Beginning
4 ¶ And as they spoke unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
2 resentful 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 jail unto the next day, for it was now evening.
4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 ¶ And it came to pass on the next day that their princes and elders and scribes
6 and Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye princes of the people and elders of Israel,
9 if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole,
10 be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is 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 in which we can be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of 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 aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all those that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in this name.
18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 Then Peter and John answered and said unto them, Judge whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God.
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 no way how they might punish them because of the people, for everyone glorified God for that which was done.
22 For the man was above 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 princes of the priests and the elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, thou art the God, who hast made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them,
25 who (in the Holy Spirit) by the mouth of thy servant David (our father) hast said, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth were present, and the princes were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (in this city),
28 to do that which thy hand and thy counsel had determined beforehand must be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto thy slaves that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 that thou might stretch forth thine hand so that healings and signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy slave Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
32 ¶ And of the multitude of those that had believed was one heart and one soul; no one said that anything he possessed was his own, but they had all things common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness of 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 each one according to their need.
36 Then Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation), a Levite, and 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 defrauded of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to defraud of the price of the land?
4 Retaining it, was it not thy own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the spirit; and great fear came on all those that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 Then Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, 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 spirit; 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 congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} and upon as many as heard these things.
12 ¶ And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were wrought in the people. (And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13 And of the others, no one dared join themself to them, but the people magnified them.
14 And those that believed in the Lord increased in number, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 So much that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at the 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 tormented with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one.
17 ¶ Then the prince of the priests rose up, and all those that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) were filled with jealousy
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. In the meantime, the prince of the priests came, and those that were with him, and called the council together and all the elders of the sons 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 told,
23 saying, We certainly found the prison shut with all security and the keepers standing outside before the doors, but when we had opened, we found no one within.
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the princes of the priests heard these things, they were perplexed regarding what this would come to.
25 Then someone came 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 with the officers went and brought them without violence, for they feared being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the prince of the priests asked them,
28 saying, Did we not 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 must persuade God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree.
31 God has exalted him with his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those that persuade him.
33 When they heard that, they were divided and took counsel to slay them.
34 Then a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, who had a reputation among all the people, stood up in the council and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space
35 and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as concerning these men.
36 For before these days, rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; who was slain; and all, as many as 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 those that consented with him were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men and let them alone; for if this counsellor or this work is of men, it will come to nought,
39 but if it is of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest ye be found fighting against God.
40 And they agreed with him; and when they had called the apostles and 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 the gospel of Jesus the Christ.
6 ¶ And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, that their widows were neglected in the daily ministry.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve tables;
3 therefore, brethren, seek out among you seven men of whom you bear witness, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 And 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 Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch:
6 these 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 also a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 ¶ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles in the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of those of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing 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 set up 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 traditions which Moses delivered us.
15 Then all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Copyright © 2013, 2020 by Ransom Press International