Acts 4:5-31

New American Standard Bible

⁵ On the next day, their ^(A)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶ and ^(B)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(C)Caiaphas, 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, ^[a](D)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “^[b](E)Rulers and elders of the people, ⁹ if we are ^[c]on trial today for ^(F)a benefit done to a sick man, as to ^[d]how this man has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^[e](G)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^(H)God raised from the dead—^[f]by ^[g]this name this man stands here before you in good health. ^11 [h](I)He is the ^(J)stone which was ^(K)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in ^(L)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 ^(M)confidence of ^(N)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ^(O)began to recognize them ^[i]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 ^[j](P)Council, they began to confer with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “^(Q)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a ^(R)noteworthy ^[k]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 ^(S)in this name.” ¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they ^(T)commanded them not to speak or teach at all ^[l]in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But ^(U)Peter and John answered and said to them, “^(V)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; ²⁰ for ^(W)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) ^(X)on account of the people, because they were all ^(Y)glorifying God for what had happened; ²² for the man on whom this ^[m]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, “^[n]Lord, it is You who ^(Z)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, ²⁵ who ^(AA)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 ^[r](AE)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^(AF)Herod and ^(AG)Pontius Pilate, along with ^(AH)the ^[s]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and ^(AI)purpose predestined to occur. ²⁹ And ^[t]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to ^(AJ)speak Your word with all ^(AK)confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^[u](AL)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ^[v](AM)servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the ^(AN)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ^(AO)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(AP)speak the word of God with ^(AQ)boldness.