Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

4 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. ² They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.^{(C) 3} They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail^(D) until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew^(E) to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers,^(F) the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas,^(G) John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,^(H) said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!^{(I) 9} 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

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)

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)

The Fellowship Offering

3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering,^(A) and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.^{(B) 2} You are to lay your hand on the head^(C) of your offering and slaughter it^(D) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^(E) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash^(F) the blood against the sides^(G) of the altar.^{(H) 3} From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs^(I) and all the fat^(J) that is connected to them, ⁴ both kidneys^(K) with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ⁵ Then Aaron’s sons^(L) are to burn it on the altar^(M) on top of the burnt offering^(N) that is lying on the burning wood;^(O) it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(P)

⁶ “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering^(Q) to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. ⁷ If you offer a lamb,^(R) you are to present it before the Lord,^{(S) 8} lay your hand on its head and slaughter it^(T) in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. ⁹ From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering^(U) to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁰ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. ¹¹ The priest shall burn them on the altar^(V) as a food offering^(W) presented to the Lord.^(X)

¹² “‘If your offering is a goat,^(Y) you are to present it before the Lord, ¹³ lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash^(Z) its blood against the sides of the altar.^{(AA) 14} From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, ¹⁵ both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.^{(AB) 16} The priest shall burn them on the altar^(AC) as a food offering,^(AD) a pleasing aroma.^(AE) All the fat^(AF) is the Lord’s.^(AG)

¹⁷ “‘This is a lasting ordinance^(AH) for the generations to come,^(AI) wherever you live:^(AJ) You must not eat any fat or any blood.^(AK)’”

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem^(A)

15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared^(B) a place for the ark of God and pitched^(C) a tent for it. ² Then David said, “No one but the Levites^(D) may carry^(E) the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister^(F) before him forever.”

³ David assembled all Israel^(G) in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. ⁴ He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:^(H)

¹¹ Then David summoned Zadok^(L) and Abiathar^(M) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. ¹² He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate^(N) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. ¹³ It was because you, the Levites,^(O) did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.^(P) We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.^(Q)” ¹⁴ So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁵ And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded^(R) in accordance with the word of the Lord.^(S)

¹⁶ David^(T) told the leaders of the Levites^(U) to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians^(V) to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.^(W)

¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman^(X) son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph^(Y) son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites,^(Z) Ethan son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸ and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,^[b] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom^(AA) and Jeiel,^[c] the gatekeepers.

¹⁹ The musicians Heman,^(AB) Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; ²⁰ Zechariah, Jaaziel,^[d] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,^{[e] 21} and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.^{[f] 22} Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.

²³ Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. ²⁴ Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets^(AC) before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.

²⁵ So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark^(AD) of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. ²⁶ Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams^(AE) were sacrificed. ²⁷ Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.^{(AF) 28} So all Israel^(AG) brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts,^(AH) with the sounding of rams’ horns^(AI) and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

²⁹ As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.

Psalm 135^(A)

God’s Love for Israel

Israel’s Sin