Acts 4-5

New American Standard Bible 1995

Peter and John Arrested

4 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, ² being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^[a](D)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them and ^(E)put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the ^[b]message believed; and ^(F)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their ^(G)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶ and ^(H)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(I)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. ⁷ When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^[c](J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “^[d](K)Rulers and elders of the people, ⁹ if we are ^[e]on trial today for ^(L)a benefit done to a sick man, ^[f]as to 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 corner stone. ¹² And there is salvation in ^(R)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men 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 shall we 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 us warn them to speak no longer to any man ^(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 give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 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 was more than forty years old on whom this ^[o]miracle of healing had been performed.

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

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)Your purpose predestined to occur. ²⁹ And ^[v]now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may ^(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 as 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 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and ^(BG)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and ^(BH)kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s ^[ac]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^(BI)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(BJ)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(BK)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(BL)keep back some of the price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[ad]under your control? Why is it that you have ^[ae]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but ^(BM)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(BN)fell down and breathed his last; and ^(BO)great fear came over all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men got up and ^(BP)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^[af](BQ)for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, ^[ag]that was the price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(BR)put ^(BS)the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰ And immediately she ^(BT)fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(BU)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

^12 [ah]At the hands of the apostles many ^(BV)signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in ^(BW)Solomon’s portico. ¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(BX)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And all the more ^(BY)believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly ^(BZ)added to their number, ¹⁵ to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by ^(CA)at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. ¹⁶ Also the ^[ai]people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick ^[aj]or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is ^(CB)the sect of ^(CC)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They laid hands on the apostles and ^(CD)put them in a public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(CE)an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, ²⁰ “Go, stand and ^[ak]speak to the people in the temple ^[al](CF)the whole message of this Life.” ²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple ^(CG)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^(CH)the high priest and his associates came, they called ^(CI)the ^[am]Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. ²² But ^(CJ)the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, ²³ saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(CK)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^[an]would come of this. ²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then ^(CL)the captain went along with ^(CM)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(CN)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ When they had brought them, they stood them ^[ao]before ^(CO)the Council. The high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, “We gave you ^(CP)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^[ap]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(CQ)intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “^(CR)We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (CS)The God of our fathers ^(CT)raised up Jesus, ^[aq]whom you had ^(CU)put to death by hanging Him on a ^[ar]cross. ^31 (CV)He is the one whom God exalted ^[as]to His right hand as a ^[at](CW)Prince and a ^(CX)Savior, to grant ^(CY)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are ^(CZ)witnesses ^[au]of these things; and ^(DA)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they were ^(DB)cut ^[av]to the quick and intended to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(DC)Gamaliel, a ^(DD)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(DE)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, ^(DF)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ^[aw]But he was killed, and all who ^[ax]followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of ^(DG)the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who ^[ay]followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ^[az]action ^(DH)is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^(DI)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ They ^[ba]took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(DJ)flogged them and ordered them not to ^[bb]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^[bc](DK)Council, ^(DL)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(DM)for His name. ^42 (DN)And every day, in the temple and ^[bd]from house to house, they ^[be]kept right on teaching and ^[bf](DO)preaching Jesus as the ^[bg]Christ.