Chronological

The Jewish Leaders Jail Peter And John For Proclaiming The Resurrection

4 And while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple [guard] and the Sadducees suddenly-came-upon them, ² being greatly-disturbed because of their teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead in^[a] Jesus. ³ And they put their hands on them, and put them in jail^[b] until the next day. For it was already evening. ⁴ But many of the ones having heard the word believed. And the number of the men became about five thousand.

Peter Responds: Jesus, Whom You Crucified And God Raised, Healed This Man

⁵ And it came about on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem— ⁶ and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And having stood them in the middle, they were inquiring, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people, and elders: ⁹ If we are being examined today for a good-deed to a weak^[c] man, by what means^[d] this one has been restored, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene— Whom you crucified, Whom God raised from the dead— by this One^[e] this one stands before you healthy. ¹¹ This One is the stone— the One having been treated-with-contempt^[f] by you, the builders; the One having become the head^[g] of the corner. ¹² And there is no salvation in^[h] any other, for neither is there another name under heaven having been given among people by which we must be saved”.

The Jewish Leaders Ponder What To Do In View of This Undeniable Miracle

¹³ Now observing the boldness of Peter and John, and having understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling. And they were recognizing them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man standing there with them, the one having been cured, they were having nothing to speak-against it. ¹⁵ But having ordered them to go outside of the council [chamber], they were conferring with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “What should we do with these men? For that a known sign has taken place through them is evident to all the ones dwelling-in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it— ¹⁷ but in order that it may not spread further to the people, let us threaten them to no longer be speaking on the basis of this name to any of mankind”.

They Command Peter And John Not To Speak Or Teach About Jesus. But They Refuse

¹⁸ And having called them, they commanded them not to be speaking^[i] nor teaching at all on the basis of the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But having responded, Peter and John said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen-to you rather than God, you judge. ²⁰ For we are not able to not be speaking the things which we saw and heard”. ²¹ And the ones, having threatened further, released them, finding nothing as to how they might punish them, because of the people— because they were all glorifying God for the thing having taken place. ²² For the man was more than forty years old upon whom this sign of healing had taken place.

Peter And John Are Released. The Believers Rejoice And Ask God For More Boldness

²³ And having been released, they went to their own people and reported all-that the chief priests and the elders said to them. ²⁴ And the ones having heard it lifted their voice to God with-one-accord and said, “Master, You are the One having made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them; ²⁵ the One having said by the Holy Spirit from the mouth of our father David, Your servant [in Ps 2:1-2], ‘Why did the Gentiles^[j] rage^[k], and the peoples plot futile things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth took-their-stand, and the rulers were gathered-together at the same^[l] place against the Lord, and against His Anointed-One’. ²⁷ For in accordance with [Your] truth, both Herod and Pontius Pilate together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel were gathered-together in this city against Your holy servant Jesus Whom You anointed, ²⁸ to do all-that Your hand and Your purpose predestined to take place. ²⁹ And as to the things now, Lord— look-upon^[m] their threats. And grant to Your slaves to speak Your word with all boldness ³⁰ while^[n] You are stretching-out Your hand for healing, and signs^[o] and wonders are taking place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus”. ³¹ And they having prayed, the place in which they had been gathered-together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they were speaking the word of God with boldness.

The Believers Sell Property To Help Any In Need Among Them

³² Now the heart and soul of the multitude of the ones having believed was one. And not even one of them was saying that any of the things belonging to him were his own, but all things were common^[p] to them. ³³ And with great power, the apostles were rendering^[q] their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all— ³⁴ for there was not even someone in-need among them. For all-who were owners of lands or houses, selling them, were bringing the proceeds of the things being sold ³⁵ and laying it at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each one as anyone was having a need.

Barnabas Sells a Field And Brings The Money To The Apostles

³⁶ Now Joseph— the one having been called Barnabas by the apostles (which being translated is “son of ^[r] encouragement^[s]”), a Levite, a Cyprian by nationality, ³⁷ a field belonging to him— having made-a-sale, brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Ananias And Sapphira Sell a Property, But Deceive The Church About Their Generosity

5 But a certain man, Ananias by name, along with his wife Sapphira, sold property. ² And he kept-back^[t] some of the proceeds, his wife also having shared-the-knowledge. And having brought a certain part of it, he laid it at the feet of the apostles. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, for what reason did Satan fill your heart that you should lie-to the Holy Spirit and keep-back some of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While remaining unsold, was it not remaining yours? And having been sold, was it not within your authority? Why is it that you put this thing in your heart? You did not lie to people, but to God”. ⁵ And Ananias, hearing these words, having fallen-down, expired. And great fear came upon all the ones hearing it. ⁶ And having arisen, the younger men wrapped him up. And having carried him out, they buried him. ⁷ Now an interval of about three hours took place, and his wife came in— not knowing the thing having happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you^[u] two sold the land for so much?” And the one said, “Yes, for so much”. ⁹ And Peter said to her, “Why is it that it was agreed by you two to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold— the feet of the ones having buried your husband are at the door. And they will carry you out”. ¹⁰ And she fell at-once at his feet, and expired. And having come in, the young-men found her dead. And having carried her out, they buried her with her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all the ones hearing-of these things.

The Apostles Continue To Speak And Do Miracles. Multitudes Believe. Many Are Healed

¹² Now many signs and wonders were taking place through the hands of the apostles among the people. And they were all with-one-accord in the portico^[v] of Solomon. ¹³ But none of the rest^[w] was daring to join^[x] them, yet the people were magnifying them. ¹⁴ And more people believing in the Lord^[y] were being added— multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they were even bringing-out the sick into the wide-roads and putting them on little-beds and cots, in order that while Peter was coming, if-even^[z] his shadow might overshadow one of them. ¹⁶ And the multitude from the cities around Jerusalem was also coming-together, bringing sick ones and ones being troubled by unclean spirits, who all were being cured.

The Jewish Leaders Jail The Apostles Again, But an Angel Lets Them Out

¹⁷ And having arisen, the high priest and all the ones with him— the sect^[aa] of the Sadducees existing there— were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ And they put their hands on the apostles and put them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But an angel of the Lord— having opened the doors of the prison during the night, and having led them out— said, ²⁰ “Go! And having stood, be speaking in the temple to the people all the words of this life”. ²¹ And having heard, they entered into the temple at dawn^[ab] and were teaching.

The Apostles Are Found In The Temple, And Are Brought Before The Sanhedrin

And having arrived, the high priest and the ones with him called together the Sanhedrin— even the whole council-of-elders of the sons of Israel. And they sent-out officers to the jailhouse that they might be brought. ²² But having arrived, the officers did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported, ²³ saying that “We found the jailhouse having been locked with all security, and the guards standing at the doors. But having opened, we found no one inside”. ²⁴ And when both the captain of the temple [guard] and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly-perplexed about them as to what this would become. ²⁵ But having arrived, someone reported to them that “Behold— the men whom you put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people”. ²⁶ Then the captain, having gone away with the officers, was bringing them— not with violence (for they were fearing the people, that they might be stoned).

Peter Responds: God Raised Jesus As The Savior of Israel. We Are Witnesses

²⁷ And having brought them, they stood them in the council^[ac] [chamber]. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, “Did we not command you with a command not to be teaching on the basis of this name? And behold— you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you intend^[ad] to bring the blood of this man upon us”. ²⁹ But having responded, Peter and the apostles said, “It-is-necessary to obey God rather than people. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus— Whom you murdered, having hung Him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted this One to His right hand as Leader^[ae] and Savior, that He might grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses of these things. And so is the Holy Spirit, Whom God gave to the ones obeying Him”. ³³ And the ones having heard it were infuriated, and were intending to kill them.

Gamaliel Advises a Wait-And-See Approach. The Apostles Are Beaten And Released

³⁴ But having stood up, a certain Pharisee in the Sanhedrin— Gamaliel by name, a Law-teacher honored by all the people— gave-orders to make the men be outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves as to what you are about to do to these men. ³⁶ For before these days, Theudas arose saying that he was somebody, with whom a number of men joined-up (about four-hundred)— who was killed. And all who were being persuaded^[af] by him were dispersed, and they became nothing. ³⁷ After this one, Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the registration^[ag] and drew-away a group-of-people after him. That one also perished, and all who were being persuaded by him were scattered. ³⁸ And as to the things now, I say to you, draw-away from these men and leave them alone. Because if this plan or this work should be from humans, it will be overthrown^[ah]; ³⁹ but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them— that you indeed may not perhaps be found to be fighting-against-God”. And they were persuaded by him. ⁴⁰ And having summoned the apostles, having beaten them, they commanded them not to be speaking on the basis of the name of Jesus, and released them.

The Apostles Rejoice In Their Mistreatment, And Continue Proclaiming Jesus As Messiah

⁴¹ So indeed the ones were going from the presence of the Sanhedrin rejoicing that they were considered-worthy to be dishonored for the^[ai] Name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and house by house, they were not ceasing teaching and announcing-the-good-news as to Jesus, the Christ^[aj].

When Problems Arise In Serving The Needy In The Church, Deacons Are Chosen To Oversee It

6 Now during these days, while the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews^[ak] because their widows were being overlooked^[al] in the daily ministry [of food]. ² And the twelve, having summoned the multitude of the disciples, said, “It is not pleasing^[am] that we, having left-behind the word of God, should be serving tables^[an]. ³ But brothers, look-for^[ao] seven men from-among you being attested, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put-in-charge^[ap] over this need^[aq]. ⁴ And we will devote-ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word”. ⁵ And the statement was pleasing in the sight of 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 from Antioch), ⁶ whom they stood before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid their hands on them. ⁷ And the word of God was growing. And the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was being multiplied greatly. And a large crowd of the priests were obeying the faith.

Stephen Is Seized While Doing Miracles And Proclaiming Christ With Irresistible Wisdom

⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But some of the ones from the synagogue being called “of Freedmen^[ar]”— both^[as] Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and the ones from Cilicia and Asia— rose-up, debating^[at] with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly-induced^[au] men [to begin] saying that “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God”. ¹² And they stirred-up the people and the elders and the scribes. And having suddenly-come-upon him, they seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin. ¹³ And they put-forward false witnesses, saying, “This man does not cease speaking words against this holy place and the Law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear-down this place, and change the customs which Moses handed-down to us”. ¹⁵ And having looked-intently at him, all the ones sitting in the council [chamber] saw his face was like a face of an angel.