Beginning
4 And as they spoke to the people, the priests and the Captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 annoyed that they taught the people and preached the resurrection from the dead in Jesus’ Name.
3 And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day. For it was now evening.
4 However, many of those who heard the Word, believed. And the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And on the next day it so happened that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, were gathered together at Jerusalem;
6 and Annas, the High Priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were in the family of the High Priest.
7 And when they had set them before them, they asked, “By what power, or in what Name, have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, said to them, “Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel!
9 “If we are being examined today regarding the good deed done to the impotent man (or, by what means he is made whole),
10 “be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - Whom you have crucified, Whom God raised again from the dead - by Him does this man stand here before you, whole.
11 “This is the Stone cast aside by you builders, which has become the Cornerstone.
12 “Nor is there salvation in any other. For among men there is given no other Name under heaven whereby we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and understood that they were unlearned men and without knowledge, they marveled. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing also the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.
15 Then they commanded them to go aside, out of the council, and conferred among themselves,
16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For surely a known sign is done by them, which is apparent to all those who dwell in Jerusalem. And we cannot deny it.
17 “But so that it goes no further among the people, let us threaten and charge them, so that they speak no more in this Name to any man.”
18 So they called them, and commanded them, that they should never speak or teach in the Name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, and said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God - to obey you rather than God - you be the judge.
20 “For we can only speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
21 So they threatened them and let them go. And they found no way to punish them, because of the people. For they all praised God for what was done.
22 For the man upon whom this miracle of healing was shown was over forty years old.
23 Then, as soon as they were let go, they came home, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 And when they heard it, they lifted up their voices in unison to God, and said, “O Lord, You are the God Who has made the heaven, and the Earth, the sea, and all things that are in them;
25 “Who, by the mouth of Your servant David, has said, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people imagine empty things?
26 ‘The kings of the Earth assembled, and the rulers came together against the Lord, and against His Christ.’
27 “For doubtless, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered themselves together against Your Holy Son Jesus - Whom You have anointed -
28 “to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel had determined beforehand to be done.
29 “And now, O Lord, behold their threats. And grant to Your servants to speak Your Word with all boldness,
30 “by stretching forth Your hand. So that healing and signs and wonders may be done by the Name of Your Holy Son, Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. And they spoke the Word of God boldly.
32 And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart, and of one soul. Nor did any of them say that any possession was his own. But they shared everything.
33 And the Apostles witnessed the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor were there any among them in need. For as many as possessed lands or houses sold them, and brought the price of the things that were sold,
35 and laid it down at the Apostles’ feet. And it was distributed to each according to his need.
36 Also Joses, who was called ‘Barnabas’ by the Apostles (which means ‘son of encouragement’), a Levite from the country of Cyprus,
37 sold a field which he owned. And he brought the money and laid it down at the Apostles’ feet.
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a possession,
2 and embezzled part of the price (his wife also being aware of it) and brought a certain part and laid it down at the Apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart, that you should lie to the Holy Ghost, and embezzle part of the price of this possession?
4 “While it remained, was it not yours? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to man, but to God.”
5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down, and gave up the ghost. Then great fear came on all those who heard these things.
6 And the young men rose up, and picked him up, and carried him out and buried him.
7 And it happened that about the space of three hours after, that his wife came in, ignorant of that which was done.
8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me, did you sell the land for this much?” And she said, “Yes, for that much.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and shall carry you out.”
10 Then she immediately fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
11 And great fear came over all the church, and on all who heard these things.
12 Thus, many signs and wonders were shown among the people by the hands of the Apostles. And they were all of one mind in Solomon’s porch.
13 And of the rest, no one dared join them. Nevertheless, the people extolled them.
14 Also, the number of those who believed in the Lord, both of men and women, grew more and more;
15 insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, so that at least the shadow of Peter might envelop some of them when he came by.
16 Also, a multitude came into Jerusalem out of the surrounding cities (bringing sick folks and those who were possessed with unclean spirits) who were all healed.
17 Then the High Priest, and all who were with him (which was the sect of the Sadducees), rose up and were full of indignation;
18 and laid hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison.
19 But the Angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them forth, and said,
20 “Go your way and stand in the Temple. And speak all the words of this life to the people.”
21 So when they heard it, they entered into the Temple early in the morning, and taught. And the High Priest came (and those who were with him), and called the Council together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent word to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officers came, and did not find them in the prison, they returned and told it,
23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison locked as securely as was possible, and the guards standing outside, in front of the doors. But when we had opened it, we found no one inside.”
24 Then, when the High Priest and the Captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard these things, they were in doubt of what would become of this.
25 Then one came and reported to them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple, and teach the people.”
26 Then the captain went, with the officers, and brought them, without violence (for they feared that the people might stone them).
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council. And the High Priest asked them,
28 saying, “Did we not directly command you not to teach in this Name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine! And you intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us!”
29 Then Peter and the Apostles answered, and said, “We need to obey God rather than man.
30 “The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, Whom you killed and hanged on a tree.
31 “God has exalted Him, 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 concerning these things which we say, and the Holy Ghost Whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
33 Now when they heard it, they were cut to the quick, and planned to kill them.
34 Then a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel (a doctor of the Law, honored by all the people) stood up in the Council, and commanded to put the Apostles outside for a little while.
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel! Be careful what you intend to do regarding these men.
36 For before these times, Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be somebody. Who was followed by a number of men (about four hundred) and who was killed. And all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.
37 “After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up, in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished and all who obeyed him were scattered.
38 “And now I say to you keep away from these men and let them alone. For if this counsel (or this work) is of man, it will come to nothing.
39 “But if it be of God, you cannot destroy it. For you would be found fighting against God as well.”
40 And they agreed with him and called the Apostles. And after they had beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus. And they let them go.
41 So they departed from the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for His Name.
42 And they did not cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ daily in the Temple, and from house to house.
6 And in those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose murmuring of the Hellenists toward the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily ministry.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said, “It is not acceptable that we should leave the Word of God to serve the tables.
3 “Therefore brothers, select from among you seven men of good report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this business.
4 “And we will give ourselves constantly 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 Nicolas (a proselyte from Antioch),
6 whom they set before the Apostles. And they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the Word of God increased. And the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. And a great number of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 Now Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain ones out of the synagogue who are called ‘Freedmen’ – as well as Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and ones from Cilicia and Asia - and disputed with Stephen.
10 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they incited men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God!”
12 Thus they moved the people and the elders, and the scribes. And running after him, caught him, and brought him to the Council.
13 And they set forth false witnesses, who said, “This man does not cease 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 ordinances which Moses gave us!”
15 And as all who sat in the Council looked steadfastly at him, they saw his face as the face of an angel.
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