New Testament in a Year

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.