唯一的救主

彼得和約翰向百姓講道的時候,祭司、聖殿護衛長和撒都該人趕來了。 因為彼得和約翰宣講藉著耶穌死人可以復活,他們非常惱怒, 下令拘捕二人,因天色已晚,就把他們扣押了一夜。 但有許多聽道的人信了,男人的數目約有五千人。

第二天,官長、長老和律法教師都聚集在耶路撒冷, 大祭司亞那,以及該亞法、約翰、亞歷山大和大祭司的許多親族都在場。 他們令使徒站在當中,質問道:「你們憑什麼權柄、以誰的名義這樣做?」

那時彼得被聖靈充滿,對他們說:「各位百姓的官長和長老啊, 如果因為那殘疾的乞丐得到醫治這件善事,你們今天來查問我們他是如何痊癒的, 10 那麼,你們和所有以色列人都應當知道,他能健康地站在你們面前,全是靠拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名!你們把祂釘在十字架上,但上帝使祂從死裡復活了。

11 『祂是你們工匠丟棄的石頭,
已成了房角石。』

12 除祂以外,別無救主,因為普天之下沒有賜下別的名我們可以靠著得救!」

13 在場的人看到彼得和約翰的膽量,又知道他們原是沒有學問的平民百姓,都很驚奇。他們認出這些人跟隨過耶穌, 14 又見那被醫好的瘸子站在他們旁邊,便無話可說, 15 只好暫時把他們押下去,然後彼此商量說: 16 「我們該怎樣處置這兩個人呢?整個耶路撒冷的居民都知道他們行了一個神蹟,我們無法否認。 17 為了避免這件事傳得更廣,我們必須警告他們以後不許再對任何人傳講耶穌的事。」

18 於是,他們又把使徒傳來,嚴令他們不許再奉耶穌的名講論或傳道。 19 但彼得和約翰答道:「要我們聽從你們而不聽從上帝,這在上帝看來合理嗎?你們自己想想吧。 20 我們耳聞目睹的,不能不說!」 21 官長實在不知道如何懲治使徒,只好再三恐嚇之後把他們放了,因為百姓都為這個神蹟讚美上帝。 22 在這次神蹟中蒙上帝醫治的那個人已經四十多歲了。

同心禱告

23 彼得和約翰被釋放之後,就去找其他信徒,把祭司長和長老的話都告訴大家。 24 大家聽後,一同高聲向上帝禱告說:「主啊,你創造了天地、海洋和其中的萬物。 25 你藉著聖靈感動你的僕人——我們的祖先大衛說,

『列國為何咆哮?
萬民為何枉費心機?
26 世上的君王一同行動,官長聚集起來,
要抵擋主和祂所膏立的王。』

27 「果然如此,希律和本丟·彼拉多、外族人和以色列人都聚集在這城裡,要對抗你膏立的聖子[a]耶穌, 28 然而他們所做的只不過是你憑自己的能力和旨意所預定的。 29 主啊,你看他們這樣恐嚇我們,求你幫助你的奴僕們坦然無懼地傳你的道。 30 求你伸出手醫治疾病,藉著你聖子耶穌的名行神蹟奇事。」

31 禱告完後,聚會的地方震動起來,他們都被聖靈充滿,放膽傳揚上帝的道。

共用一切

32 當時所有信徒都同心合意,共用所有的東西,沒有人說他的財物只屬於自己。 33 使徒充滿能力,繼續為主耶穌復活的事做見證,上帝也賜下極大的恩典給眾人。 34 信徒都一無所缺,因為大家賣掉房屋田產,把所得的錢交給使徒, 35 照各人的需要分配給各人。

36 有個生在塞浦路斯的利未人名叫約瑟,使徒叫他巴拿巴,意思是勸慰者。 37 他賣掉自己的一塊田,把賣得的錢交給了使徒。

Footnotes

  1. 4·27 聖子」或譯「聖僕」。

Peter and John Arrested

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the (A)Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Addressing the Sanhedrin

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as (B)Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, (C)“By what power or by what name have you done this?”

(D)Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, (E)that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, (F)whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the (G)‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 (H)Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The Name of Jesus Forbidden

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, (I)and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed (J)standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, (K)“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a [a]notable miracle has been done through them is (L)evident[b] to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

18 (M)So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, (N)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 (O)For we cannot but speak the things which (P)we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, (Q)because of the people, since they all (R)glorified God for (S)what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Prayer for Boldness(T)

23 And being let go, (U)they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, (V)You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who [c]by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

(W)‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

27 “For (X)truly against (Y)Your holy Servant Jesus, (Z)whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 (AA)to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants (AB)that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, (AC)and that signs and wonders may be done (AD)through the name of (AE)Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, (AF)the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, (AG)and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed (AH)were of one heart and one soul; (AI)neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with (AJ)great power the apostles gave (AK)witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And (AL)great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; (AM)for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 (AN)and laid them at the apostles’ feet; (AO)and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 And [d]Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of [e]Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 (AP)having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:16 remarkable sign
  2. Acts 4:16 well known
  3. Acts 4:25 NU through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father, Your servant David,
  4. Acts 4:36 NU Joseph
  5. Acts 4:36 Or Consolation