彼得與約翰被捕

彼得約翰正向民眾講話的時候,祭司們、聖殿守衛長[a]撒都該人忽然來了。 這些人非常惱怒,因為使徒們教導民眾,藉著耶穌傳講從死人中復活的事。 於是他們下手捉拿了彼得約翰。因為天已經晚了,就把他們關在監裡,直到第二天。 然而聽了這話語的人中,有許多人相信了;男人的數目約有五千。

在猶太領袖面前受審

到了第二天,猶太人的[b]首領、長老和經文士們都聚集在耶路撒冷 大祭司亞納該亞法約翰亞歷山大,以及大祭司家族的人都在那裡。 他們叫彼得約翰站在中間,質問他們,說:「你們憑著什麼能力,以誰的名做這事?」

那時,彼得被聖靈充滿,對他們說:「民眾的首領和[c]長老們, 如果我們今天因在一個殘疾人身上所行的善事,被查問這個人怎樣得到救治, 10 那麼,你們大家和所有以色列子民應當知道:這個人健全地站在你們面前,是藉著拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名。這位耶穌基督,你們把他釘上十字架,但是神使他從死人中復活了! 11 這一位就是

『被你們工匠所藐視的石頭,
它已經成了房角的頭塊石頭。』[d]

12 除他[e]以外,沒有救恩[f];因為在天下人間,沒有賜下別的名,我們必須靠著得救。」

傳講主名被禁止

13 他們看見彼得約翰的膽量,又了解他們是沒有學問的普通人,就感到驚奇,並且了解他們是曾經與耶穌在一起的; 14 又看見那得了痊癒的人和他們一同站著,就無話可說了, 15 於是命令他們到議會外面去,就彼此商議, 16 說:「我們該怎麼處理這些人呢?藉著他們,確實發生了一個明顯的神蹟,所有住在耶路撒冷的人都清清楚楚;我們也不能否認。 17 不過為了避免這事在民間傳揚更廣,讓我們威嚇他們[g],不可再奉耶穌的名[h]對任何人講話。」 18 於是把他們叫來,吩咐他們絕對不可奉耶穌的名講說或教導人。

19 可是彼得約翰回答說:「聽從你們過於聽從神,在神面前是理所當然的嗎?你們自己判斷吧! 20 要知道,我們所看見所聽見的,我們不能不說。」

21 官長們又威嚇他們一番,為了民眾的緣故把他們釋放了。官長們找不出任何理由來懲罰他們,因為眾人都為所發生的事不住地榮耀神。 22 實際上,因神蹟而痊癒的那個人已經四十多歲了。

祈求主賜膽量

23 彼得約翰被釋放了,就回到自己的人那裡,把祭司長們和長老們所說的話都告訴他們。 24 他們聽了,就同心合意地高聲向神說:「主啊,你是造了天、地、海和其中萬有的那一位[i] 25 你曾經藉著聖靈[j],用你的僕人——我們先祖[k]大衛的口說:

『列國為什麼狂怒騷亂,
眾民為什麼圖謀虛空?
26 地上的眾君王都起來,
首領們也聚集在一起,
抵擋主和他的基督。』[l]

27 「事實上,希律本丟彼拉多,與外邦人和以色列子民果然在這城裡[m]一同聚集,對付你所膏立的聖僕耶穌, 28 做成了你手和你計劃所預定要成就的一切事。 29 主啊,現在求你鑒察[n]他們的威嚇,使[o]你的奴僕們能滿有膽量地傳講你的話語。 30 求你伸出你的手,藉著你聖僕耶穌的名,使疾病痊癒,施行神蹟和奇事。」 31 他們禱告完了,聚集的地方就被震動,大家都被聖靈充滿,就坦然無懼地傳講神的話語[p]

凡物共有

32 於是那一群信徒都同心合意,沒有一個人說他所擁有的哪樣東西是自己的;相反,他們凡物共有。 33 使徒們大有能力地為主耶穌的復活做見證,並且在他們每個人身上都有極大的恩典。 34 他們當中沒有一個缺乏的人,因為凡是擁有田產或房屋的人,都賣掉了那些東西,把所賣得的錢拿來, 35 放在使徒們的腳前,按照各人的需要分給每個人。

36 有一個出生在塞浦路斯利未約瑟,使徒們稱他為巴拿巴——「巴拿巴」翻譯出來就是「安慰之子」; 37 他有一塊田地,也賣掉了,把錢拿來放在使徒們的腳前。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行傳 4:1 守衛長——原文直譯「指揮官」或「司令官」或「將軍」。
  2. 使徒行傳 4:5 猶太人的——原文直譯「他們的」。
  3. 使徒行傳 4:8 有古抄本附「以色列的」。
  4. 使徒行傳 4:11 《詩篇》118:22。
  5. 使徒行傳 4:12 他——輔助詞語。
  6. 使徒行傳 4:12 救恩——或譯作「拯救」。
  7. 使徒行傳 4:17 讓我們威嚇他們——有古抄本作「讓我們用恐嚇的手段來恐嚇他們」。
  8. 使徒行傳 4:17 耶穌的名——原文直譯「這個名」。
  9. 使徒行傳 4:24 那一位——有古抄本作「神」。
  10. 使徒行傳 4:25 有古抄本沒有「藉著聖靈」。
  11. 使徒行傳 4:25 有古抄本沒有「我們先祖」。
  12. 使徒行傳 4:26 《詩篇》2:1-2。
  13. 使徒行傳 4:27 有古抄本沒有「在這城裡」。
  14. 使徒行傳 4:29 鑒察——或譯作「注意」。
  15. 使徒行傳 4:29 使……能——原文直譯「賜給」。
  16. 使徒行傳 4:31 神的話語——或譯作「神的道」。

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 Before the Sanhedrin

The priests and the captain of the temple guard(A) and the Sadducees(B) came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.(C) They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail(D) until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew(E) to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers,(F) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,(G) John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,(H) said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!(I) If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame(J) and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,(K) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,(L) that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’[a](M)

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”(N)

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John(O) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,(P) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.(Q) 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin(R) and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?”(S) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,(T) and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.(U) 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?(V) You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking(W) about what we have seen and heard.”(X)

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people(Y) were praising God(Z) for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers Pray

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.(AA) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(AB) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(AC)

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.[b][c](AD)

27 Indeed Herod(AE) and Pontius Pilate(AF) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(AG) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(AH) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(AI) 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders(AJ) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”(AK)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.(AL) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(AM) and spoke the word of God(AN) boldly.(AO)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.(AP) 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify(AQ) to the resurrection(AR) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace(AS) was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,(AT) brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet,(AU) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.(AV)

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(AW) (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22
  2. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ
  3. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2

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