Acts 3-5

Lexham English Bible

A Lame Beggar Healed at the Temple

3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a certain man was being carried who was lame from birth.^[a] He^[b] was placed every day at the gate of the temple called “Beautiful,” so that he could ask for charitable gifts from those who were going into the temple courts.^{[c] 3} When he^[d] saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts,^[e] he began asking to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter looked intently at him, together with John, and^[f] said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not possess,^[g] but what I have, this I give to you—in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”^{[h] 7} And taking hold of him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up, he stood and began walking around^[i] and entered into the temple courts^[j] with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ And they recognized him, that this one^[k] was the one who used to sit asking for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Sermon in Solomon’s Portico

¹¹ And while^[l] he was holding fast to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, utterly astonished. ¹² And when he^[m] saw it,^[n] Peter replied to the people, “Men and Israelites, why are you astonished at this? Or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac^[o] and of Jacob,^[p] the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, after^[q] he had decided to release him.^{[r] 14} But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and demanded that a man—a murderer—be granted to you. ¹⁵ And you killed the originator of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses! ¹⁶ And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. ¹⁷ And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. ¹⁸ But the things which God foretold through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ^[s] would suffer, he has fulfilled in this way. ¹⁹ Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send the Christ^[t] appointed for you—Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things, about which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times. ²² Moses said, ‘The Lord God^[u] will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him in everything that he says to you.^{[v] 23} And it will be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed utterly from the people.’^{[w] 24} And indeed, all the prophets from Samuel and all those who followed him^[x] have spoken about and proclaimed these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’^{[y] 26} God, after he^[z] had raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning each of you back from your wickedness!”

Peter and John Arrested

4 And while^[aa] they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them and put them^[ab] in custody until the next day, because it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand.

Peter and John on Trial Before the Sanhedrin

⁵ And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem, ⁶ and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest’s family. ⁷ And they made them stand in their^[ac] midst and^[ad] began to ask,^[ae] “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a sick man—by what means^[af] this man was healed— ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man stands before you healthy! ¹¹ This one^[ag] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone.^{[ah] 12} And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved.”

¹³ Now when they^[ai] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And because they^[aj] saw the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in return. ¹⁵ But after they^[ak] had ordered them to go outside the Sanhedrin,^[al] they began to confer^[am] with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them is evident to all those who live in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it!^{[an] 17} But in order that it may not spread much further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name to anyone at all.”^{[ao] 18} And they called them back and^[ap] commanded them^[aq] not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and^[ar] said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide! ²⁰ For we are not able to refrain from speaking about the things that we have seen and heard.” ²¹ So after^[as] threatening them^[at] further, they released them, finding no way to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Continued Bold Witness

²³ And when they^[au] were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they^[av] heard it,^[aw] they lifted their voices with one mind to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, ²⁵ the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant,

²⁷ For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do all that your hand and plan^[az] had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness, ³⁰ as you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when^[ba] they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak^[bb] the word^[bc] of God with boldness.

The Believers Share All Things in Common

³² Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all things were theirs in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. ³⁴ For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling them^[bd] and^[be] bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold ³⁵ and placing them^[bf] at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need. ³⁶ So Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated “son of encouragement”), a Levite of Cyprus by nationality, ³⁷ sold a field^[bg] that belonged to him and^[bh] brought the money and placed it^[bi] at the feet of the apostles.

Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Holy Spirit

5 Now a certain man named^[bj] Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and he kept back for himself some of the proceeds, and his^[bk] wife was aware of it.^[bl] And he brought a certain part and^[bm] placed it^[bn] at the feet of the apostles. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land? ⁴ When it^[bo] remained to you, did it not remain yours? And when it^[bp] was sold, was it at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!”

⁵ And when^[bq] Ananias heard these words, he fell down and^[br] died. And great fear came on all those who heard about it.^{[bs] 6} So the young men stood up, wrapped him up, and carried him^[bt] out and^[bu] buried him.^{[bv] 7} And it happened that there was an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you both^[bw] were paid this much for the piece of land.” And she said, “Yes, this much.” ⁹ So Peter said to her, “How is it that it was agreed by you two^[bx] to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” ¹⁰ And immediately she fell down at his feet and died. So when^[by] the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried her^[bz] out and^[ca] buried her^[cb] with her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard about these things.

Many Signs and Wonders Are Performed by the Apostles

¹² Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles. And they were all together^[cc] in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ And none of the rest dared to join them, but the people spoke highly of them. ¹⁴ And even more believers in the Lord^[cd] were being added, large numbers of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and put them^[ce] on cots and mats^[cf] so that when^[cg] Peter came by, at least his^[ch] shadow would fall on some of them. ¹⁶ And the people of the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, who were all being healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Imprisoned

¹⁷ Now the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and^[ci] they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out and^[cj] said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple courts^[ck] and^[cl] proclaim to the people all the words of this life.” ²¹ And when they^[cm] heard this,^[cn] they entered at daybreak into the temple courts^[co] and began teaching.^[cp]

Now when^[cq] the high priest and those with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin—even the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel—and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But the officers who came^[cr] did not find them in the prison, and they returned and^[cs] reported, ²³ saying, “We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we^[ct] opened them,^[cu] we found no one inside!” ²⁴ Now when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed concerning them, as to what this might be. ²⁵ But someone came and^[cv] reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple courts^[cw] and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and^[cx] brought them, not with force (for they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned by them).^[cy]

The Apostles on Trial Before the Sanhedrin

²⁷ And when they^[cz] had brought them, they made them^[da] stand in the Sanhedrin,^[db] and the high priest put a question to them, ²⁸ saying, “We strictly commanded^[dc] you^[dd] not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching! And you are intending to bring upon us the blood of this man!” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered and^[de] said, “It is necessary to obey God rather than men! ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by^[df] hanging him^[dg] on a tree. ³¹ This one God has exalted to his right hand as Leader and Savior to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses of these things, and so is^[dh] the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” ³³ Now when^[di] they heard this,^[dj] they were infuriated, and were wanting to execute them. ³⁴ But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin,^[dk] a Pharisee named^[dl] Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, and^[dm] gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men and Israelites, take care for yourselves what you are about to do to these men! ³⁶ For before these days, Theudas rose up saying he was somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him.^[dn] He^[do] was executed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and caused people to follow him in revolt.^[dp] And that one perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ And now I tell you, keep away from these men, and leave them alone, because if this plan or this matter is from people, it will be overthrown.^{[dq] 39} But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him. ⁴⁰ And they summoned the apostles, beat them,^[dr] commanded them^[ds] not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.^{[dt] 41} So they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin^[du] rejoicing, because they had been considered worthy to be dishonored for the sake of the name. ⁴² Every day, both in the temple courts^[dv] and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Christ^[dw] was Jesus.