Acts 4
Legacy Standard Bible
Peter and John Arrested
4 Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests and (A)the captain of the temple guard and (B)the Sadducees (C)came up to them, 2 being greatly agitated because they were teaching the people and proclaiming [a](D)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and (E)put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the [b]message believed, and (F)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 Now it happened that on the next day, their (G)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and (H)Annas the high priest was there, and (I)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 And when they had placed them in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, [c](J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “[d](K)Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are [e]being examined today for (L)a good deed done to a sick man, [f]as to how this man has been [g]saved from his sickness, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that [h](M)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom (N)God raised from the dead—[i]by [j]this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 [k](O)He is the (P)stone which was (Q)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 And there is salvation in (R)no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter and John Threatened and Released
13 Now as they observed the (S)confidence of (T)Peter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and (U)began to recognize them [l]as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the [m](V)Sanhedrin, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “(W)What should we do with these men? For the fact that a (X)noteworthy [n]sign has happened through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man (Y)in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they (Z)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [o]in the name of Jesus. 19 But (AA)Peter and John answered and said to them, “(AB)Whether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge; 20 for (AC)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) (AD)on account of the people, because they were all (AE)glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.
23 So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who (AF)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who (AG)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘(AH)Why did the [p]Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise vain things?
26 (AI)The kings of the earth [q]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [r](AJ)Christ.’
27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [s](AK)Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (AL)Herod and (AM)Pontius Pilate, along with (AN)the [t]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (AO)Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [u]now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may (AP)speak Your word with all (AQ)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [v](AR)signs and wonders happen through the name of Your holy [w](AS)Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed earnestly, the (AT)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (AU)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (AV)speak the word of God with (AW)confidence.
Distribution Among Needy Believers
32 And the [x]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one was saying that any of his possessions was his own, but, for them, (AX)everything was common. 33 And (AY)with great power the apostles were bearing (AZ)witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses (BA)would sell them and bring the [y]proceeds of the sales 35 and (BB)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be (BC)distributed to each as any had need.
36 Now Joseph, a Levite of (BD)Cyprian birth, who was also called (BE)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of [z](BF)Encouragement), 37 and who owned a field, sold it and brought the money and (BG)laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Footnotes
- Acts 4:2 Or in the case of
- Acts 4:4 Lit word
- Acts 4:8 Or having just been filled
- Acts 4:8 Lit Rulers of the people and elders
- Acts 4:9 Or on trial
- Acts 4:9 Or by whom
- Acts 4:9 Or made well
- Acts 4:10 Or in
- Acts 4:10 Or in
- Acts 4:10 Or Him
- Acts 4:11 Lit This One
- Acts 4:13 Lit that they had been
- Acts 4:15 Or Council
- Acts 4:16 Or attesting miracle
- Acts 4:18 Or on the basis of
- Acts 4:25 Or nations
- Acts 4:26 Or approached
- Acts 4:26 Or Anointed One; Messiah, cf. Ps 2:2; Acts 4:27
- Acts 4:27 Or Son
- Acts 4:27 Or nations
- Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
- Acts 4:30 Or attesting miracles
- Acts 4:30 Or Son
- Acts 4:32 Or multitude
- Acts 4:34 Lit the prices of the things being sold
- Acts 4:36 Or Exhortation, Consolation
Acts 4
Common English Bible
Peter and John questioned
4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them. 2 They were incensed that the apostles were teaching the people and announcing that the resurrection of the dead was happening because of Jesus. 3 They seized Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day. (It was already evening.) 4 Many who heard the word became believers, and their number grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the leaders, elders, and legal experts gathered in Jerusalem, 6 along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others from the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered, “Leaders of the people and elders, 9 are we being examined today because something good was done for a sick person, a good deed that healed him? 10 If so, then you and all the people of Israel need to know that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected; he has become the cornerstone! 12 Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.”
13 The council was caught by surprise by the confidence with which Peter and John spoke. After all, they understood that these apostles were uneducated and inexperienced. They also recognized that they had been followers of Jesus. 14 However, since the healed man was standing with Peter and John before their own eyes, they had no rebuttal. 15 After ordering them to wait outside, the council members began to confer with each other. 16 “What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem is aware of the sign performed through them. It’s obvious to everyone and we can’t deny it. 17 To keep it from spreading further among the people, we need to warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.” 18 When they called Peter and John back, they demanded that they stop all speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John responded, “It’s up to you to determine whether it’s right before God to obey you rather than God. 20 As for us, we can’t stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 They threatened them further, then released them. Because of public support for Peter and John, they couldn’t find a way to punish them. Everyone was praising God for what had happened, 22 because the man who had experienced this sign of healing was over 40 years old.
The believers pray
23 After their release, Peter and John returned to the brothers and sisters and reported everything the chief priests and elders had said. 24 They listened, then lifted their voices in unison to God, “Master, you are the one who created the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 25 You are the one who spoke by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:
Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand
and the rulers gathered together as one
against the Lord and against his Christ.[a]
27 Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Gentiles and Israelites, did gather in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and plan had already determined would happen. 29 Now, Lord, take note of their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with complete confidence. 30 Stretch out your hand to bring healing and enable signs and wonders to be performed through the name of Jesus, your holy servant.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking God’s word with confidence.
Sharing among the believers
32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. 33 The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at work among them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35 and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need.
36 Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (that is, “one who encourages”), was a Levite from Cyprus. 37 He owned a field, sold it, brought the money, and placed it in the care and under the authority of the apostles.
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