Peter and John at the Council

4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and Sadducees came up to them. ² They were upset because the two apostles were teaching the people and were preaching that people will rise from the dead through the power of Jesus. ³ The older leaders grabbed Peter and John and put them in jail. Since it was already night, they kept them in jail until the next day. ⁴ But many of those who had heard Peter and John preach believed the things they said. There were now about five thousand in the group of believers.

⁵ The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there, as well as everyone from the high priest’s family. ⁷ They made Peter and John stand before them and then asked them, “By what power or authority did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and you elders, ⁹ are you questioning us about a good thing that was done to a crippled man? Are you asking us who made him well? ¹⁰ We want all of you and all the people to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified him, but God raised him from the dead. This man was crippled, but he is now well and able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus. ¹¹ Jesus is

¹² Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us.”

¹³ The leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak, and they understood that these men had no special training or education. So they were amazed. Then they realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ Because they saw the healed man standing there beside the two apostles, they could say nothing against them. ¹⁵ After the leaders ordered them to leave the meeting, they began to talk to each other. ¹⁶ They said, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows they have done a great miracle, and we cannot say it is not true. ¹⁷ But to keep it from spreading among the people, we must warn them not to talk to people anymore using that name.”

¹⁸ So they called Peter and John in again and told them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, “You decide what God would want. Should we obey you or God? ²⁰ We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ The leaders warned the apostles again and let them go free. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had been done. ²² The man who received the miracle of healing was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray

²³ After Peter and John left the meeting of leaders, they went to their own group and told them everything the leading priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When the believers heard this, they prayed to God together, “Lord, you are the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ By the Holy Spirit, through our father David your servant, you said:

²⁷ These things really happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, and some Jews and non-Jews all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. Jesus is your holy servant, the One you made to be the Christ. ²⁸ These people made your plan happen because of your power and your will. ²⁹ And now, Lord, listen to their threats. Lord, help us, your servants, to speak your word without fear. ³⁰ Show us your power to heal. Give proofs and make miracles happen by the power of Jesus, your holy servant.”

³¹ After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke God’s word without fear.

The Believers Share

³² The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything. ³³ With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from the dead. And God blessed all the believers very much. ³⁴ There were no needy people among them. From time to time those who owned fields or houses sold them, brought the money, ³⁵ and gave it to the apostles. Then the money was given to anyone who needed it.

³⁶ One of the believers was named Joseph, a Levite born in Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas (which means “one who encourages”). ³⁷ Joseph owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles.