Book of Common Prayer

4 Peter and John were talking to the people. The priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them.

² They were angry at Peter and John because they taught the people. They were angry because they told them that Jesus was brought back from death.

³ They caught them and put them in prison until the next day, because it was already evening.

⁴ But many of the people who heard them speak the word of God, believed what they said. The number of men who believed was about five thousand.

⁵ The next day their rulers, leaders, and scribes met in Jerusalem.

⁶ Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all of the high priest's family were there also.

⁷ Peter and John were brought before them. They asked the apostles, `By what power or in what name have you done this?'

^8-9 hen Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, `Rulers of the people and leaders of Israel, have you brought us to court today because of the good thing that was done to the lame man? Do you want to find out how he was healed?

¹⁰ Well, let it be known by all the people of Israel. This man standing before you is healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He has done this. You nailed him to a cross, but God raised him from death.

¹¹ Jesus Christ is the stone which you, the builders, would not use. But he is now the chief corner stone.

¹² No one else can save us. Of all the people in the world, God chose him to save us. It is by him we must be saved.'

16 I have told you these things so that you will not turn back.

² The people will put you out of the meeting place. Yes, the time is coming when someone will kill you and think he is working for God.

³ They will do these things because they do not know my Father nor me.

⁴ I have told you all these things now. Then when that time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. `I did not tell you these things in the beginning because I myself was with you.

⁵ But now I am going back to him who sent me here. Yet not one of you is asking me, "Where are you going?"

⁶ Your hearts are very sad because I have told you these things.

⁷ Anyway, I am telling you the truth. It is better for you if I go away. If I do not go away, the one who is to help you will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you.

⁸ `When the Helper comes, he will prove this to the people of the world that they are wrong. They are wrong about what they call bad and about what they call good. He will show them how to be right with God. He will show them about God's judgement.

⁹ He will prove it is a bad thing that they do not believe in me.

¹⁰ He will show what really is right, because I am going to my Father and you will not see me any more.

¹¹ He will show them how to judge right, because the ruler of this world himself will be judged.

¹² `I have many other things to tell you, but you cannot understand them now.

¹³ When the truth-giving Spirit comes, he will show you everything that is true. He will not speak his own message, but he will tell you the things that he has been told to tell you. He will tell you what is going to happen.

¹⁴ He will make my name great. He will take what is mine and tell it to you.

¹⁵ Everything that belongs to my Father belongs to me also. That is why I said, "He will take what is mine and tell it to you."