Acts 4
Christian Standard Bible
Peter and John Arrested
4 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,(A) 2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.(B) 3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men[a] came to about five thousand.
Peter and John Face the Jewish Leadership
5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.(C) 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”
8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders:[b](D) 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy.(E) 11 This Jesus is
12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”(G)
The Boldness of the Disciples
13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.(H) 14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.(I) 17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;(J) 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”(K)
21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.(L) 22 For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old.
Prayer for Boldness
23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.(M) 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant:[d]
Why do the Gentiles rage
and the peoples plot futile things?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers assemble together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.[e](N)
27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,(O) 28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness,(P) 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders(Q) are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.(R)
All Things in Common
32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.(S) 33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.(T) 34 For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,(U) 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.(V)
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement),(W) 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.(X)
Acts 4
New Life Version
Peter and John Are Put in Prison
4 The religious leaders and the leader of the house of God and some of the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead came to Peter and John while they were talking to the people. 2 They were angry because Peter and John had been teaching the people and preaching that Jesus had been raised from the dead. 3 So they took them and put them in prison until the next day because it was evening. 4 But many of those who heard what Peter and John said put their trust in Christ. The group of followers was now about 5,000 men.
Peter Speaks to the Religious Leaders’ Court
5 The next day the leaders of the court and the leaders of the people and the teachers of the Law came together in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the head religious leader was there. Caiaphas and John and Alexander were there also and all who were in the family of the head religious leader. 7 They put the missionaries in front of them and asked, “By what power or in whose name have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “You who are leaders of the people, 9 are you asking us today about the good work we did to a man who needed help? Are you asking how he was healed? 10 You and all the Jews must know that it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you nailed to a cross and God raised from the dead. It is through Him that this man stands in front of you well and strong. 11 Christ is the Stone that was put aside by you workmen. But He has become the most important Stone in the building. (A) 12 There is no way to be saved from the punishment of sin through anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.”
Peter and John Are Free to Go but Are Told Not to Preach
13 They were surprised and wondered how easy it was for Peter and John to speak. They could tell they were men who had not gone to school. But they knew they had been with Jesus. 14 They were not able to argue about what Peter and John had said because the man who had been healed was standing with them.
15 The religious leaders told Peter and John to leave the court so the leaders could talk together. 16 They said, “What should we do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows a powerful work has been done by them. We cannot say that it did not happen. 17 Let us tell them with strong words that they must not speak again to anyone in this name. This will keep the news from going out among the people.”
18 Then they called them in and told them they must not speak or teach anymore in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John said, “If it is right to listen to you more than to God, you decide about that. 20 For we must tell what we have seen and heard.”
21 After they had spoken more sharp words to them, they let them go. They could not beat them because the people were giving thanks to God for what had happened. 22 The man on whom this powerful work of healing had been done was more than forty years old.
The Prayer of the Young Church
23 As soon as the missionaries were free to go, they went back to their own group. They told them everything the religious leaders had said. 24 When they heard it, they all prayed to God, saying, “Lord God, You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of our father David, ‘Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? 26 The kings of the earth stood in a line ready to fight, and the leaders were all against the Lord and against His Christ.’ (B) 27 You know that Herod and Pilate and the Jews and the people who are not Jews gathered together here against Jesus. He was Your Holy Son and the One You had chosen 28 to do everything You planned and said would happen. 29 And now, Lord, listen to their sharp words. Make it easy for your servants to preach Your Word with power. 30 May You heal and do powerful works and special things to see through the name of Jesus, Your Holy Son!”
The Christians Are Filled with the Holy Spirit
31 When they had finished praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. It was easy for them to speak the Word of God.
The New Way of Life
32 The many followers acted and thought the same way. None of them said that any of their things were their own, but they shared all things. 33 The missionaries told with much power how Jesus was raised from the dead. God’s favor was on them all. 34 No one was in need. All who owned houses or pieces of land sold them and brought the money from what was sold. 35 They gave it to the missionaries. It was divided to each one as he had need.
36 Joseph was among them. The missionaries called him Barnabas. His name means Son of Comfort. He was from the family group of Levi and from the country of Cyprus. 37 He had some land which he sold and brought the money to the missionaries.
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