4 Kefa and Yochanan were still speaking to the people when the cohanim, the captain in charge of the Temple police, and the Tz’dukim came upon them, ² very annoyed that they were teaching the people the doctrine of resurrection from the dead and offering Yeshua as proof. ³ The Temple police arrested them; and since it was already evening, they put them in custody overnight. ⁴ However, many of those who heard the message trusted; the number of men alone was about five thousand.

⁵ The next day, the people’s rulers, elders and Torah-teachers assembled in Yerushalayim, ⁶ along with ‘Anan the cohen hagadol, Kayafa, Yochanan, Alexander and the other men from the family of the cohen hagadol. ⁷ They had the emissaries stand before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Kefa, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ If we are being examined today about a good deed done for a disabled person, if you want to know how he was restored to health, ¹⁰ then let it be known to you and to all the people of Isra’el that it is in the name of the Messiah, Yeshua from Natzeret, whom you had executed on a stake as a criminal but whom God has raised from the dead, that this man stands before you perfectly healed.

¹¹ “This Yeshua is the stone rejected by you builders which has become the cornerstone.^{[a] 12} There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!”

¹³ When they saw how bold Kefa and Yochanan were, even though they were untrained ‘am-ha’aretz, they were amazed; also they recognized them as having been with Yeshua. ¹⁴ Moreover, since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there beside them, there was nothing they could say to discredit the healing. ¹⁵ So they told them to step away from the Sanhedrin while they discussed the matter privately. ¹⁶ “What can we do with these men?” they asked each other. “Why, anyone in Yerushalayim can see that a remarkable miracle has come about through them — we can’t possibly deny that. ¹⁷ But to prevent it from spreading any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any more to anyone in this name.”

¹⁸ So they called them in again and ordered them under no circumstances to speak or teach in the name of Yeshua. ¹⁹ But Kefa and Yochanan answered, “You must judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God. ²⁰ As for us, we can’t help talking about what we have actually seen and heard.” ²¹ They threatened them some more but finally let them go — they couldn’t punish them because of the people, for everyone was praising God over what had happened, ²² since the man who had been miraculously healed was more than forty years old.

²³ Upon being released, they went back to their friends and reported what the head cohanim and elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with singleness of heart. “Master,” they prayed, “You made heaven, earth, the sea and everything in them.^{[b] 25} By the Ruach HaKodesh, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said,

²⁷ “This has come true in this city, since Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Goyim and the peoples of Isra’el, all assembled against your holy servant Yeshua, whom you made Messiah, ²⁸ to do what your power and plan had already determined beforehand should happen.

²⁹ “So now, Lord, take note of their threats; and enable your slaves to speak your message with boldness! ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and to do signs and miracles through the name of your holy servant Yeshua!”

³¹ While they were still praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, and they spoke God’s message with boldness.

³² All the many believers were one in heart and soul, and no one claimed any of his possessions for himself, but everyone shared everything he had. ³³ With great power the emissaries continued testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and they were all held in high regard. ³⁴ No one among them was poor, since those who owned lands or houses sold them and turned over the proceeds ³⁵ to the emissaries to distribute to each according to his need. ³⁶ Thus Yosef, whom the emissaries called Bar-Nabba (which means “the Exhorter”), a Levi and a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field which belonged to him and brought the money to the emissaries.

5 But there was a man named Hananyah who, with his wife Shappirah, sold some property ² and, with his wife’s knowledge, withheld some of the proceeds for himself; although he did bring the rest to the emissaries. ³ Then Kefa said, “Why has the Adversary so filled your heart that you lie to the Ruach HaKodesh and keep back some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Before you sold it, the property was yours; and after you sold it, the money was yours to use as you pleased. So what made you decide to do such a thing? You have lied not to human beings but to God!”

⁵ On hearing these words, Hananyah fell down dead; and everyone who heard about it was terrified. ⁶ The young men got up, wrapped his body in a shroud, carried him out and buried him.

⁷ Some three hours later, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ Kefa challenged her: “Tell me, is it true that you sold the land for such-and-such a price?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is what we were paid for it.” ⁹ But Kefa came back at her, “Then why did you people plot to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too!” ¹⁰ Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. The young men entered, found her there dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ As a result of this, great fear came over the whole Messianic community, and indeed over everyone who heard about it.

¹² Meanwhile, through the emissaries many signs and miracles continued to be done among the people. United in mind and purpose, the believers met in Shlomo’s Colonnade; ¹³ and no one else dared to join them. Nevertheless, the people continued to regard them highly; ¹⁴ and throngs of believers were added to the Lord, both men and women. ¹⁵ They went so far as to bring the sick into the streets and lay them on mattresses and stretchers, so that at least Kefa’s shadow might fall on them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds also gathered from the towns around Yerushalayim, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits; and every one of them was healed.

¹⁷ But the cohen hagadol and his associates, who were members of the party of the Tz’dukim, were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the emissaries and put them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night, an angel of Adonai opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the Temple court and keep telling the people all about this new life!” ²¹ After hearing that, they entered the Temple area about dawn and began to teach.

Now the cohen hagadol and his associates came and called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (that is, of Isra’el’s whole assembly of elders) and sent to the jail to have them brought. ²² But the officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ When the captain of the Temple police and the head cohanim heard these things, they were puzzled and wondered what would happen next.

²⁵ Then someone came and reported to them, “Listen! The men you ordered put in prison are standing in the Temple court, teaching the people!” ²⁶ The captain and his officers went and brought them, but not with force; because they were afraid of being stoned by the people. ²⁷ They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them, ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name! Look here! you have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching; moreover, you are determined to make us responsible for this man’s death!”

²⁹ Kefa and the other emissaries answered, “We must obey God, not men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers^[d] raised up Yeshua, whereas you men killed him by having him hanged on a stake.^{[e] 31} God has exalted this man at his right hand^[f] as Ruler and Savior, in order to enable Isra’el to do t’shuvah and have her sins forgiven. ³² We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were infuriated and wanted to put the emissaries to death. ³⁴ But one of the members of the Sanhedrin rose to his feet, a Parush named Gamli’el, a teacher of the Torah highly respected by all the people. He ordered the men put outside for a little while ³⁵ and then addressed the court: “Men of Isra’el, take care what you do to these people. ³⁶ Some time ago, there was a rebellion under Todah, who claimed to be somebody special; and a number of men, maybe four hundred, rallied behind him. But upon his being put to death, his whole following was broken up and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this, Y’hudah HaG’lili led another uprising, back at the time of the enrollment for the Roman tax; and he got some people to defect to him. But he was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case, my advice to you is not to interfere with these people, but to leave them alone. For if this idea or this movement has a human origin, it will collapse. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them; you might even find yourselves fighting God!”

They heeded his advice. ⁴⁰ After summoning the emissaries and flogging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Yeshua, and let them go. ⁴¹ The emissaries left the Sanhedrin overjoyed at having been considered worthy of suffering disgrace on account of him. ⁴² And not for a single day, either in the Temple court or in private homes, did they stop teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Yeshua is the Messiah.

6 Around this time, when the number of talmidim was growing, the Greek-speaking Jews began complaining against those who spoke Hebrew that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. ² So the Twelve called a general meeting of the talmidim and said, “It isn’t appropriate that we should neglect the Word of God in order to serve tables. ³ Brothers, choose seven men from among yourselves who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint them to be in charge of this important matter, ⁴ but we ourselves will give our full attention to praying and to serving the Word.”

⁵ What they said was agreeable to the whole gathering. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Ruach HaKodesh, Philip, Prochoros, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas, who was a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ They presented these men to the emissaries, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁷ So the word of God continued to spread. The number of talmidim in Yerushalayim increased rapidly, and a large crowd of cohanim were becoming obedient to the faith.

⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great miracles and signs among the people. ⁹ But opposition arose from members of the Synagogue of the Freed Slaves (as it was called), composed of Cyrenians, Alexandrians and people from Cilicia and the province of Asia. They argued with Stephen, ¹⁰ but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by which he spoke.

¹¹ So they secretly persuaded some men to allege, “We heard him speak blasphemously against Moshe and against God.” ¹² They stirred up the people, as well as the elders and the Torah-teachers; so they came and arrested him and led him before the Sanhedrin. ¹³ There they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the Torah; ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that Yeshua from Natzeret will destroy this place and will change the customs Moshe handed down to us.”

¹⁵ Everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen and saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.