Acts 4-6

21st Century King James Version

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

² being aggrieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

³ And they laid hands on them and put them in hold until the next day, for it was now eventide.

⁴ However, many of those who had heard the Word believed, the number of the men being about five thousand.

⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes,

⁶ and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

⁷ And when they had set them in their midst, they asked, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, “Ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

⁹ if we this day are examined about the good deed done to the infirm man, and 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 and 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 by you builders and which has become the head of the corner.’

¹² Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no 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 marveled; and they took note concerning them that they had been with Jesus.

¹⁴ And beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go outside the council, they conferred among themselves,

¹⁶ saying, “What shall we do to these men? For indeed, that a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all those who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

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

¹⁸ And they called them back 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 for which they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which had been done.

²² For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing was shown.

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 this, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, “Lord, Thou art God who hast made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them,

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 truly against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, had gathered together

²⁸ 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 spoke the Word of God with boldness.

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

³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness to 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 was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, “the Son of Consolation”), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

³⁷ having land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession

² and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land?

⁴ While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”

⁵ And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost. And great fear came on all those who heard these things.

⁶ And the young men arose and wrapped him up, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ And it was about the space of three hours later when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

⁸ And Peter said unto her, “Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?” And she said, “Yea, for so much.”

⁹ Then Peter said unto her, “How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried thy husband are at the door and shall carry thee out.”

¹⁰ Then she fell down straightway at his feet and yielded up the ghost. And the young men came in and found her dead and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

¹¹ And great fear came upon all the church and upon as many as heard these things.

¹² And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

¹³ But of the rest, no man dared join himself to them, but the people magnified them.

¹⁴ And more believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women,

¹⁵ insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

¹⁶ There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and those who were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed, every one.

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees); and they were filled with indignation,

¹⁸ and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth and said,

²⁰ “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.”

²¹ And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

²² But when the officers came and found them not in the prison, they returned and reported, saying,

²³ “The prison truly found we shut with all safety and the keepers standing outside before the doors; but when we had opened them, we found no man within.”

²⁴ Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they were in doubt about them as to where this would grow.

²⁵ Then there came one and told them, saying, “Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

²⁶ Then the captain went with his officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

²⁸ saying, “Did not we strictly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.

³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

³¹ Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

³² And we are His witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to those who obey Him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them.

³⁴ Then there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law held in high repute among all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside a little while.

³⁵ And he said unto them, “Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do concerning these men.

³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and brought to nought.

³⁷ After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.

³⁸ And now I say unto you, refrain from these men and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought;

³⁹ but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest it may happen ye be found even to fight against God.”

⁴⁰ And with him they agreed. And when they had called the apostles back and had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

⁴² And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

6 And in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

² Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, “It is not fitting that we should leave the Word of God to serve tables.

³ Therefore, brethren, look ye out among you for seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”

⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,

⁶ whom they set before the apostles. And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

⁹ Then there arose certain from the synagogue which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those of Cilicia and of Asia, and they disputed with Stephen.

¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

¹¹ Then they suborned men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

¹² And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and came upon him and caught him, and brought him to the council.

¹³ And they set up false witnesses who said, “This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;

¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”

¹⁵ And all who sat on the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as though it were the face of an angel.