Beginning

Chapter 4

First Phase of the Trial: A Warning.^{[a] 1} While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard,^[b] and the Sadducees came over to them, ² greatly annoyed that they were teaching and proclaiming to the people the resurrection of the dead through Jesus. ³ Therefore, they arrested them and placed them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ However, many of those who had listened to their message became believers, their total approaching five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,^[c] Alexander, and all who belonged to the high priestly family. ⁷ They then brought the apostles before them and asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if you are interrogating us today in regard to a good deed done to someone who was crippled and how he was healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, and whom God raised from the dead, that this man standing before you was cured. ¹¹ This is

¹² There is no salvation in anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.”

¹³ They were amazed to see the fearlessness shown by Peter and John and to discover that they were uneducated ordinary men. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, ¹⁴ but, when they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they could not say anything in reply. ¹⁵ They ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin discussed the matter.

¹⁶ Then they said, “What are we going to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem is aware that a notable sign has been worked through them, and we clearly cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop the news from spreading any further among the people, let us issue them a warning never again to speak to anyone in his name.”

¹⁸ Therefore, they summoned them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ However, Peter and John answered them, “You be the judges about whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. ²⁰ We cannot possibly refrain from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

²¹ After threatening them once again, they released them, for they could find no way to punish them inasmuch as the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

²³ The Community’s Prayer for the Apostles.^[d] As soon as they were released, they went back^[e] to the community and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and of everything that is in them, ²⁵ you said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our ancestor David, your servant,

²⁷ “Indeed, in this very city both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel plotted against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your decree had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, O Lord, be aware of their threats, and grant that your servants may proclaim your word with all boldness, ³⁰ as you stretch out your hand to heal and as signs and wonders are accomplished through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ When they had finished their prayer, the place where they were gathered together shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the word of God fearlessly.

³² Life of the First Community—II.^[f] The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. ³³ With great power, the apostles bore witness to the resurrection^[g] of the Lord Jesus, and they were all greatly respected. ³⁴ There was never anyone among them in need, because those who were the owners of lands or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, ³⁵ and lay them at the feet of the apostles, to be distributed to any who were in need.

³⁶ Barnabas.^[h] One such instance involved Joseph, a Levite and a native of Cyprus, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement.” ³⁷ He sold a field that belonged to him and then brought the money to the apostles and laid it at their feet.

Chapter 5

The Fraud of Ananias and Sapphira.^{[i] 1} There was a man named Ananias who with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. ² With the approval of his wife, he held back some of the proceeds, and he brought the remainder to the apostles and laid it at their feet.

³ Then Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan so gained control of your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the sale price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not belong to you? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds yours? What caused you to contrive this scheme? You have lied not to men but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he collapsed and died, and a great sense of fear seized all who heard about it. ⁶ The young men came forward and wrapped up his body. Then they carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. ⁸ Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for this much.” She replied, “Yes, that was the price.” ⁹ Then Peter asked her, “Why did the two of you agree to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Listen! The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will also carry you out.”

¹⁰ Instantly, she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. And so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And a great sense of fear seized the whole Church^[j] and all those who heard of this.

¹² Life of the First Community—III.^[k] Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. They all used to assemble in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ No one else dared to join them, but the people esteemed them highly. ¹⁴ More believers, men and women, were constantly being added to their ranks. ¹⁵ People brought those who were sick into the streets and placed them on cots and mats so that when Peter passed by, his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ A large number of people also came from the neighboring towns around Jerusalem, bringing with them the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.

¹⁷ Conclusion of the Trial.^[l] Then the high priest and his colleagues from the party of the Sadducees rose up, filled with jealousy, ¹⁸ and they arrested the apostles and placed them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life.” ²¹ Accordingly, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught the people.

When the high priest and his colleagues arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. ²² But when the temple police went to the prison, they did not find them there. So they returned and announced, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside.”

²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss to understand what this would come to. ²⁵ Then someone arrived to report, “The men whom you imprisoned are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ The captain thereupon went with the temple officers and brought them in, although without force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ When they had brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest questioned them, saying, ²⁸ “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Yet, despite that, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you appear determined to hold us responsible for that man’s death.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus after you had put him to death by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as leader and Savior so that he might grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. ³² And we are witnesses to these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they became enraged, and they wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ However, one member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the apostles be sent outside for a little while.

³⁵ Then he addressed them, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas^[m] appeared. He claimed to be someone important, and about four hundred men decided to follow him. He was killed, and all of his followers disbanded, and everything came to naught. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census. He also convinced people to follow him, but he too was killed and his followers were dispersed.

³⁸ “Therefore, I advise you to keep away from these men and let them go. If this movement is human in origin, it will fail. ³⁹ If, however, it comes from God, you will never be able to overcome them, but may find yourselves fighting against God.”

His words persuaded them. ⁴⁰ After they summoned the apostles once again, they had them scourged. Then, ordering them not to speak in the name of Jesus, they released them. ⁴¹ They left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer humiliation for the sake of the name.^{[n] 42} And every day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Christ.

Jerusalem, First Center of Diffusion^[o]

Chapter 6

Institution of the Seven Deacons.^{[p] 1} In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews,^[q] asserting that their own widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. ² And so the Twelve called together the entire community of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, we direct you to select from among you seven^[r] men of good reputation, men filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we may assign this task. ⁴ We will then be able to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁵ The entire community found this proposal to be acceptable, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch who was a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They then presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them.^[s]

⁷ The word of God continued to spread ever more widely. The number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Accusation against Stephen.^{[t] 8} Stephen, a man filled with grace and power, began to work great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, people from Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as others from Cilicia and Asia, came forward to debate with Stephen. ¹⁰ However, they were unable to refute him because of his wisdom and the Spirit who inspired his speech.

¹¹ So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” ¹² After this, stirring up the people as well as the elders and the scribes, they seized Stephen, placed him under arrest, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

¹³ Then they called forward false witnesses who claimed, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him assert that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the traditions that Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared like the face of an angel.