Acts 3-7
King James Version
3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
4 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed 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, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And 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 unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 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 stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
6 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
7 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 3-7
New King James Version
A Lame Man Healed
3 Now Peter and John went up together (A)to the temple at the hour of prayer, (B)the ninth hour. 2 And (C)a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, (D)to [a]ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: (E)In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, (F)leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 (G)And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who (H)sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Preaching in Solomon’s Portico
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch (I)which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 (J)The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, (K)glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you (L)delivered up and (M)denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied (N)the Holy One (O)and the Just, and (P)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the [b]Prince of life, (Q)whom God raised from the dead, (R)of which we are witnesses. 16 (S)And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that (T)you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But (U)those things which God foretold (V)by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 (W)Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send [c]Jesus Christ, who was [d]preached to you before, 21 (X)whom heaven must receive until the times of (Y)restoration of all things, (Z)which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since [e]the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, (AA)‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and (AB)all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also [f]foretold these days. 25 (AC)You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, (AD)‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you (AE)first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, (AF)in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
Peter and John Arrested
4 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the (AG)Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Addressing the Sanhedrin
5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as (AH)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. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, (AI)“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
8 (AJ)Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 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, (AK)that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, (AL)whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the (AM)‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 (AN)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, (AO)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 (AP)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, (AQ)“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a [g]notable miracle has been done through them is (AR)evident[h] 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 (AS)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, (AT)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 (AU)For we cannot but speak the things which (AV)we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, (AW)because of the people, since they all (AX)glorified God for (AY)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(AZ)
23 And being let go, (BA)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, (BB)You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who [i]by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
(BC)‘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 (BD)truly against (BE)Your holy Servant Jesus, (BF)whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 (BG)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 (BH)that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, (BI)and that signs and wonders may be done (BJ)through the name of (BK)Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, (BL)the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, (BM)and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Sharing in All Things
32 Now the multitude of those who believed (BN)were of one heart and one soul; (BO)neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with (BP)great power the apostles gave (BQ)witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And (BR)great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; (BS)for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 (BT)and laid them at the apostles’ feet; (BU)and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And [j]Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of [k]Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 (BV)having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Lying to the Holy Spirit
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 (BW)But Peter said, “Ananias, why has (BX)Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, (BY)fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and (BZ)wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together (CA)to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 (CB)Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 (CC)So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Continuing Power in the Church
12 And (CD)through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. (CE)And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet (CF)none of the rest dared join them, (CG)but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, (CH)that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing (CI)sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Imprisoned Apostles Freed
17 (CJ)Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with [l]indignation, 18 (CK)and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night (CL)an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people (CM)all the words of this life.”
21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. (CN)But the high priest and those with him came and called the [m]council together, with all the [n]elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Apostles on Trial Again
22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing [o]outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 Now when [p]the high priest, (CO)the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, [q]saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, (CP)for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, (CQ)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, (CR)and intend to bring this Man’s (CS)blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: (CT)“We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 (CU)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by (CV)hanging on a tree. 31 (CW)Him God has exalted to His right hand to be (CX)Prince and (CY)Savior, (CZ)to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And (DA)we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit (DB)whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33 When they heard this, they were (DC)furious[r] and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named (DD)Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, [s]take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, [t]joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 (DE)but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found (DF)to fight against God.”
40 And they agreed with him, and when they had (DG)called for the apostles (DH)and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, (DI)rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for [u]His name. 42 And daily (DJ)in the temple, and in every house, (DK)they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Seven Chosen to Serve
6 Now in those days, (DL)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the (DM)Hellenists,[v] because their widows were neglected (DN)in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, (DO)“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, (DP)seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this (DQ)business; 4 but we (DR)will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, (DS)a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and (DT)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and (DU)Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and (DV)when they had prayed, (DW)they laid hands on them.
7 Then (DX)the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many (DY)of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
8 And Stephen, full of [w]faith and power, did great (DZ)wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And (EA)they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 (EB)Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak [x]blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14 (EC)for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham
7 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”
2 And he said, (ED)“Brethren and fathers, listen: The (EE)God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in (EF)Haran, 3 and said to him, (EG)‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ 4 Then (EH)he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was (EI)dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, (EJ)He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. 6 But God spoke in this way: (EK)that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into (EL)bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 7 (EM)‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will (EN)judge,’ said God, (EO)‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ 8 (EP)Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; (EQ)and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; (ER)and Isaac begot Jacob, and (ES)Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.
The Patriarchs in Egypt
9 (ET)“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, (EU)sold Joseph into Egypt. (EV)But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, (EW)and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 (EX)Now a famine and great [y]trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 (EY)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And the (EZ)second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. 14 (FA)Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and (FB)all his relatives to him, [z]seventy-five people. 15 (FC)So Jacob went down to Egypt; (FD)and he died, he and our fathers. 16 And (FE)they were carried back to Shechem and laid in (FF)the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.
God Delivers Israel by Moses
17 “But when (FG)the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, (FH)the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18 till another king (FI)arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, (FJ)making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. 20 (FK)At this time Moses was born, and (FL)was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. 21 But (FM)when he was set out, (FN)Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was (FO)mighty in words and deeds.
23 (FP)“Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, (FQ)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 (FR)Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he (FS)had two sons.
30 (FT)“And when forty years had passed, an Angel [aa]of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. 31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 saying, (FU)‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and dared not look. 33 (FV)‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely (FW)seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will (FX)send you to Egypt.” ’
35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, (FY)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer (FZ)by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 (GA)He brought them out, after he had (GB)shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, (GC)and in the Red Sea, (GD)and in the wilderness forty years.
Israel Rebels Against God
37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, (GE)‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. (GF)Him[ab] you shall hear.’
38 (GG)“This is he who was in the [ac]congregation in the wilderness with (GH)the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, (GI)the one who received the living (GJ)oracles[ad] to give to us, 39 whom our fathers (GK)would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 (GL)saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 (GM)And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and (GN)rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then (GO)God turned and gave them up to worship (GP)the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:
(GQ)‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,
O house of Israel?
43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch,
And the star of your god Remphan,
Images which you made to worship;
And (GR)I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’
God’s True Tabernacle
44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses (GS)to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45 (GT)which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, (GU)whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the (GV)days of David, 46 (GW)who found favor before God and (GX)asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 47 (GY)But Solomon built Him a house.
48 “However, (GZ)the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
49 ‘Heaven(HA) is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,
Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not (HB)made all these things?’
Israel Resists the Holy Spirit
51 “You (HC)stiff-necked[ae] and (HD)uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 (HE)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of (HF)the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 (HG)who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
Stephen the Martyr
54 (HH)When they heard these things they were [af]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, (HI)being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the (HJ)glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! (HK)I see the heavens opened and the (HL)Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And (HM)the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, (HN)receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, (HO)“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Footnotes
- Acts 3:2 Beg
- Acts 3:15 Or Originator
- Acts 3:20 NU, M Christ Jesus
- Acts 3:20 NU, M ordained for you before
- Acts 3:21 Or time
- Acts 3:24 NU, M proclaimed
- Acts 4:16 remarkable sign
- Acts 4:16 well known
- Acts 4:25 NU through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father, Your servant David,
- Acts 4:36 NU Joseph
- Acts 4:36 Or Consolation
- Acts 5:17 jealousy
- Acts 5:21 Sanhedrin
- Acts 5:21 council of elders or senate
- Acts 5:23 NU, M omit outside
- Acts 5:24 NU omits the high priest
- Acts 5:25 NU, M omit saying
- Acts 5:33 cut to the quick
- Acts 5:35 be careful
- Acts 5:36 followed
- Acts 5:41 NU the name; M the name of Jesus
- Acts 6:1 Greek-speaking Jews
- Acts 6:8 NU grace
- Acts 6:13 NU omits blasphemous
- Acts 7:11 affliction
- Acts 7:14 Or seventy, Ex. 1:5
- Acts 7:30 NU omits of the Lord
- Acts 7:37 NU, M omit Him you shall hear
- Acts 7:38 Gr. ekklesia, assembly or church
- Acts 7:38 sayings
- Acts 7:51 stubborn
- Acts 7:54 furious
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
