fixed Jesus to a cross so that he died. But after that, God caused him to become alive again. 11 The Bible says this about him:[a]

“The builders refused to use a certain stone. They thought that it had no value.
But now that stone has become the most important stone at the corner of the building.” ’

12 Then Peter said, ‘Only Jesus can save people. There has never been another person in the world that could do this. God has not given any other man the authority to save us.’

13 The Jewish leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid of them. They also knew that they were not special people. They had not been to any school.[b] So the leaders were very surprised about how Peter and John spoke. They understood that Peter and John had been friends with Jesus.

14 The man who was now well stood in front of the Jewish leaders. They could see that his legs had become strong again. So they could not say anything against Peter and John. 15 They told Peter and John to go out of the room where the leaders were meeting. Then they talked together to decide what they should do. 16 ‘What should we do with these men?’ they said. ‘Everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows about this miracle. They know that Peter and John did a great thing for that man. So we cannot say that they did not do it. 17 But we do not want any more people to know what has happened. So we must say to these men, “You must stop using the name of Jesus. You must stop teaching people about him.” ’[c]

18 Then the Jewish leaders told Peter and John to come back into the room. They said to them, ‘You must not use the authority of Jesus to teach people any more. You must not speak about him.’ 19 Then Peter and John replied to the leaders, ‘What do you think God wants us to do? Should we obey you? Or should we obey God? You decide! 20 We know what is right. We must continue to speak about these things. We must tell people about the things that we have seen and heard.’

21 The Jewish leaders were angry. They told Peter and John that they must obey them. Then they let Peter and John go free. All the people there were praising God because of the miracle. So the leaders could not decide how to punish Peter and John. 22 The man who became well because of this miracle was more than 40 years old.

The group of believers pray to God

23 After the Jewish leaders let them go free, Peter and John went back to the group of believers. They told them what the leaders of the priests and the important Jews had said. 24 The believers listened to what Peter and John told them. Then they all prayed together. They said to God, ‘You are the Lord who rules over everything. You made the sky, the earth and the sea. You also made everything that is in them. 25 Our ancestor, King David, was your servant. You sent your Holy Spirit to him so that he spoke your message. You said through him,[d]

    “People of other nations were very angry.
    They made plans to do useless things.
    Why did they do that?
26 The kings and rulers of the world met together.
    They decided to fight against the Lord God
    and against his Messiah.”

27 Lord God, it has now happened like that. Herod and Pontius Pilate have met together here in Jerusalem. They met with Israelite people and with people of other nations. Together they made plans to kill your holy servant, Jesus. He is the one that you chose to be your Messiah. 28 But you are powerful. These men did only what you said would happen. You had already decided on these events. 29 Lord God, you know that the Jewish leaders want to punish Peter and John. We are your servants. Please help us not to be afraid. Help us to speak your message to people without fear. 30 Show people that you are strong. Cause sick people to become well. Do other powerful things to show that you are God. It is the authority of your holy servant Jesus that will make these things happen.’

31 The believers finished praying. The house where they were meeting together shook. God filled them all with his Holy Spirit. That made them very brave and they spoke God's message clearly to people.

The believers help each other

32 All the believers agreed completely with each other about how they should live. They wanted to help each other. Nobody kept anything only for themselves. They let the other believers use it. 33 The apostles continued to teach about the Lord Jesus. They spoke with great power. They told people, ‘After Jesus died, God caused him to live again. We saw that happen.’ God was very kind to all the believers and he helped them in many ways. 34 Everyone had as much as they needed. Some believers had land or houses, which belonged to them. They sold those things and then they took the money to the apostles. 35 Then the apostles gave the money to any of the believers who needed it.

36 One of the believers was called Joseph. He was from the family of Levi. He was from the island called Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas because he liked to help people. 37 Joseph sold a field that belonged to him. He took the money from this and he gave it to the apostles. He wanted them to use the money to help other believers.[e]

Footnotes

  1. 4:11 We can read this in Psalms 118:22. The prophet was saying that the Messiah would be like a special stone that makes a building strong. When the Jewish leaders refused Jesus, they were like the builders.
  2. 4:13 The teachers of God's Law went to special schools. At these schools, they learned how to teach the people about God. Peter and John had never been to one of these schools. But they knew how to teach the people about God.
  3. 4:17 The people in Jerusalem knew that Peter and John had done a good thing for the man. The Jewish leaders had asked Pilate to kill Jesus for them. Now the leaders were afraid that more people would believe in Jesus. Then those people might fight against them.
  4. 4:25 See Psalms 2:1-3.
  5. 4:37 The family of Levi were servants in the temple, where they worked for the priests. We can read about them in Numbers 3:5-13.