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Acts 4
International Children’s Bible
Acts 4
International Children’s Bible
Peter and John at the Council
4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, a group of men came up to them. There were Jewish priests, the captain of the soldiers that guarded the Temple, and some Sadducees. 2 They were upset because the two apostles were teaching the people. Peter and John were preaching that people will rise from death through the power of Jesus. 3 The Jewish leaders grabbed Peter and John and put them in jail. It was already night, so they kept them in jail until the next day. 4 But many of those who heard Peter and John preach believed the things they said. There were now about 5,000 men in the group of believers.
5 The next day the Jewish rulers, the Jewish elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there. Everyone from the high priest’s family was there. 7 They made Peter and John stand before them. The Jewish leaders asked them: “By what power or authority did you do this?”
8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, “Rulers of the people and you elders, 9 are you questioning us about a good thing that was done to a crippled man? Are you asking us who made him well? 10 We want all of you and all the Jewish people to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth! You nailed him to a cross, but God raised him from death. This man was crippled, but he is now well and able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus! 11 Jesus is
‘the stone[a] that you builders did not want.
It has become the cornerstone.’ Psalm 118:22
12 Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us.”
13 The Jewish leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak. They understood that these men had no special training or education. So they were amazed. Then they realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. 14 They saw the crippled man standing there beside the two apostles. They saw that the man was healed. So they could say nothing against them. 15 The Jewish leaders told them to leave the meeting. Then the leaders talked to each other about what they should do. 16 They said, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows that they have done a great miracle! We cannot say it is not true. 17 But we must warn them not to talk to people anymore using that name. Then this thing will not spread among the people.”
18 So they called Peter and John in again. They told them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “What do you think is right? What would God want? Should we obey you or God? 20 We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21-22 The Jewish leaders could not find a way to punish them because all the people were praising God for what had been done. (This miracle was a proof from God. The man who was healed was more than 40 years old!) So the Jewish leaders warned the apostles again and let them go free.
The Believers’ Prayer
23 Peter and John left the meeting of Jewish leaders and went to their own group. They told them everything that the leading priests and the Jewish elders had said to them. 24 When the believers heard this, they prayed to God with one purpose. They prayed, “Lord, you are the One who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in the world. 25 Our father David was your servant. With the help of the Holy Spirit he said:
‘Why are the nations so angry?
Why are the people making useless plans?
26 The kings of the earth prepare to fight.
Their leaders make plans together
against the Lord
and against his Christ.’ Psalm 2:1-2
27 These things really happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, the non-Jewish people, and the Jewish people all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. Jesus is your holy Servant. He is the One you made to be the Christ. 28 These people made your plan happen; it happened because of your power and your will. 29 And now, Lord, listen to what they are saying. They are trying to make us afraid! Lord, we are your servants. Help us to speak your word without fear. 30 Help us to be brave by showing us your power; make sick people well, give proofs, and make miracles happen by the power of Jesus, your holy servant.”
31 After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke God’s word without fear.
The Believers Share
32 The group of believers were joined in their hearts, and they had the same spirit. No person in the group said that the things he had were his own. Instead, they shared everything. 33 With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from death. And God blessed all the believers very much. 34 They all received the things they needed. Everyone that owned fields or houses sold them. They brought the money 35 and gave it to the apostles. Then each person was given the things he needed.
36 One of the believers was named Joseph. The apostles called him Barnabas. (This name means “one who encourages.”) He was a Levite, born in Cyprus. 37 Joseph owned a field. He sold it, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles.
Footnotes
- 4:11 stone A symbol meaning Jesus.
Hechos 4
La Palabra (España)
Hechos 4
La Palabra (España)
Pedro y Juan ante el Consejo Supremo
4 Aún estaban Pedro y Juan hablando al pueblo, cuando se presentaron allí los sacerdotes, el jefe de la guardia del Templo y los saduceos. 2 Estaban contrariados, porque los apóstoles seguían instruyendo al pueblo y proclamaban que la resurrección de entre los muertos se había realizado ya en la persona de Jesús. 3 Así que los detuvieron y, en vista de que era ya tarde, los metieron en la cárcel hasta el día siguiente. 4 Pero muchos de los que habían escuchado el discurso de Pedro abrazaron la fe, por lo que el número de creyentes varones alcanzó la cifra de unos cinco mil. 5 Al día siguiente, se reunieron en Jerusalén las autoridades, los ancianos y los maestros de la ley. 6 Estaban presentes Anás, que era sumo sacerdote, Caifás, Juan, Alejandro y todos los miembros de la clase sacerdotal dirigente. 7 Hicieron comparecer a Pedro y a Juan, y les preguntaron:
— ¿Con qué poder y en nombre de quién habéis hecho esto?
8 Pedro, lleno del Espíritu Santo, les respondió:
— Jefes del pueblo y ancianos: 9 hoy ha sido curado un enfermo, y se nos pregunta quién lo ha curado. 10 Pues bien, habéis de saber, tanto vosotros como todo el pueblo israelita, que este hombre se encuentra ahora sano ante vuestros ojos gracias a Jesús de Nazaret, a quien vosotros crucificasteis y a quien Dios ha resucitado. 11 Él es la piedra rechazada por vosotros los constructores, pero que ha resultado ser la piedra principal. 12 Ningún otro puede salvarnos, pues en la tierra no existe ninguna otra persona a quien Dios haya constituido autor de nuestra salvación.
13 Cuando vieron la seguridad con que se expresaban Pedro y Juan, que eran hombres sin cultura y sin instrucción, no salían de su asombro. Por una parte, no podían menos de reconocer que Pedro y Juan habían sido compañeros de Jesús; 14 por otra, allí estaba de pie, junto a ellos, el hombre que había sido curado. Así que, no sabiendo cómo replicarles, 15 les ordenaron salir de la sala del Consejo y se pusieron a deliberar entre ellos:
16 — ¿Qué vamos a hacer con estos hombres? Está claro para todos los habitantes de Jerusalén que, efectivamente, se ha realizado un milagro manifiesto por mediación de ellos; es algo que no podemos negar. 17 Sin embargo, para evitar que esto siga propagándose entre el pueblo, vamos a advertirles, bajo amenaza, que no hablen más a nadie de tal individuo.
18 Así que los llamaron y les prohibieron terminantemente que hablaran de Jesús o enseñaran en su nombre. 19 Pero Pedro y Juan les respondieron:
— ¿Os parece justo delante de Dios que os obedezcamos a vosotros antes que a él? 20 Por nuestra parte, no podemos dejar de hablar de lo que hemos visto y oído.
21 Tras amenazarlos de nuevo, los dejaron libres. La verdad es que no hallaban forma de castigarlos sin enfrentarse con el pueblo, pues todos alababan a Dios por lo ocurrido; 22 además, el milagro de la curación se había realizado en un hombre de más de cuarenta años.
Oración unánime de los creyentes
23 En cuanto fueron puestos en libertad, Pedro y Juan se reunieron con los suyos y les contaron lo que los jefes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos les habían dicho. 24 Al enterarse, todos elevaron unánimes esta oración a Dios:
— Señor nuestro, tú has creado el cielo, la tierra, el mar y todo lo que hay en ellos; 25 tú, por medio del Espíritu Santo, pusiste en boca de David, tu servidor y nuestro antepasado, estas palabras:
¿Por qué se alborotan las naciones
y hacen planes inútiles los pueblos?
26 Los reyes de la tierra se han aliado
y los poderosos se han confabulado
en contra del Señor y de su ungido.
27 Y realmente es cierto que, en esta ciudad, Pilato y Herodes se confabularon con los extranjeros y el pueblo israelita en contra de Jesús, tu santo servidor y Mesías. 28 Llevaron así a cabo todo lo que tu poder y tu voluntad habían decidido de antemano que sucediese. 29 Ahora, Señor, mira cómo nos amenazan y concede a tus servidores anunciar tu mensaje con plena libertad. 30 Pon en juego tu poder, para que en el nombre de Jesús, tu santo servidor, se produzcan curaciones, señales milagrosas y prodigios.
31 Apenas terminaron de orar, tembló el lugar donde estaban reunidos y todos quedaron llenos del Espíritu Santo. Así pudieron luego proclamar el mensaje de Dios con plena libertad.
Compartir bienes
32 El grupo de los creyentes estaba totalmente compenetrado en un mismo sentir y pensar, y ninguno consideraba de su exclusiva propiedad los bienes que poseía, sino que todos los disfrutaban en común. 33 Los apóstoles, por su parte, daban testimonio de la resurrección de Jesús, el Señor, con toda firmeza, y se los miraba con gran simpatía. 34 Nadie entre los creyentes carecía de nada, pues los que eran dueños de haciendas o casas las vendían y entregaban el producto de la venta, 35 poniéndolo a disposición de los apóstoles para que estos lo distribuyeran conforme a la necesidad de cada uno. 36 Tal fue el caso de José, un chipriota de la tribu de Leví, a quien los apóstoles llamaban Bernabé, que significa “el que trae consuelo”; 37 vendió un terreno de su propiedad, trajo el importe y lo puso a disposición de los apóstoles.
Acts 4
New International Version
Acts 4
New International Version
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)
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.[b]’[c](AD)
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)
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La Palabra (España) (BLP)
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