Atos 4

¹ As they spoke to the people, the chief priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them.

² They were annoyed because they taught the people through Jesus. They preached the resurrection from the dead.

³ They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening.

⁴ Many who heard the word believed. There were about five thousand men.

⁵ The next morning their rulers, elders, scribes,

⁶ Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

⁷ They stood them in their presence and asked: »By what power or by what name do you do this?«

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: »You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

⁹ »If we are on trial for a good deed done to a sick man, concerning how this man was made well;

¹⁰ »Let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you impaled and whom God raised from the dead, even by him this man stands before you healed.

¹¹ »This is the stone that was rejected by you builders. It became the chief corner stone.

¹² »There is no salvation in anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.«

¹³ They observed the confidence of Peter and John. Yet they thought they were uneducated not formally educated and ordinary men. They were amazed and recognized them as having been with Jesus.

¹⁴ Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

¹⁵ They ordered them to leave the council. Then they conferred among themselves.

¹⁶ They said: »What shall we do to these men? The fact that a notable miracle has been done by them is evident to all who live in Jerusalem. And we cannot deny it.

¹⁷ »We must warn these men not to speak about it in order to stop this from spreading further among the people.«

¹⁸ They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ Peter and John answered: »You judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God.

²⁰ »We cannot stop speaking the things we have seen and heard.«

²¹ When they further threatened them, they let them go. They found no basis for punishment because of the people for all men glorified God for that which was done.

²² The man who received the miracle of healing was about forty years old.

²³ Being released, they went to their own and reported all that the chief priests and elders said to them.

²⁴ When they heard they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said: »Jehovah, you are God, who made heaven and earth, the sea and all in them.

²⁵ »You spoke by the mouth of your servant David: Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? (Psalm 2:1)

²⁶ »The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against Jehovah, and against his Christ. (Psalm 2:2)

²⁷ Truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the people of the nations and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you have anointed.

²⁸ »They were there to do the things your hand and council foreordained to occur.

²⁹ »Now Jehovah behold their threats and grant that your servants keep speaking your word with boldness.

³⁰ »You extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders appear in the name of your holy servant Jesus.«

³¹ When they prayed, the place where they assembled together was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

³² The congregation that believed was of one heart and mind. No one claimed his or her own possessions for everything was common property.

³³ The apostles witnessed about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. Grace God’s loving kindness was upon them all.

³⁴ There was no needy person among them for as many as possessed land or houses sold them, and brought the money from the things that were sold.

³⁵ They gave it to the apostles. Distribution was made to every man according as he had need.

³⁶ Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, this meaning: The son of consolation, was a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus.

³⁷ He sold his land and brought the money to the apostles.