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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, very annoyed that they were teaching the people the doctrine of resurrection from the dead and offering Yeshua as proof. The Temple police arrested them; and since it was already evening, they put them in custody overnight. However, many of those who heard the message trusted; the number of men alone was about five thousand.

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

Then Kefa, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 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,

‘Why did the nations rage
and the peoples devise useless plans?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand;
and the rulers assembled together
against Adonai
and against his Messiah.’[c]

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.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22
  2. Acts 4:24 Psalm 146:6
  3. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1–2

Peter and John Arrested

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, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming [a](D)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and (E)put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the [b]message believed; and (F)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

On the next day, their (G)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and (H)Annas the high priest was there, and (I)Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” Then Peter, [c](J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “[d](K)Rulers and elders of the people, if we are [e]on trial today for (L)a benefit done to a sick man, as to [f]how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that [g](M)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom (N)God raised from the dead—[h]by [i]this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 [j](O)He is the (P)stone which was (Q)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in (R)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the (S)confidence of (T)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and (U)began to recognize them [k]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 [l](V)Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “(W)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a (X)noteworthy [m]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person (Y)in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they (Z)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [n]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 listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20 for (AC)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 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 on whom this [o]miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “[p]Lord, it is You who (AF)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who (AG)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

(AH)Why were the [q]nations insolent,
And the peoples plotting in vain?
26 (AI)The kings of the earth [r]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [s](AJ)Christ.’

27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [t](AK)Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (AL)Herod and (AM)Pontius Pilate, along with (AN)the [u]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (AO)purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [v]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to (AP)speak Your word with all (AQ)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [w](AR)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy [x](AS)Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, 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)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

32 And the [y]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them [z]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but (AX)all things were common property to them. 33 And (AY)with great power the apostles were giving (AZ)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant 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 [aa]proceeds of the sales 35 and (BB)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be (BC)distributed to each to the extent that 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 [ab](BF)Encouragement), 37 [ac]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and (BG)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:2 Or in the case of
  2. Acts 4:4 Lit word
  3. Acts 4:8 Or having just been filled
  4. Acts 4:8 Lit Rulers of the people and elders
  5. Acts 4:9 Lit answering
  6. Acts 4:9 Or by what; or by whom
  7. Acts 4:10 Or in
  8. Acts 4:10 Or in
  9. Acts 4:10 Or Him
  10. Acts 4:11 Lit This One
  11. Acts 4:13 Lit that they had been
  12. Acts 4:15 Or Sanhedrin
  13. Acts 4:16 Or sign
  14. Acts 4:18 Or on the basis of
  15. Acts 4:22 Or sign
  16. Acts 4:24 Or Master
  17. Acts 4:25 Or Gentiles
  18. Acts 4:26 Or approached
  19. Acts 4:26 I.e., Messiah
  20. Acts 4:27 Or Son
  21. Acts 4:27 Or nations
  22. Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
  23. Acts 4:30 I.e., confirming miracles
  24. Acts 4:30 Or Son
  25. Acts 4:32 Or community; lit multitude
  26. Acts 4:32 Lit was saying
  27. Acts 4:34 Lit the prices of the things being sold
  28. Acts 4:36 Or Exhortation; or Consolation
  29. Acts 4:37 Lit a tract...belonging to him, he sold...

And while they spake to the people, the priests and the magistrates of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

and sorrowed [sorrowing], that they taught the people, and told in Jesus the again-rising from death [from dead].

And they laid hands on them, and putted them into ward into the morrow; for it was then eventide.[a]

But many of them that had heard the word, believed; and the number of men was made five thousands [five thousand].

And amorrow it was done [Forsooth in the morrow it was done], that the princes of them, and elder men and scribes were gathered in Jerusalem;

and Annas, prince of priests, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and how many ever were of the kind of priests [and how many ever were of the kindred of priests].

And they set them in the middle, and asked, In what virtue, either in what name [or in what name], have ye done this thing?

Then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them, Ye princes of the people, and ye elder men, hear ye [Ye princes of the people, and elder men, hear].

If we to day be deemed in the good deed of a sick man, in whom this man is made safe [in which this man is made safe],

10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from death, in this this man standeth whole before you [whom God raised from dead men, in him this man standeth whole before you].

11 This is the stone, which was reproved of you building, which is made into the head of the corner;

12 and health is not in any other. For neither other name under heaven is given to men, in which it behooveth us to be made safe.

13 And they saw the steadfastness of Peter and of John, and when it was found that they were men unlettered, and lay men [that there were men without letters, and idiots], they wondered, and they knew them that they were with Jesus.

14 And they saw the man that was healed, standing with them, and they might nothing gainsay. [And seeing the man standing with them, that was healed, they might nothing against-say.]

15 But they commanded them to go forth without the council. And they spake together,

16 and said [saying], What shall we do to these men? for [soothly] the sign is made known by them to all men, that dwell at Jerusalem; it is open, and we be not able to deny [and we may not deny].

17 But that it be no more published into the people, menace we to them, that they speak no more in this name to any man.

18 And they called them, and commanded to them [And they calling them announced to them], that on no manner they should speak, neither teach [nor teach], in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered, and said to them, If it be rightful in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, deem ye.

20 For we must needs speak those things, that we have seen and heard. [Forsooth we may not not speak the things that we have seen and heard.]

21 And they menaced them, and let them go, and found not how they should punish them, for the people; for all men clarified that thing that was done in that that was befallen.[b]

22 For the man was more than forty years old, in whom this sign of healing was made [in whom this sign of health was made].

23 And when they were delivered, they came to their fellows, and told to them, how great things the princes of priests and the elder men had said to them.[c]

24 And when they heard, with one heart they raised voice to the Lord, and said, Lord, thou that madest heaven and earth, sea, and all things that be in them,

25 which saidest by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David, thy child, Why heathen men gnashed with teeth together, and the peoples thought vain things? [which by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of our father David, thy child, saidest, Why heathen men wrathed, or beat with teeth together, and peoples thought vain things?]

26 Kings of the earth stood nigh, and princes came together into one, against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For verily Herod and Pontius Pilate, with heathen men, and peoples of Israel, came together in this city against thine holy child Jesus, whom thou anointedest, [For they came together verily in this city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou anointedest, Herod and Pontius Pilate, with heathen men, and peoples of Israel,]

28 to do the things, that thine hand and thy counsel deemed to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold into the threatenings of them, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all trust [and give to thy servants with all trust to speak thy word],

30 in that thing that thou hold forth thine hand, that healings and signs and wonders be made by the name of thine holy Son Jesus. [in that thing that thou hold forth thine hand, healths and signs and wonders to be made by the name of thine holy Son Jesus.]

31 And when they had prayed, the place was moved, in which they were gathered; and all were filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the word of God with trust.

32 And of the multitude of men believing was one heart and one will [one heart and one soul, or will]; neither any man said any thing of those things that he wielded to be his own, but all things were common to them.

33 And with great virtue the apostles yielded witnessing of the again-rising of Jesus Christ our Lord, and great grace was in all them [and great grace was in them all].

34 For neither any needy man was among them, for how many ever were possessors of fields, either of houses [for how many ever were possessors of fields, or houses], they sold, and brought the prices of those things that they sold,

35 and laid before the feet of the apostles. And it was parted to each, as it was need to each.

36 Forsooth Joseph, that was named Barnabas of [the] apostles, that is to say, the son of comfort, of the lineage of Levi, a man of Cyprus,[d]

37 when he had a field, sold it, and brought the price, and laid it before the feet of the apostles.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them into keeping till into the morrow; soothly it was now even.
  2. Acts 4:21 And they menacing left them, not finding how they should punish them, for the people; for all men clarified that thing that was done in that that befell.
  3. Acts 4:23 Forsooth they were let go, and came to theirs, and told to them, how many things the princes and elder men said to them.
  4. Acts 4:36 Forsooth Joseph, that was named Barnabas of the apostles, that is interpreted, the son of comfort, a Levite by kin, either of the lineage of Levi, a man of Cyprus,

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And beholding the man which was healed 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, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18 And 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 unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.