Beginning

The apostles are taken and brought before the council. They are forbidden to preach, but they turn themselves to prayer, and are more obedient to God than to men.

4 As they spoke to the people, the priests and the chief warden of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² taking it grievously that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from death. 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 it happened on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes, ⁶ as Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priests, gathered together at Jerusalem, ⁷ and set the apostles before them and asked, By what power or in what name have you done this, Sirs?

⁸ Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ⁹ if we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the sick man, how he has been made whole, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – whom you crucified, and whom God raised again from death – even by him does this man stand here present before you, healed. ¹¹ Jesus is the stone cast aside by you builders, which is set in the chief place of the corner. ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other, nor yet also is there any other name given to mankind in which we can be saved.

¹³ When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were unlearned men and lay people, they marvelled. And they knew them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing also the man that was healed standing with them, they could not speak against it. ¹⁵ But they ordered them to go aside out of the council, and conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ saying, What shall we do with these men? For a manifest sign has been done by them, and is openly known to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us threaten them, and charge them to speak to no one in this name from now on.

¹⁸ And they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all 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 more than God, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak that which we have seen and heard.

²¹ So they threatened them and let them go, and found no way to punish them, because of the people. For all the people lauded God for the miracle that was done. ²² For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been shown.

²³ As soon as they were let go, they went to their companions and told them all that the high priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord and said, Lord, you are God who has made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵ who by the mouth of your servant David has said: Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers came together against the Lord and against his Christ. ²⁷ For of a truth, against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod and also Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered themselves together, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done. ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all confidence, ³⁰ and stretch forth your hand so that healing and signs and wonders may be done by the name of the holy child Jesus.

³¹ And as soon as they had prayed, the place moved where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God boldly.

³² And the whole number of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul. Also, none of them said that any of the things that he possessed was his own, but had all things in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was with them all. ³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as possessed lands or houses sold them, and brought the money from the things that were sold, ³⁵ and laid it down at the apostles’ feet. And distribution was made to every person according to his need. ³⁶ And Joses, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which means, son of consolation), who was a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ had land and sold it, and laid the money down at the apostles’ feet.

The dissembling of Ananias and Sapphira is punished. Miracles are done by the apostles, who are seized, but the angel of God brings them out of prison. They are brought before the council. The advice of Gamaliel. The apostles are beaten. They rejoice in trouble.

5 A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold some property, ² and kept back part of the money (his wife also knowing of it), and brought a certain part and laid it down at the apostles’ feet. ³ Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you would lie to the Holy Spirit and keep away part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ Did it not belong to you alone? And after it was sold, was the money not at your own disposal? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and gave up the spirit. And great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶ And the young men rose up, and put Ananias apart, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ And then, about the space of three hours after, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so 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 will carry you out.

¹⁰ Then she fell down straightaway at his feet and yielded up the spirit. 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 on all the congregation, and on as many as heard these things.

¹² By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were shown among the people. And they were all together with one accord in Solomon’s porch. ¹³ And none of the rest dared join himself to them; nevertheless, the people held them in high regard.

¹⁴ 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 pallets so that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came by, might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Many people also came from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and those who were vexed with unclean spirits. And they were healed, every one.

¹⁷ Then the chief priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), 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 out, and said, ²⁰ Go; step forth, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ²¹ When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught.

The chief priest came, and those who were with him, and called a council together with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles. ²² When the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, ²³ We found the prison shut as securely as was possible, and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened up, we found no one within.

  ²⁴ When the most chief priest and the chief warden of the temple and the high priests heard these things, they were fearful about them, what this might grow into. ²⁵ Then someone came and told them, Behold, the men that you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.

²⁶ Then the chief warden of the temple went with officers, and brought them without violence because they feared to be stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought the apostles, they set them before the council. And the chief priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, Did we not strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought more to obey God than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, hanging him on a tree. ³¹ Him God has lifted up with his right hand, to be a ruler and a saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are his witnesses concerning these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

³³ When they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and thought to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of law greatly respected among all the people, and directed that the apostles be put apart for a little while, ³⁵ and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ Before these days, one Theudas rose up, claiming himself to be somebody, and a number of men joined him – about four hundred. But he was slain, and all the people who believed him were scattered abroad and brought to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee arose, in the time when tribute began, and he drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all, even as many as followed him, are scattered abroad. ³⁸ And now I say to you, restrain yourselves concerning these men. Let them alone. For if the counsel of this work is of men, it will come to nothing. ³⁹ But if it is of God, you cannot destroy it, and you might even be found to be striving against God.

⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and called the apostles, and beat them, and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ And they departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name. ⁴² And daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.

Ministers (or deacons) are ordained in the congregation to do service in necessary things of the body so that the apostles may attend only to the word of God. Stephen is accused.

6 In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. ² Then the twelve called all of the disciples together and said, It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve at the tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, choose from among you seven men of good reputation, and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this needful business. ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

⁵ And this proposal pleased the whole assembly. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert from Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God advanced, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests accepted the faith. ⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

⁹ Then some of those who were of the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and Cyrenians, and some from Alexandria and Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. ¹¹ Then they sent in men who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹² And they moved the people and the elders and the scribes, and came upon him and caught him, and brought him to the council. ¹³ And they brought forth false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law, ¹⁴ for we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the ordinances that Moses gave us.

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