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Acts 4
New English Translation

The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John

4 While Peter and John[a] were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander[b] of the temple guard[c] and the Sadducees[d] came up[e] to them, 2 angry[f] because they were teaching the people and announcing[g] in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So[h] they seized[i] them and put them in jail[j] until the next day (for it was already evening). 4 But many of those who had listened to[k] the message[l] believed, and the number of the men[m] came to about 5,000.

5 On the next day,[n] their rulers, elders, and experts in the law[o] came together[p] in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family.[q] 7 After[r] making Peter and John[s] stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name[t] did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,[u] replied,[v] “Rulers of the people and elders,[w] 9 if[x] we are being examined[y] today for a good deed[z] done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed[aa]— 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ[ab] the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 11 This Jesus[ac] is the stone that was rejected by you,[ad] the builders, that has become the cornerstone.[ae] 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people[af] by which we must[ag] be saved.”

13 When they saw the boldness[ah] of Peter and John, and discovered[ai] that they were uneducated[aj] and ordinary[ak] men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.[al] 15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the council,[am] they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain[an] to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign[ao] has come about through them,[ap] and we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more[aq] to anyone in this name.” 18 And they called them in and ordered[ar] them not to speak or teach at all in the name[as] of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied,[at] “Whether it is right before God to obey[au] you rather than God, you decide, 20 for it is impossible[av] for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising[aw] God for what had happened. 22 For the man, on whom this miraculous sign[ax] of healing had been performed,[ay] was over forty years old.

The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, Peter and John[az] went to their fellow believers[ba] and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind[bb] and said, “Master of all,[bc] you who made the heaven, the earth,[bd] the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who said by the Holy Spirit through[be] your servant David our forefather,[bf]

‘Why do the nations[bg] rage,[bh]
and the peoples plot foolish[bi] things?
26 The kings of the earth stood together,[bj]
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his[bk] Christ.’[bl]

27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against[bm] your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,[bn] 28 to do as much as your power[bo] and your plan[bp] had decided beforehand[bq] would happen. 29 And now, Lord, pay attention to[br] their threats, and grant[bs] to your servants[bt] to speak your message[bu] with great courage,[bv] 30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs[bw] and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When[bx] they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken,[by] and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak[bz] the word of God[ca] courageously.[cb]

Conditions Among the Early Believers

32 The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind,[cc] and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.[cd] 33 With[ce] great power the apostles were giving testimony[cf] to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. 34 For there was no one needy[cg] among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling[ch] them[ci] and bringing the proceeds from the sales 35 and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds[cj] were distributed to each, as anyone had need. 36 So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”),[ck] 37 sold[cl] a field[cm] that belonged to him and brought the money[cn] and placed it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:1 tn Grk “While they”; the referents (Peter and John) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. Acts 4:1 tn Or “captain.”
  3. Acts 4:1 tn Grk “the official of the temple,” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.sn The commander of the temple guard was the title of the officer commanding the Jewish soldiers responsible for guarding and keeping order in the temple courts in Jerusalem.
  4. Acts 4:1 sn The Sadducees controlled the official political structures of Judaism at this time, being the majority members of the Sanhedrin. They were known as extremely strict on law and order issues (Josephus, J. W. 2.8.2 [2.119], 2.8.14 [2.164-166]; Ant. 13.5.9 [13.171-173], 13.10.6 [13.293-298], 18.1.2 [18.11], 18.1.4 [18.16-17], 20.9.1 [20.199]; Life 2 [10-11]). See also Matt 3:7; 16:1-12; 22:23-34; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38; Acts 5:17; 23:6-8.
  5. Acts 4:1 tn Or “approached.” This verb often denotes a sudden appearing (BDAG 418 s.v. ἐφίστημι 1).
  6. Acts 4:2 tn Or “greatly annoyed,” “provoked.”
  7. Acts 4:2 tn Or “proclaiming.”
  8. Acts 4:3 tn Grk “And” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the logical sequence of events.
  9. Acts 4:3 tn Or “they arrested”; Grk “they laid hands on.”
  10. Acts 4:3 tn Or “prison,” “custody.”
  11. Acts 4:4 tn Or “had heard.”
  12. Acts 4:4 tn Or “word.”
  13. Acts 4:4 tn In the historical setting it is likely that only men are referred to here. The Greek term ἀνήρ (anēr) usually refers to males or husbands rather than people in general. Thus to translate “of the people” would give a false impression of the number, since any women and children were apparently not included in the count.
  14. Acts 4:5 tn Grk “It happened that on the next day.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  15. Acts 4:5 tn Or “and scribes.” The traditional rendering of γραμματεύς (grammateus) as “scribe” does not communicate much to the modern English reader, for whom the term might mean “professional copyist,” if it means anything at all. The people referred to here were recognized experts in the law of Moses and in traditional laws and regulations. Thus “expert in the law” comes closer to the meaning for the modern reader.sn Experts in the law would have been mostly like the Pharisees in approach. Thus various sects of Judaism were coming together against Jesus.
  16. Acts 4:5 tn Or “law assembled,” “law met together.”
  17. Acts 4:6 sn The high priest’s family. This family controlled the high priesthood as far back as a.d. 6. Annas, Caiaphas, and Alexander were all high priests at one time (though Alexander held that office after this event).
  18. Acts 4:7 tn Grk “And after.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new sentence is begun in the translation at the beginning of v. 7.
  19. Acts 4:7 tn Grk “making them”; the referents (Peter and John) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
  20. Acts 4:7 sn By what name. The issue of the “name” comes up again here. This question, meaning “by whose authority,” surfaces an old dispute (see Luke 20:1-8). Who speaks for God about the ancient faith?
  21. Acts 4:8 sn Filled with the Holy Spirit. The narrator’s remark about the Holy Spirit indicates that Peter speaks as directed by God and for God. This fulfills Luke 12:11-12 (1 Pet 3:15).
  22. Acts 4:8 tn Grk “Spirit, said to them.”
  23. Acts 4:8 tc The Western and Byzantine texts, as well as one or two Alexandrian witnesses, read τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ (tou Israēl, “of Israel”) after πρεσβύτεροι (presbuteroi, “elders”; so D E Ψ 33 1739 M it), while most of the better witnesses, chiefly Alexandrian (P74 א A B 0165 1175 vg sa bo), lack this modifier. The longer reading was most likely added by scribes to give literary balance to the addressees in that “Rulers” already had an adjunct while “elders” was left absolute.
  24. Acts 4:9 tn This clause is a first class condition. It assumes for the sake of argument that this is what they were being questioned about.
  25. Acts 4:9 tn Or “questioned.” The Greek term ἀνακρίνω (anakrinō) points to an examination similar to a legal one.
  26. Acts 4:9 tn Or “for an act of kindness.”
  27. Acts 4:9 tn Or “delivered” (σέσωται [sesōtai], from σώζω [sōzō]). See 4:12.
  28. Acts 4:10 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
  29. Acts 4:11 tn Grk “This one”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  30. Acts 4:11 tn The word “you” is inserted into the quotation because Peter is making a direct application of Ps 118:22 to his hearers. Because it is not in the OT, it has been left as normal type (rather than bold italic). The remarks are like Acts 2:22-24 and 3:12-15.
  31. Acts 4:11 sn A quotation from Ps 118:22 which combines the theme of rejection with the theme of God’s vindication/exaltation.
  32. Acts 4:12 tn Here ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois) has been translated as a generic noun (“people”).
  33. Acts 4:12 sn Must be saved. The term used here (δεῖ, dei, “it is necessary”) reflects the necessity set up by God’s directive plan.
  34. Acts 4:13 tn Or “courage.”
  35. Acts 4:13 tn Or “and found out.”
  36. Acts 4:13 sn Uneducated does not mean “illiterate,” that is, unable to read or write. Among Jews in NT times there was almost universal literacy, especially as the result of widespread synagogue schools. The term refers to the fact that Peter and John had no formal rabbinic training and thus, in the view of their accusers, were not qualified to expound the law or teach publicly. The objection is like Acts 2:7.
  37. Acts 4:13 tn For the translation of ἰδιῶται (idiōtai) as “ordinary men” see L&N 27.26.
  38. Acts 4:14 tn Or “nothing to say in opposition.”
  39. Acts 4:15 tn Or “the Sanhedrin” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
  40. Acts 4:16 tn Or “evident.”
  41. Acts 4:16 tn Here σημεῖον (sēmeion) has been translated as “miraculous sign” rather than simply “sign” or “miracle” since both components appear to be present in the context. It is clear that the healing of the lame man was a miracle, but for the Sanhedrin it was the value of the miraculous healing as a sign that concerned them because it gave attestation to the message of Peter and John. The sign “speaks” as Peter claimed in 3:11-16.
  42. Acts 4:16 tn Or “has been done by them.”
  43. Acts 4:17 tn Or “speak no longer.”
  44. Acts 4:18 tn Or “commanded.”
  45. Acts 4:18 sn In the name of Jesus. Once again, the “name” reflects the person. The person of Jesus and his authority is the “troubling” topic that, as far as the Jewish leadership is concerned, needs controlling.
  46. Acts 4:19 tn Grk “answered and said to them.”
  47. Acts 4:19 tn Grk “hear,” but the idea of “hear and obey” or simply “obey” is frequently contained in the Greek verb ἀκούω (akouō; see L&N 36.14).
  48. Acts 4:20 tn Grk “for we are not able not to speak about what we have seen and heard,” but the double negative, which cancels out in English, is emphatic in Greek. The force is captured somewhat by the English translation “it is impossible for us not to speak…” although this is slightly awkward.
  49. Acts 4:21 tn Or “glorifying.”
  50. Acts 4:22 tn Here σημεῖον (sēmeion) has been translated as “miraculous sign” rather than simply “sign” or “miracle” since both components appear to be present in the context. See also the note on this word in v. 16.
  51. Acts 4:22 tn Or “had been done.”
  52. Acts 4:23 tn Grk “they”; the referents (Peter and John) have been specified in the translation for clarity, since a new topic begins in v. 23 and the last specific reference to Peter and John in the Greek text is in 4:19.
  53. Acts 4:23 tn Grk “to their own [people].” In context this phrase is most likely a reference to other believers rather than simply their own families and/or homes, since the group appears to act with one accord in the prayer that follows in v. 24. At the literary level, this phrase suggests how Jews were now splitting into two camps, pro-Jesus and anti-Jesus.
  54. Acts 4:24 sn With one mind. Cf. Acts 1:14.
  55. Acts 4:24 tn Or “Lord of all.”sn The use of the title Master of all (δεσπότης, despotēs) emphasizes that there is a sovereign God who is directing what is taking place.
  56. Acts 4:24 tn Grk “and the earth, and the sea,” but καί (kai) has not been translated before “the earth” and “the sea” since contemporary English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
  57. Acts 4:25 tn Grk “by the mouth of” (an idiom).
  58. Acts 4:25 tn Or “ancestor”; Grk “father.”
  59. Acts 4:25 tn Or “Gentiles.”
  60. Acts 4:25 sn The Greek word translated rage includes not only anger but opposition, both verbal and nonverbal. See L&N 88.185.
  61. Acts 4:25 tn Or “futile”; traditionally, “vain.”
  62. Acts 4:26 tn Traditionally, “The kings of the earth took their stand.”
  63. Acts 4:26 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”sn See the note on Christ in 2:31.
  64. Acts 4:26 sn A quotation from Ps 2:1-2.
  65. Acts 4:27 sn The application of Ps 2:1-2 is that Jews and Gentiles are opposing Jesus. The surprise of the application is that Jews are now found among the enemies of God’s plan.
  66. Acts 4:27 sn A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”
  67. Acts 4:28 tn Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.
  68. Acts 4:28 tn Or “purpose,” “will.”
  69. Acts 4:28 tn Or “had predestined.” Since the term “predestine” is something of a technical theological term, not in wide usage in contemporary English, the translation “decide beforehand” was used instead (see L&N 30.84). God’s direction remains as the major theme.
  70. Acts 4:29 tn Or “Lord, take notice of.”
  71. Acts 4:29 sn Grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage. The request is not for a stop to persecution or revenge on the opponents, but for boldness (great courage) to carry out the mission of proclaiming the message of what God is doing through Jesus.
  72. Acts 4:29 tn Grk “slaves.” See the note on the word “servants” in 2:18.
  73. Acts 4:29 tn Grk “word.”
  74. Acts 4:29 tn Or “with all boldness.”
  75. Acts 4:30 tn The miraculous nature of these signs is implied in the context.
  76. Acts 4:31 tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
  77. Acts 4:31 sn The place where they were assembled…was shaken. This signifies that God is in their midst. See Acts 16:26; Exod 19:18; Ps 114:7; Isa 6:4.
  78. Acts 4:31 tn The imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect (“began to speak”). Logical sequencing suggests that their speaking began after they were filled with the Spirit. The prayer was answered immediately.
  79. Acts 4:31 tn Or “speak God’s message.”
  80. Acts 4:31 tn Or “with boldness.”
  81. Acts 4:32 tn Grk “soul.”
  82. Acts 4:32 tn Grk “but all things were to them in common.”sn Everything was held in common. The remark is not a reflection of political philosophy, but of the extent of their spontaneous commitment to one another. Such a response does not have the function of a command, but is reflective of an attitude that Luke commends as evidence of their identification with one another.
  83. Acts 4:33 tn Grk “And with.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
  84. Acts 4:33 tn Or “were witnessing.”
  85. Acts 4:34 tn Or “poor.”
  86. Acts 4:34 tn Grk “houses, selling them were bringing.” The participle πωλοῦντες (pōlountes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  87. Acts 4:34 tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
  88. Acts 4:35 tn Grk “It” (or “They,” plural). The referent of the understood pronoun subject, the proceeds from the sales, of the verb διεδίδετο (diedideto) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  89. Acts 4:36 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. Note how the actions of Barnabas are in keeping with the meaning of his nickname. He stands in contrast to Ananias and Sapphira in 5:1-11.
  90. Acts 4:37 tn Grk “selling a field that belonged to him, brought” The participle πωλήσας (pōlēsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  91. Acts 4:37 tn Or “a farm.”
  92. Acts 4:37 tn Normally a reference to actual coins (“currency”). See L&N 6.68.
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Hechos 4
La Palabra (Hispanoamérica)

Pedro y Juan ante el Consejo Supremo

4 Aún estaban Pedro y Juan hablando al pueblo, cuando se presentaron allí los sacerdotes, el jefe de la guardia del Templo y los saduceos. 2 Estaban contrariados, porque los apóstoles seguían instruyendo al pueblo y proclamaban que la resurrección de entre los muertos se había realizado ya en la persona de Jesús. 3 Así que los detuvieron y, en vista de que era ya tarde, los metieron en la cárcel hasta el día siguiente. 4 Pero muchos de los que habían escuchado el discurso de Pedro abrazaron la fe, por lo que el número de creyentes varones alcanzó la cifra de unos cinco mil. 5 Al día siguiente, se reunieron en Jerusalén las autoridades, los ancianos y los maestros de la ley. 6 Estaban presentes Anás, que era sumo sacerdote, Caifás, Juan, Alejandro y todos los miembros de la clase sacerdotal dirigente. 7 Hicieron comparecer a Pedro y a Juan, y les preguntaron:

— ¿Con qué poder y en nombre de quién han hecho esto?

8 Pedro, lleno del Espíritu Santo, les respondió:

— Jefes del pueblo y ancianos: 9 hoy ha sido curado un enfermo, y se nos pregunta quién lo ha curado. 10 Pues bien, han de saber, tanto ustedes como todo el pueblo israelita, que este hombre se encuentra ahora sano ante sus ojos gracias a Jesús de Nazaret, a quien ustedes crucificaron y a quien Dios ha resucitado. 11 Él es la piedra rechazada por ustedes los constructores, pero que ha resultado ser la piedra principal. 12 Ningún otro puede salvarnos, pues en la tierra no existe ninguna otra persona a quien Dios haya constituido autor de nuestra salvación.

13 Cuando vieron la seguridad con que se expresaban Pedro y Juan, que eran hombres sin cultura y sin instrucción, no salían de su asombro. Por una parte, no podían menos de reconocer que Pedro y Juan habían sido compañeros de Jesús; 14 por otra, allí estaba de pie, junto a ellos, el hombre que había sido curado. Así que, no sabiendo cómo replicarles, 15 les ordenaron salir de la sala del Consejo y se pusieron a deliberar entre ellos:

16 — ¿Qué vamos a hacer con estos hombres? Está claro para todos los habitantes de Jerusalén que, efectivamente, se ha realizado un milagro manifiesto por mediación de ellos; es algo que no podemos negar. 17 Sin embargo, para evitar que esto siga propagándose entre el pueblo, vamos a advertirles, bajo amenaza, que no hablen más a nadie de tal individuo.

18 Así que los llamaron y les prohibieron terminantemente que hablaran de Jesús o enseñaran en su nombre. 19 Pero Pedro y Juan les respondieron:

— ¿Les parece justo delante de Dios que los obedezcamos a ustedes antes que a él? 20 Por nuestra parte, no podemos dejar de hablar de lo que hemos visto y oído.

21 Tras amenazarlos de nuevo, los dejaron libres. La verdad es que no hallaban forma de castigarlos sin enfrentarse con el pueblo, pues todos alababan a Dios por lo ocurrido; 22 además, el milagro de la curación se había realizado en un hombre de más de cuarenta años.

Oración unánime de los creyentes

23 En cuanto fueron puestos en libertad, Pedro y Juan se reunieron con los suyos y les contaron lo que los jefes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos les habían dicho. 24 Al enterarse, todos elevaron unánimes esta oración a Dios:

— Señor nuestro, tú has creado el cielo, la tierra, el mar y todo lo que hay en ellos; 25 tú, por medio del Espíritu Santo, pusiste en boca de David, tu servidor y nuestro antepasado, estas palabras:

¿Por qué se alborotan las naciones
y hacen planes inútiles los pueblos?
26 Los reyes de la tierra se han aliado
y los poderosos se han confabulado
en contra del Señor y de su ungido.

27 Y realmente es cierto que, en esta ciudad, Pilato y Herodes se confabularon con los extranjeros y el pueblo israelita en contra de Jesús, tu santo servidor y Mesías. 28 Llevaron así a cabo todo lo que tu poder y tu voluntad habían decidido de antemano que sucediese. 29 Ahora, Señor, mira cómo nos amenazan y concede a tus servidores anunciar tu mensaje con plena libertad. 30 Pon en juego tu poder, para que en el nombre de Jesús, tu santo servidor, se produzcan curaciones, señales milagrosas y prodigios.

31 Apenas terminaron de orar, tembló el lugar donde estaban reunidos y todos quedaron llenos del Espíritu Santo. Así pudieron luego proclamar el mensaje de Dios con plena libertad.

Compartir bienes

32 El grupo de los creyentes estaba totalmente compenetrado en un mismo sentir y pensar, y ninguno consideraba de su exclusiva propiedad los bienes que poseía, sino que todos los disfrutaban en común. 33 Los apóstoles, por su parte, daban testimonio de la resurrección de Jesús, el Señor, con toda firmeza, y se los miraba con gran simpatía. 34 Nadie entre los creyentes carecía de nada, pues los que eran dueños de haciendas o casas las vendían y entregaban el producto de la venta, 35 poniéndolo a disposición de los apóstoles para que estos lo distribuyeran conforme a la necesidad de cada uno. 36 Tal fue el caso de José, un chipriota de la tribu de Leví, a quien los apóstoles llamaban Bernabé, que significa “el que trae consuelo”; 37 vendió un terreno de su propiedad, trajo el importe y lo puso a disposición de los apóstoles.

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La Palabra (Hispanoamérica) (BLPH)

La Palabra, (versión hispanoamericana) © 2010 Texto y Edición, Sociedad Bíblica de España